CEV Champions League
The Volleyball Champions League ( official name: Indesit European Champions League ) is the highest European Cup competition for Volleyball club teams. For men, it was played for the first time in the season 1959/1960. The most successful men's team is the VK CSKA Moscow with a total of 13 victories. The competition for women was introduced in 1960. Here the VK Dynamo Moscow leads with eleven titles.
Mode
Eligible are the masters and in the National League behind -placed teams. The exact number of starting places in the individual competitions results from a ranking of the CEV.
The German men currently occupy seventh place, why must play champion and runner of the past Bundesliga season in the Champions League. The women occupy ninth place. Therefore, only the master of the last Bundesliga season playing in the Champions League.
The 28 participants in the men's competition will be drawn into seven groups of four teams. There they play each with three home and away games. The winners and five best runners-up of each group reach the first play-off round. Since certain of the organizers of the Final Four CEV is directly qualified for the final round, instead places after the next best runners. The remaining runners-up as well as the three best third play in the "Challenge Round" of the CEV Cup on, the other teams will be eliminated.
In the women's competition, the 24 participants will be drawn on six groups of four teams. There they play each with three home and away games. The top two teams in each group qualify for the first playoff round. If the organizers of the Final Four this includes, moves to the next best group third parties. The remaining four best third play in the "Challenge Round" of the CEV Cup on, the other teams will be eliminated.
The matches in the first playoff round with twelve teams will be drawn. The teams meet in the knockout system with home and away matches each other. If there are different winners in the two encounters, may decide a Golden Set. The winners determine the next play-off round of the three teams that qualify in addition to the set host to the Final Four. The tournament of the top four teams will be held over one weekend at a central location. One day the semi-finals take place the next day the game for third place and the final.