Shtip UGD to debut in CEV Champions League on October 21

Shtip UGD will make its debut in the CEV Champions League on October 21, when it travels to face Dutch side Orion Stars in the first leg of the opening qualifying round. The European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) has confirmed the dates for the early phase of the elite competition.

The club that holds the domestic men’s double crown, Shtip UGD, advances this season from earlier appearances in European club cups to the Champions League for the first time, starting its campaign in the first qualifying round against Orion Stars.

The first leg is scheduled for October 21 at 20:00 at the Topsporthal in Doetinchem, Netherlands. The return match will be played at Jackson Hall in Shtip on October 28 at 18:00.

Path in Europe

The winner of the two-legged tie will progress to the second qualifying round, where they would meet Slovenian side ACH Volley Ljubljana. The defeated team will continue in the CEV Cup, the continent’s second-tier club competition, but will be exempt from the first round and enter directly into the 1/16 finals.

The upcoming fixtures represent a milestone for Shtip UGD and Macedonian men’s volleyball, offering the team competitive exposure at the highest club level in Europe and a chance to test its roster against established continental opponents.

Photo: press material from the event