Rzeszow, Poland, November 26, 2018 - The opening match in FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship Pool B featured record four-time winners Trentino Volley of Italy against Iranian club and 2018 Asian club champions Khatam Ardakan. Trentino claimed a three-set victory 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-19) in what was the first encounter between these two clubs at a World Championship.
Trentino were led by Luca Vettori (16 points), Uros Kovacevic (11 points) and Aaron Russell (10 points). The top scorers for the Iranian club were Mohammadhassan Senobar (10 points), Ghasem Karkhaneh (9 points) and Ramin Khani Molahajiloo (5 points).
Davide Candellaro spikes the ball for Trentino Volley
Trentino Volley have won the Club World Championship a record four times, from 2009 to 2012, and are unbeaten in their tournament meetings with teams from Iran. Trentino also finished on the podium in the 2013 and 2016 editions, both third places. Their six podium places in total are a record in the competition. Khatam Ardakan are the fifth team from Iran to make an appearance at the Club World Championship, after Matin Varamin, Kalleh Mazandaran, Paykan Tehran and Sarmayeh Bank Tehran.
The two clubs play again on Wednesday when Trentino Volley take on South American champions Sada Cruzeiro of Brazil at 17.30 local time/16.30 GMT. Khatam Ardakan will hope to claim their first victory when they play Asseco Resovia at 20.45 local time/19.45 GMT.
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