Shtip UGD beaten 3–0 by Orion Stars in Champions League debut
Macedonian champions lost 25:13, 25:19, 25:17 in Doetinchem; return leg is next week at Jackson Hall in Shtip.
On October 21, 2026, Macedonian champions Shtip UGD lost 3:0 in sets at Orion Stars in Doetinchem, Netherlands, in the first leg of the opening round of Champions League qualifying.
Orion Stars controlled the match from the start
The home side proved dominant across all three sets, winning 25:13, 25:19 and 25:17 in a match that lasted 70 minutes. Orion Stars built their advantage mainly through superior attacking play and a stronger block, preventing Shtip UGD from finding its rhythm.
Orion Stars' Ter Mat finished as top scorer with 14 points, while Lars Ent added 11. For Shtip UGD, Zadmard and Stojan Iliev were the leading scorers with nine points each, and Aleksandar Ljaftov contributed eight.
Shtip UGD now faces the task of overturning the deficit at home in the return on schedule next week at Jackson Hall in Shtip.
The result ends Shtip UGD's first-ever match in the Champions League qualifying stage with a clear defeat, leaving them to prepare for a decisive home performance.
Photo: CEV.eu
