Challenge Cup: five straight-set home wins, but Tartu steal the spotlight in a dramatic night across Europe!

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The 2027 CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup got underway with an eventful opening night across Europe, featuring six first-leg encounters and a series of stories that went well beyond the final scores. Five home teams celebrated straight-set victories, but the only match to go the distance produced the most dramatic finish of the evening, as Estonia’s Bigbank Tartu held off a determined comeback from Switzerland’s Axpo Volley Näfels to secure a 3–2 away win.

Among the most notable achievements was Takovo Gornji Milanovac’s successful European debut. The Serbian club marked its first appearance in continental competition with a 3–0 victory over Latvia’s Robežsardze/RSU Riga, winning 25:16, 26:24, 25:17. The second set offered the visitors their best opportunity to change the course of the match, but Takovo held firm at the crucial moment to establish a valuable advantage ahead of the return leg.
The occasion was particularly significant for the Latvian champions, who returned to European competition after an 18-year absence!
Under head coach Raimonds Vilde, Robežsardze/RSU arrived in Serbia with encouraging momentum, having won the Latvian Super Cup and three of their first four matches in the Baltic League. The team had also retained much of the core group that reached the Baltic League final and won the Latvian championship last season. However, Takovo made the most of their home debut, giving their supporters a memorable first taste of European volleyball.

Another club celebrating a landmark occasion was OFI Crete, who made their first-ever appearance in European competition. The Greek side travelled to Germany to face Helios GRIZZLYS Giesen, but the hosts proved too strong, claiming a 3–0 victory with set scores of 25:17, 25:20 and 25:19. Giesen needed a positive result after a difficult start to the domestic season, with just one win from their first three Bundesliga matches, followed by a 1–3 defeat against Berlin Recycling Volleys in the German Cup. The European encounter therefore offered an important opportunity to regain confidence, and the GRIZZLYS took it with a composed performance in front of their home crowd. For OFI, the return leg in Crete will be another historic occasion, but the team now faces the challenge of overturning a significant deficit.

Volejbal Brno also enjoyed a convincing start, defeating Kosovo’s KV Luboteni Ferizaj 3–0 (25:13, 25:18, 25:17). The Czech side had entered the European campaign in considerably better domestic form, having recorded five consecutive victories in the ČEZ Extraliga. That continuity and stability proved valuable against a Ferizaj team that had undergone substantial changes to its roster during the summer. Brno controlled the match from the opening set, leaving the Kosovo champions with plenty to address before hosting the return fixture. The encounter attracted 332 spectators at the SH Sokol Brno I.

In Slovakia, Rieker UJS Komárno made a successful return to European competition by overcoming Montenegro’s Budućnost Podgorica in straight sets. The 25:23, 25:21, 25:18 scoreline reflected a match in which the hosts gradually established control after a closely contested opening set. The reigning Slovak champions had approached the campaign with clear ambitions: head coach František Ogurčák had openly stated that qualification was the team’s objective. Komárno also strengthened its squad with two Brazilian additions, while Budućnost arrived with a roster featuring players with experience from different volleyball backgrounds, including a former Cuban international, Carlos Charles Santana. The Slovak side now has an important opportunity to build on its home success in the return leg.

VC Lorentzweiler completed the evening’s list of straight-set home victories, beating Norway’s BK Tromsø 25:19, 25:17, 25:17. The Luxembourg club took control after the opening set and maintained its advantage throughout the match, securing a useful lead before travelling to Norway. However, the tie also carries an interesting regulatory dimension. The CEV has introduced a revised Golden Set rule for the 2026/27 season: qualification is now determined by the number of matches won across the two legs, rather than by aggregate sets or ranking points. If each team wins one match, regardless of the score, a Golden Set will decide who advances. Lorentzweiler coach Serge Karier had already expressed concerns about the change, particularly regarding the way it had been communicated to clubs. The new system means that even a commanding first-leg victory does not guarantee progression if the opponent wins the return match.

The most competitive encounter of the night took place in Switzerland, where Bigbank Tartu recovered from a two-set deficit to defeat Axpo Volley Näfels 3–2. The Estonian visitors dominated the opening stages, taking the first set 25–15 and moving two sets ahead with a 25–22 win in the second. Näfels responded with greater determination, claiming the third set 25–20 before forcing a deciding tie-break with a 25–18 victory in the fourth. The home side had brought the match back to level terms, but Tartu managed to regain its composure when it mattered most, edging the fifth set 15–13 to take the only away victory of the evening.
The result gives Tartu a valuable advantage, although the new CEV format means that the outcome of the second leg remains decisive in its own right. A win for Näfels in Estonia would leave the teams with one victory apiece and send the tie to a Golden Set, irrespective of the overall number of sets won.

Across the six venues, the opening round offered a mixture of first appearances, long-awaited European returns and important early statements. Takovo and OFI Crete celebrated historic milestones, Robežsardze/RSU rediscovered the continental stage after almost two decades, while Brno, Komárno, Giesen and Lorentzweiler all secured clean-sheet victories. Yet Tartu’s comeback in Näfels served as a reminder that no advantage is definitive in a two-match European tie, particularly under the CEV’s revised qualification system. The return fixtures will now determine which of these teams take the next step towards the Challenge Cup’s main phase.

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🏆| 2026/27 CEV Challenge Cup | 32th Finals

FIRST LEG

👉🏼Tuesday November 10, 2026
📍SH Sokol Brno I
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Volejbal Brno (CZE) – KV Luboteni Ferizaj (KOS) 3-0 (25:13, 25:18, 25:17)
📍Mestska Sportova Hala Komárno
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Rieker UJS Komárno (SVK) – Buducnost Podgorica (MNE) 3-0 (25:23, 25:21, 25:18)
📍Sports Hall “Breza” Gornji Milanovac
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Takovo Gornji Milanovac (SRB) – Robezsardze/RSU Riga (LAT) 3-0 (25:16, 26:24, 25:17)
📍Sparkassen-Arena Hildesheim
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Helios Grizzlys Giesen (GER) – OFI Crete Herakleion (GRE) 3-0 (25:17, 25:20, 25:19)
📍Hall des Sports Lorentzweiler
• 19.30 (Local Time) | VC Lorentzweiler (LUX) – BK Tromsø (NOR) 3-0 (25:19, 25:17, 25:17)
📍Linth Arena Näfels
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Axpo Volley Näfels (SUI) – Bigbank Tartu (EST) 2-3 (15:25, 22:25, 25:20, 25:18, 13:15)

Wednesday November 11, 2026
📍Sports Hall Pärnu
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Pärnu VC (EST) – VK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)
📍Mediteranski Sportski Centar Budva
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Budva (MNE) – Lokomotiv Avia Plovdiv (BUL)
📍SSD Trnsko Zagreb
• 18.00 (Local Time) | MOK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) – OK i-Vent Maribor (SLO)
📍Nastavno-Sportska Dvorana Gradski Vrt – Small Hall Osijek
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Hapoel Mate-Asher Akko (ISR) – MOK Mursa Osijek (CRO)
📍Jufa Arena Bleiburg
• 19.00 (Local Time) | SK Zadruga Aich/Dob (AUT) – Nordenskov UIF (NOR)
📍Palacio de los Deportes Quico Cabrera Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Cisneros Altes La Laguna (ESP) – VC Stroossen (LUX)
📍Sporthalle Grünfeld Jona
• 19.00 (Local Time) | TSV Jona (SUI) – MÁV Elore Székesfehérvár (HUN)
📍Akaa Arena
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Leomuovi Akaa Volley (FIN) – AC Oulu (FIN)
📍Gradska Sportska Dvorana Sokolana Kastel Sucurac
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Ribola Kaštela (CRO) – UVC Holding Graz (AUT)
📍Pabellon de Los Pajaritos Soria
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Grupo Herce Río Duero Soria (ESP) – Karađorđe Topola (SRB)
📍Oyrane Arena Forde
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Forde VBK (NOR) – Ordu Baku (AZE)
📍Wolfskamer Huizen
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Prima Donna Kaas Huizen (NED) – Lindemans Aalst (BEL)

Thursday November 12, 2026
📍Vexve Areena Sastamala
• 18.30 (Local Time) | Ford Levoranta Sastamala (FIN) – VC Strumica (MKD)

Tuesday November 17, 2026
📍Messzi Istvan Sportcsarnok Kecskemet (HUN)
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Istanbul Gençlik SK (TUR) – Maccabi Yeadim Tel-Aviv (ISR)
📍Hristo Botev Sofia
• 18.30 (Local Time) | CSKA Sofia (BUL) – Epicentr – Podolyany Horodok (UKR)

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SECOND LEG

Thursday November 12, 2026
📍Nastavno-Sportska Dvorana Gradski Vrt – Small Hall Osijek
• 18.00 (Local Time) | MOK Mursa Osijek (CRO) – Hapoel Mate-Asher Akko (ISR)

Tuesday November 17, 2026
📍Tromsøhallen Tromsø
• 18.00 (Local Time) | BK Tromsø (NOR) – VC Lorentzweiler (LUX)

Wednesday November 18, 2026
📍Messzi Istvan Sportcsarnok Kecskemet (HUN)
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Maccabi Yeadim Tel-Aviv (ISR) – Istanbul Gençlik SK (TUR)
📍SC Verde Podgorica
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Buducnost Podgorica (MNE) – Rieker UJS Komárno (SVK)
📍Ouluhalli Oulu
• 18.00 (Local Time) | AC Oulu (FIN) – Leomuovi Akaa Volley (FIN)
📍OS Karađorđe Topola
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Karađorđe Topola (SRB) – Grupo Herce Río Duero Soria (ESP)
📍Park Strumica
• 18.00 (Local Time) | VC Strumica (MKD) – Ford Levoranta Sastamala (FIN)
📍Hristo Botev Sofia
• 18.30 (Local Time) | Podolyany Horodok (UKR) – CSKA Sofia (BUL) – Epicentr
📍University Sport Hall Plovdiv
• 18.30 (Local Time) | Lokomotiv Avia Plovdiv (BUL) – Budva (MNE)
📍Bardinogianneio Heraklion
• 19.00 (Local Time) | OFI Crete Herakleion (GRE) – Helios Grizzlys Giesen (GER)
📍Dvorana Tabor Maribor
• 19.00 (Local Time) | OK i-Vent Maribor (SLO) – MOK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
📍Palestra Bill Clinton Ferizaj
• 19.00 (Local Time) | KV Luboteni Ferizaj (KOS) – Volejbal Brno (CZE)
📍Raiffeisen Sportpark Graz / B
• 19.00 (Local Time) | UVC Holding Graz (AUT) – Ribola Kaštela (CRO)
📍Hellehallen Årre
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Nordenskov UIF (NOR) – SK Zadruga Aich/Dob (AUT)
📍Hall Omnisports Strassen
• 19.30 (Local Time) | VC Stroossen (LUX) – Cisneros Altes La Laguna (ESP)
📍Sportcentrum Schotte Aalst
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Lindemans Aalst (BEL) – Prima Donna Kaas Huizen (NED)

Thursday November 19, 2026
📍Tatabányai Multifunkcionális Csarnok
• 17.00 (Local Time) | MÁV Elore Székesfehérvár (HUN) – TSV Jona (SUI)
📍A.Y.S. Sport Hall Baku
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Ordu Baku (AZE) – Forde VBK (NOR)
📍Sport Hall Gopass Arena Bratislava
• 19.00 (Local Time) | VK Slovan Bratislava (SVK) – Pärnu VC (EST)
📍Sports Hall University of Tartu
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Bigbank Tartu (EST) – Axpo Volley Näfels (SUI)

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