Stroossen Eliminated from European Challenge Cup After Defeat to Budva

On Wednesday 19 November 2025, VC Stroossen were eliminated from the qualification round (32nd Finals) of the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup 2026 after losing the second leg at home to VC Budva of Montenegro.

Head coach Massimo Tarantini’s side had lost the first leg 2-3 away and needed a 3-0 or 3-1 victory in Luxembourg to progress to the round of 1/16 finals.

Stroossen started strongly in the opening set, taking a 7-2 lead before allowing Budva to close the gap. By the midpoint of the set, the visitors led 13-10, prompting a timeout from Tarantini. Stroossen continued to chase but levelled at 19-19 thanks to an ace from Gilles Braas. After Budva called a timeout at 23-23, a service error followed by a decisive hit from Sina Arab secured the set 25-23 for the hosts. Opposite Mateja Gajin was Stroossen’s top scorer in the first set with six points.

The second set remained tightly contested until Budva edged ahead 13-12. Stroossen equalised shortly afterwards, but the visitors pulled away late in the set, going 20-18 up. Tarantini called a timeout, but Budva extended their advantage through strong serving by Lazar Dodic, reaching 23-18. Stroossen were unable to add another point and Budva took the set 25-18, levelling the match.

In the third set, Budva again started the stronger side, but Stroossen responded well, taking a 9-6 lead through effective blocking and net play. Budva’s timeout did not initially change the momentum, as the hosts built a 15-10 advantage. Budva then mounted a 9-2 run to turn the set around, forcing Tarantini to stop the game. Two winners from Sina Arab and a block from Gajin brought the score to 20-20. The teams remained level at 23-23 before Dodic pushed Budva ahead and a Stroossen error allowed the visitors to close out the set 25-23.

Reflecting on the moment, Mateja Gajin told Chronicle.lu: “I feel like we dropped a little bit of our focus in reception and in key moments in our blocking and defence. We did our best also to come back of course, but that’s sport, that’s volleyball. It is like that.”

Budva controlled much of the fourth set, leading by four points before Stroossen equalised at 12-12 following an ace from Ryan Matilde Da Luz. However, Dodic again responded with two aces to restore Budva’s four-point lead. Despite efforts from the hosts, the deficit could not be reduced. Budva won the set 25-18 and, with it, the match 3-1.

Mateja Gajin finished as the match’s top scorer with 20 points. He concluded: “After the rough start of the season, with the loss of the Luxembourg Super Cup and also the first round of the cup, it’s a nice moment to brighten up the fire again so that we keep going and now focus on the next few games, which are going to be a bit harder than usual.”