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Valsa Group Modena made an emphatic start to its European campaign on Wednesday evening, defeating OK Napredak Odžak 3-0 (25:19, 25:17, 25:12) in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first leg of the CEV Cup 2027 Round of 32.
The Italian side gradually asserted its superiority throughout the encounter, finishing with an increasingly convincing performance that left the hosts with little room to respond.
The opening set offered the most competitive stretch of the match. Napredak, playing in front of its home supporters at the Sports Hall Pere Zečevića, managed to stay within reach during the early exchanges, but Modena’s greater depth and experience ultimately made the difference. The visitors secured the set 25-19 before raising their level in the second, winning 25-17. The third set was a clear demonstration of the gap between the two teams on the night, as Modena accelerated to a 25-12 finish and completed the sweep in straight sets, with 15 points from top scorer and MVP Sil Meijs, followed by Nik Mujanović, who played as outside hitter today, author of 10 points and Arthur Bento with 9.
After just 60 minutes of play, Modena dominated in attack, with 70% team efficiency, in addition to 8 aces and 4 blocks in front of 900 volleyball fans.
For Modena, the result represents a successful return to European competition and an important milestone in a season that has taken an unexpected continental direction.
The club initially earned a place in the Challenge Cup after winning the SuperLega fifth-place playoffs, but a CEV wild card subsequently granted the Emilia-Romagna side entry into the CEV Cup, the second-tier European competition. The opportunity brings Modena back to a tournament in which it enjoyed one of its most recent international triumphs: in the 2022/23 season, the team coached by Andrea Giani lifted the trophy after defeating Belgium’s Knack Roeselare in the final.
The current squad, led by Lorenzo Tubertini, features a blend of young talent and international experience, with players such as Luca Porro, American outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke, Slovenian opposite Nik Mujanović and setter Amir Tizi-Oualou among the names that have contributed to Modena’s SuperLega campaign. The club’s return to European action offers another opportunity to build momentum in a season where domestic and continental ambitions will run in parallel.
Napredak Odžak, meanwhile, entered the tie as one of the leading clubs in Bosnian volleyball.
The team, coached by Ljubiša Ristić, has won the country’s national championship in each of the previous two seasons, and its roster includes several players with experience in Italian volleyball. Ristić himself spent part of his playing career in Italy’s Serie A2, featuring for clubs including Napoli, Forlì and Corigliano Calabro. His son Andrej, an outside hitter, also played in Italy between 2017 and 2020, while Petar Jurić had a brief spell with Brugherio in the 2024/25 season.
Despite Napredak’s domestic credentials, Modena’s experience at the highest level of European club volleyball proved decisive. The Italian side’s ability to control the match from the second set onwards was reflected in the increasingly wide margins, particularly in the third, where the visitors limited the Bosnian champions to just 12 points.
The two teams will meet again on Tuesday, November 17, at the PalaPanini in Modena, with the Italian side holding a substantial advantage. Under the competition’s regulations for the 2026/27 season, a Golden Set will be played if the teams split the two matches, regardless of the aggregate number of sets won. Modena, therefore, has positioned itself favourably, but the return fixture will still be the decisive step in confirming its progression.
For the Italian club, the opening night in Bosnia and Herzegovina was more than just a comfortable victory. It was a confident reintroduction to the European stage, and a reminder that a team with Modena’s history and ambitions will be eager to make the most of its return to the CEV Cup.
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🏆| 2026/27 CEV Cup | 32th Finals
FIRST LEG
Wednesday November 11, 2026
📍SSC Pere Zecevica Odžak
• 20.00 (Local Time) | OK Nepredak Odžak (BIH) – Valsa Group Modena (ITA) 0-3 (19:25, 17:25, 12:25)
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SECOND LEG
Tuesday November 17, 2026
📍PalaPanini Modena
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Valsa Group Modena (ITA) – OK Nepredak Odžak (BIH)
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