2015 CEV DenizBank Champions League

Quotas:
3 teams - Italy, Poland
2 teams - Russia, Turkey, Belgium, Germany, France, Greece
1 team - Austria, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Spain, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Montenegro
+2 Wild Cards

Macerata
Piacenza*
Sir Safety Perugia

AKS Rzeszów
Jastrzębski Węgiel
Skra Bełchatów

Zenit Kazan
Lokomotiv Novosibirsk/Belogorie

Halkbank Ankara
Fenerbahçe

TV Antwerpen
VT Roeselare

SCC Berlin
VfB Friedrichshafen

Tours
Paris

Ethnikos Alexandropulos
Olympiakos

Tirol Innsbruck

Tomis Costanta

ACH Ljubljana

Crvena Zvezda

Teruel

MUI Dupnica

České Budějovice

Budvanska Rivijera

+ 2 wild cards

*Piacenza may move to Milan. Not clear situation.

Wild card ---- Arkas?
Only two teams from Russia? What about Lokomotive Belogorie?

Quote from kondzio

Quotas:
3 teams - Italy, Poland
2 teams - Russia, Turkey, Belgium, Germany, France, Greece
1 team - Austria, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia, Spain, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Montenegro
+2 Wild Cards

I don't mean to offend any fan of Polish/Italian volleyball but there is clearly something wrong with these quotas.

Russian teams won the last 3 editions, but even last season Russia had just 2 spots. I don't know. I followed Kondzio's post. Kondzio, please, could you put the new ranking link?

Quote from ravens#7

Russian teams won the last 3 editions, but even last season Russia had just 2 spots. I don't know. I followed Kondzio's post. Kondzio, please, could you put the new ranking link?

There's no need to put it again, Bartek enclosed it in first post, it's 2nd and 3rd page in this e-book published by CEV ranking of each club is based on club's performances in European Cups in 2011, 2012 and 2013 maybe other Russian teams did not good enough, it's hard to find reason for only 2 spots for Russia and for Poland or Italy... maybe Russian team will get a Wild Card

If Bulgaria gets a spot, it will be Marek Union-Ivkoni. Hypo Tirol Innsbruck won the Austrian League, perhaps they will be representing Austria. Jihostroj Ceske Budejovice won the Czech League, as far as I know. Probably Tours and Paris Volley will represent France. Belogorie SHOULD participate as a reigning champion, regardless of whether Novosibirsk get the second quota. Russia must have three teams, no matter what.

CEV doesn't care of what is right or wrong or even logic, same as FIVB and their approach to competitions for the money.

Zenit, Loko and Belgorod r Russian teams in CL. I know Posojilnica won't play in CL, even if they have won Austrian league, due lack of money.

AUT - Hypo Tirol INNSBRUCK
AUT - Posojilnica AICH/DOB (Wild card)
BEL - Knack ROESELARE
BEL - Precura ANTWERP
BEL - Noliko MAASEIK (Wild card)
BUL - Marek Union-Ivkoni DUPNITSA
CZE - Jihostroj CESKE BUDEJOVICE
ESP - CAI TERUEL
FRA - TOURS VB
FRA - PARIS Volley
GER - BERLIN Recycling Volleys
GER - VfB FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
GRE - Olympiacos PIRAEUS
ITA - Cucine Lube TREIA
ITA - Sir Safety PERUGIA
ITA - Copra Elior PIACENZA
MNE - Budvanska Rivijera BUDVA
POL - PGE Skra BELCHATOW
POL - Asseco Resovia RZESZOW
POL - JASTRZEBSKI Wegiel
ROU - Tomis CONSTANTA
RUS - Zenit KAZAN
RUS - Lokomotiv NOVOSIBISRK
RUS - Belogorie BELGOROD (Wild card)
SLO - ACH Volley LJUBLJANA
SUI - Energy Investments LUGANO (Wild card)
TUR - Halkbank ANKARA
TUR - Fenerbahce Grundig ISTANBUL

It seems Posojilnica got one of the four wild cards, regardless of their current status. Piacenza is also there, but the situation with the club arouses many questions. Belogorie's invitation was expected. In CEV's main page they claim it's a debut participation for Perugia, but technically speaking, they have had a Champions League place already. I know the difference is perhaps administrative, but I wouldn't call it a tournament debut. Precura Antwerpen is the only "real" newcomer.

Friend of mine is playing in Austrian Bundesliga and a month ago he said Posojilnica won't play in CL due financial reasons. I also read same in local newspaper few months ago when it wasn't clear will they defend champion title. What changed in 20-25 days I dont know but seems they closed financial construction with CL costs.

Also it's unclear will ACH Ljubljana survive, they have huge financial problems, players didnt get wages for 2014 (if my insider is right, he should be as he played in ACH last season) so I wouldnt be surprised if they give up on CL.

Crvena Zvezda announced they wont play in CL again, Challenge Cup is good competition for them.

Baskets before draw:
1) Lube Banca, Sir Safety, Copra Elior, PGE Skra, Asseco Resovia, JW, Zenit Kazan
2) Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, HalkBank, Fenerbahce, Knack Roeselare, Precura Antwerp, Recycling Volleys, Friedrischafen
3) Tours VB, Paris Volley, Olympiakos Pireus, Hypo Tirol, Tomis, ACH Volley, CAI Teruel
4) Marek, Jihostroj, Budvanska Rivijera, Belogorie, Noliko, Posoljnica, Dragons Lugano

Quote from Bartek

CEV lol Belogorie CL Champion in last pot.

Yes, such is CEV's logic. The pots are based on final standings in national championships. Belogorie failed to win the Russian League, got a wild card and there you go - last pot. Such was the case with Trentino when they couldn't win the scudetto, but won back-to-back Champions League trophies. It is a ridiculous seeding and I wish all the best of luck and well-being to the poor soles in the top pot to draw an "outsider" like Belogorie. I wouldn'y put a Russian team (Loko Novosibirsk) in the second pot either, but who am I to say so? So there's a mathematical chance that we have Zenit, Lokomotiv Novosibirsk and Belogorie in the same pool. Because yes, these geniuses allow this as well.

Quote from YavorD

Yes, such is CEV's logic. The pots are based on final standings in national championships. Belogorie failed to win the Russian League, got a wild card and there you go - last pot. Such was the case with Trentino when they couldn't win the scudetto, but won back-to-back Champions League trophies. It is a ridiculous seeding and I wish all the best of luck and well-being to the poor soles in the top pot to draw an "outsider" like Belogorie. I wouldn'y put a Russian team (Loko Novosibirsk) in the second pot either, but who am I to say so? So there's a mathematical chance that we have Zenit, Lokomotiv Novosibirsk and Belogorie in the same pool. Because yes, these geniuses allow this as well.

The only logic that I can spot here is that Italy and Poland should have best chances to win the trophy. Typical shallow eurocrap... or maybe CEV has introduced sanctions against Russia?

Quote from powsoff

The only logic that I can spot here is that Italy and Poland should have best chances to win the trophy. Typical shallow eurocrap... or maybe CEV has introduced sanctions against Russia?

It is corruption, the main thing holding the sport back.

Pool's Draw:
A: Copra Elior Piacenza, Knack Roeselare, Tomis Constanta, Dragons Lugano
B: Jastrzębski Węgiel, Lokomotiv Novosibirsk, CAI Teruel, Marek Union Dupnitsa
C: Asseco Resovia Rzeszów, Berlin Recycling Volleys, ACH Volley Ljubljana, Budvanska Rivijera
D: Zenit Kazan, VFB Friedrichshafen, Olympiakos Pireus, Posoljnica
E: Cucine Lube Treia, Fenerbahce Grundig Istanbul, Paris Volley, Belogorie
F: PGE Skra Bełchatów, Precura Volley Antwerp, Hypo Tirol Innsbruck, Jihostroj Ceske Budejovice
G: Sir Safety Perugia, Halkbank Ankara, Tours VB, Noliko Maaseik

What do you think about it guys?

Quote from kondzio

E: Cucine Lube Treia, Fenerbahce Grundig Istanbul, Paris Volley, Belogorie

No comment ! What a group

The last champion of CEV Cup Paris Volley, last champion of Challenge Cup Fenerbahce and last champion of CEV Champions League Belgorod in the same group.