Trentino Itas dominance shifts European seeding expectations
Matey Kaziyski leads the SuperLega with 171 points, driving Trentino Itas toward a higher standing that influences their 2026/27 CEV Champions League seeding. The team's performance in Pool D against Lube Civitanova and PGE Projekt Warszawa remains critical for postseason qualification.
Kaziyski and the SuperLega standings
Trentino Itas holds second place in the SuperLega with three wins and nine points. Matey Kaziyski leads the league scoring with 171 points across eight matches. He maintains a 23 point lead over the second highest scorer. The Bulgarian attacker is the league’s best attacker with 153 points and has 12 aces. He moved from outside hitter to opposite and switched roles with Daniele Lavia. This production helps the team chase the undefeated Sir Susa Scai Perugia, which holds 11 points from four wins. Kaziyski’s scoring remains essential; he leads the club’s offensive efforts. He previously earned MVP honors at the 2009 Champions League and led his team to four FIVB Club World Championship titles. Kaziyski also earned bronze at the 2003 FIVB Volleyball U21 Men’s World Championship and bronze medals at the 2006 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship and the 2007 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Cup. His skill in the current season provides Trentino with a large advantage. You should watch how his scoring affects the upcoming clash against Perugia. Alessandro Michieletto also contributes; he scored 19 points in recent high-stakes matches. During an intense comeback against Tours, Theo Faure scored 40 points, while Jordi Ramon Ferragut added 23. Kaziyski’s career includes winning the national championship with Slaviya Sofia and the national title with Dinamo Moscow.
Champions League Pool D and seeding
The 2026/27 CEV Champions League seeding depends on the results from the five group pools. Trentino Itas competes in Pool D against Lube Civitanova, PGE Projekt Warszawa, and Greenyard Maaseik. The drawing in Luxembourg City on July 15 determined these matchups. The competition rules state that the top team in each pool qualifies for the quarterfinals. All second place teams and the best third place team advance to the playoffs. Trentino Itas earned a wildcard to join this elite competition.
| Team | Wins | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Susa Scai Perugia | 4 | 11 |
| Itas Trentino | 3 | 9 |
| Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza | 3 | 9 |
| Cucine Lube Civitanova | 3 | 9 |
Trentino faces a difficult path in Pool D. They recently lost 3-0 to Ziraat Bankkart Ankara, where Nimir Abdel-Aziz scored 21 points and Clevenot added 13. During that match, Alessandro Michieletto scored 7 points for Trentino, while Jordi Ramon Ferragut scored 11. The tournament includes 20 teams, with 15 qualifying directly and three receiving wildcards. Lube Civitanova, a two-time winner, also competes in this pool. The group includes PGE Projekt Warszawa, which finished as a sensation last year. The 2026/27 CEV Cup also includes an additional round called the 32nd Finals.
Tiebreaker history and postseason implications
Trentino Itas’s standing in the SuperLega influences their European seeding and playoff preparation. The team’s previous regular season resulted in a disappointing fourth place finish. This outcome sent the squad to the 2024/25 CEV Cup. In the 2024 third-place playoff series against Allianz Milano, the home team won both tie-break games. In the 2024 third-place playoff series against Allianz Milano, the visiting side suffered Milano’s play, despite a hard fight led by Jan Kozamernik, who recorded 5 winning blocks of his team’s 11 total blocks. Yuki Ishikawa scored 28 points for Milano, while Alessandro Michieletto scored 19 for Trentino. The series scores included 3-2, 3-2, 0-3, and 3-1 in favor of Milano. Kaziyski’s scoring revival provides the necessary momentum to avoid another low seeding. Will this scoring surge allow Trentino to overcome the tiebreaker issues in the postseason?
