Last Tuesday, while the executives of A.S. Volley Lube were busy in Bentivoglio (Bologna) for the three days of the Serie A Volley Mercato, the CEV has drawn the scoreboards for the 2024/25 European Cups. The red and whites do not yet have a defined opponent, but it is already possible to study the potential match.
The Cucine Lube Civitanova, which will face the Volleyball Challenge Cup (raised to the sky in 2011) for the second time in its history, thanks to the victory of the 2023/24 5th Place Play Offs of SuperLega Credem Banca, will enter the game directly in the round of 32 of final (possible dates 12, 13 or 14 November and 19, 20 or 21 November) challenging the winner of the match between MOK Mursa Osijek, Croatian team, and VK Karlovarsko, Czech team and old acquaintance in the CEV Champions League. In case of passing the round, in the Round of 16 (possible dates 3, 4 or 5 December and 17, 18 or 19 December), the Cucineri could find a Serbian, Ukrainian or Estonian opponent. This is because Karađorđe Topola (CRO) awaits the winner between VC Zhytychi-Polissya Zhytomyr (UKR) and Tartu Bigbank (EST) in the Round of 32; whoever wins will advance to the round of 16 in the part of the draw that also includes Lube.
A Challenge in the red and white board, won in Izmir on 13 March 2011 after the winning tie break in Turkey in the return match against Arkas Izmir, a rival already defeated a few days earlier in the Marche. In that edition, Lube had also eliminated the Serbs of Red Star Belgrade in the Second Round, the Greeks of GC Lamia in the Round of 32, the Israelis of Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the Round of 16, the Russians of Gazprom-Ugra Surgut in the Quarterfinals and the Greeks of IT’S AT. Patron Lux in the Semifinal.
Curiosity
The precedent with Karlovarsko, a potential opponent, dates back to the 2019 Champions League. Red and white victories 3-0 both in Czechia and in Italy in Pool B.
Beppe Cormio (general manager of A.S. Volley Lube):
“For us it will be an important experience to play the Challenge Cup, especially because we have many young people on the roster and I believe that this competition is useful to allow those who have never played the European events to appear on the continental scene. In the initial stages the level of the opponents will not be what we were used to in the Champions League. Taking a look at the draw, however, it didn’t go very well because in the Round of 32 we could already find ourselves facing Karlovarsko, a very respectable opponent already faced years ago in the most coveted Cup. By getting through that round we would be dealing with teams used to the Challenge, but it would be smart for me to look too far ahead.
