Road to the Champions League Begins: ACH Volley Ljubljana Faces the Draw This Tuesday

Tomorrow, at the headquarters of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV), the official draw for the 2025/26 CEV Champions League will take place. Slovenian national champions, ACH Volley Ljubljana, will this season seek their place in the group stage of Europe’s elite club competition through the qualification rounds, which begin with the first round in mid-October.

The newly reinforced and refreshed ACH Volley Ljubljana squad will have to overcome three qualifying rounds before securing a spot in the group stage. The draw for the first round opponents will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, July 15. The remaining two qualification rounds are scheduled for November, while the group phase of the Champions League will commence in December.

Possible opponents in the 1st qualification round include: TSV Hartberg (AUT), Azerrail Baku (AZE), Napredak Odžak (BIH), Levski Sofia (BUL), Akaa Volley (FIN), Olympiakos (GRE), Mursa Osijek (CRO), MAV Foxconn (HUN), Strumica (MKD), Orion Doetinchem (NED), Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU), Radnički Kragujevac (SRB), and Guaguas Las Palmas (ESP).

The draw is being closely followed by the Orange Dragons camp, and three newcomers in the orange jersey shared their thoughts ahead of tomorrow’s announcement:

Igor Kolaković, Head Coach of ACH Volley Ljubljana:
"Our primary goal is, of course, to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League. It’s not ideal that the qualification matches come immediately after the World Championship, in which most of our players will compete, but they will have to recover quickly and be ready for decisive matches. In fact, it’s sometimes easier to play in the group stage than in the qualifiers – but if we want to reach our goal, we’ll have to beat three strong opponents."

Tine Urnaut, Outside Hitter:
"I was slightly surprised that we’ll need to start from the first qualification round, but there’s no reason for concern. It just means more matches, which is not necessarily a bad thing. We’ll align our season’s goals with the Champions League and aim to prepare as best we can, hoping to play as many matches as possible in front of packed stands. Our success will depend on many factors – from our physical and tactical readiness to the support of our fans."

Tonček Štern, Opposite Hitter:
"On one hand, you could argue that we deserved direct entry into the group stage, but on the other hand, these extra matches will serve as an important test for us. Playing against slightly lesser-known teams in the qualifiers can provide a valuable measure of our strength and form. One of our advantages is that most of us also play together on the national team – we know each other well, we complement one another, and we will carry that chemistry into the club level."