Belo Horizonte, Brazil, May 5, 2014.  Everything is ready in Belo Horizonte for the opening day of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship, with three matches on Monday launching almost a week of thrilling action.  On Sunday evening, the teams’ coaches gathered for the official press conference and they all agreed on the fantastic volleyball level this tournament is going to have.

After the General Technical Meeting, the coaches took the floor to emphasize the high quality of the great teams gathered in Brazil.  Europe will be represented by two squads in the tournament – the 2014 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League winner Belogorie BELGOROD from Russia and the most decorated team in the history of the competition, wild card holder TRENTINO Volley from Italy.

“Being here is very special for us and we were surprised when we learned about the invitation,” TRENTINO head coach Roberto Serniotti confessed on the eve of the first day of action.  “Our last time here was fantastic, not only because of the organization, but due to the achieved result as well.  Now we have the same goal: to finish the pool among the first two teams and play in the semifinals.  However, I think this time it is going to be more difficult, because the level is very high this year.”

TRENTINO is the first of the European teams to test out the court at the Mineirinho competition hall.  In their first Pool B match, at 17:00 local time on Monday, the four-time club world champions will face Qatar’s AL-RAYYAN featuring former TRENTINO super stars Matey Kaziyski and Raphael Vieira de Oliveira.  The other two teams in this pool are Argentina’s UPCN SAN JUAN and Tunisia’s Esperance TUNIS.

“To be here, we faced a very difficult road,” Boriss Kolcins, Belogorie assistant coach, admitted.  “First we had to win the Russian league, which was not easy.  Then, we had to become the European champions, which was even more difficult.  Just then we could enjoy our place in the competition.  However, for us, the only good result is the first place.  That puts a bit of extra pressure on us, but we are always ready for the challenge.”

The European champions Belogorie will start their campaign on Tuesday at 17:00 local time against Puerto Rico’s GUAYNABO Mets.  Pool A also features Asian champions Iran’s Matin VARAMIN led by Italian head coach Daniele Bagnoli and the home side of Sada Cruzeiro BELO HORIZONTE, the defending 2013 club world champions.

Click here for more information on the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship.