Challenge Cup: Sastamala and already qualified Hapoel Mate-Asher secure straight-set victories

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Ford Levoranta Sastamala made the most of home advantage at the Vexve Areena, overcoming North Macedonian side VC Strumica in straight sets, 25:13, 25:20, 25:17. The Finnish team imposed its rhythm from the opening exchanges, building a commanding lead in the first set and leaving Strumica with little room to respond. The visitors offered greater resistance in the second, but Sastamala maintained control of the key moments before closing the match in three sets.
Coached by Mikko Esko, Sastamala entered the European campaign looking to make an impression on home soil, and this performance provided a positive start. The 25-13 opening set underlined the difference between the teams on the night, while the more closely contested second set showed Strumica’s ability to remain competitive before the Finnish side pulled away again in the third.
The winners made the difference above all in blocking (11 to 5) and attack (58% to 38%), while Miikka Väisänen was the top scorer with 10 points (59% in attack).

Meanwhile in Osijek, Hapoel Mate-Asher Akko claimed another 3-0 victory over MOK Mursa Osijek, winning the return encounter 25:21, 25:19, 25:20. The Israeli side had already taken the first match 3-0 on Wednesday, also in Osijek, and therefore completed the two-match tie without dropping a set.
The unusual arrangement saw both legs played at the Gradski Vrt Small Hall, with Hapoel unable to host the fixture in Israel because of the current situation in the region. Despite the nominal home advantage belonging to Mursa in the return match, the Croatian side once again found it difficult to contain the reigning Israeli champions.
The winners, coached by Noam Katz, arrived in the competition as one of the most decorated clubs in Israeli volleyball, with 25 national league titles and 15 cup triumphs to their name. Mursa, meanwhile, were representing Croatia after finishing as league runners-up and cup finalists, making another appearance on the European stage.
Robson Rodrigues led Hapoel Mate-Asher Akko with 17 points through 67% in attack and 1 block, while Felipe Banderò added 13.

The two victories offered contrasting but equally convincing statements: Sastamala opened its European campaign with a clean sweep in front of its home crowd, while Hapoel confirmed its superiority across both matches in Osijek, progressing after a particularly unusual two-day European assignment.

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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) 3-0 (25:22, 27:25, 25:21)
📍Mediteranski Sportski Centar Budva
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Budva (MNE) – Lokomotiv Avia Plovdiv (BUL) 3-0 (25:16, 25:16, 25:14)
📍SSD Trnsko Zagreb
• 18.00 (Local Time) | MOK Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) – OK i-Vent Maribor (SLO) 1-3 (18:25, 19:25, 25:16, 21:25)
📍Nastavno-Sportska Dvorana Gradski Vrt – Small Hall Osijek
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Hapoel Mate-Asher Akko (ISR) – MOK Mursa Osijek (CRO) 3-0 (25:19, 25:20, 25:16)
📍Jufa Arena Bleiburg
• 19.00 (Local Time) | SK Zadruga Aich/Dob (AUT) – Nordenskov UIF (NOR) 3-0 (25:19, 25:15, 25:20)
📍Palacio de los Deportes Quico Cabrera Santa Cruz de Tenerife
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Cisneros Altes La Laguna (ESP) – VC Stroossen (LUX) 3-1 (25:21, 25:15, 25:27, 25:13)
📍Sporthalle Grünfeld Jona
• 19.00 (Local Time) | TSV Jona (SUI) – MÁV Elore Székesfehérvár (HUN) 3-2 (25:18, 23:25, 25:20, 16:25, 16:14)
📍Akaa Arena
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Leomuovi Akaa Volley (FIN) – AC Oulu (FIN) 1-3 (25:23, 23:25, 16:25, 17:25)
📍Gradska Sportska Dvorana Sokolana Kastel Sucurac
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Ribola Kaštela (CRO) – UVC Holding Graz (AUT) 3-0 (25:18, 25:21, 25:20)
📍Pabellon de Los Pajaritos Soria
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Grupo Herce Río Duero Soria (ESP) – Karađorđe Topola (SRB) 2-3 (18:25, 25:15, 25:15, 23:25, 14:16)
📍Oyrane Arena Forde
• 19.30 (Local Time) | Forde VBK (NOR) – Ordu Baku (AZE) 0-3 (11:25, 17:25, 19:25)
📍Wolfskamer Huizen
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Prima Donna Kaas Huizen (NED) – Lindemans Aalst (BEL) 1-3 (16:25, 25:23, 23:25, 19:25)

👉🏼Thursday November 12, 2026
📍Vexve Areena Sastamala
• 18.30 (Local Time) | Ford Levoranta Sastamala (FIN) – VC Strumica (MKD) 3-0 (25:13, 25:20, 25:17)

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) 0-3 (21:25, 19:25, 20:25)

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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