The pairings for the 2nd and 3rd round for the women’s side of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League were announced today. This came after the 26-team field was set, with 12 teams automatically advancing to the 4th round and the other 14 squaring off in rounds two and three.
Just four clubs will make it out of the 14 in order to give round four 16 teams. The 2nd round will start on October 17, with the second match on October 21.
Hapoel KFAR SABA (ISR) vs Developres SkyRes RZESZOW (POL)
Linamar BÉKÉSCSABAI RSE (HUN) vs Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO (ITA)
Minchanka MINSK (BLR) vs Rocheville LE CANNET (FRA)
SLIEDRECHT Sport (NED) vs Asterix Avo BEVEREN (BEL)
Maritza PLOVDIV (BUL) vs LP SALO (FIN)
ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH) vs Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO)
The 2nd round will eliminate six teams prior to round three where Yeinsei Krasnoyarsk and VakifBank Istanbul will await them following 2nd round byes. From there, it will be another two-leg system in which just one team will emerge in each of the four pairings to end the 3rd round.
1. Winner of Minchanka MINSK (BLR)/Rocheville LE CANNET (FRA) vs. VakifBank ISTANBUL (TUR)
2. Winner of Maritza PLOVDIV (BUL)/LP SALO (FIN) vs. Yenisei KRASNOYARSK (RUS)
3. Winner of ZOK Bimal-Jedinstvo BRCKO (BIH)/Nova KBM Branik MARIBOR (SLO) vs. Winner of Hapoel KFAR SABA (ISR)/Developres SkyRes RZESZOW (POL)
4. Winner of SLIEDRECHT Sport (NED)/Asterix Avo BEVEREN (BEL) vs. Winner of Linamar BÉKÉSCSABAI RSE (HUN)/Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO (ITA)
The first match of round three takes place on November 7 at the home arena of the first team listed in the pairing. Match number two is on November 11 and will be at the second team’s home. VaikifBank Istanbul comes in with the most cache as the only team of the 14-club bunch to have won the Champions League, winning their third just several weeks ago.
After the four winning teams are determined from the 3rd round, they will be placed in round four with the dozen teams who sit idle in rounds two and three. From there, the 16 teams will be carved down to a six-club playoff round that leads into the Final Four. That will take place April 28, with the 2018 Women’s CEV Volleyball Champions League Final on April 29.
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