Revamped European League to start this weekend in Denmark

The revamped CEV Volleyball European League will start later this week in Odense, Denmark, with the women’s qualification round involving four teams – hosts Denmark, plus Albania, Lithuania, and Luxembourg – with two spots at stake to join the higher-ranked teams already set for the main stage of the competition. To streamline the international calendar and to raise the profile of the event, the CEV Volleyball European League now counts as a direct pathway to qualify for the CEV EuroVolley 2028. 

The expectations are high in Denmark ahead of this coming weekend’s matches in Odense. “The team has come together very well in a short space of time. Starting so soon after the club season has meant that we could really hit the ground running and each day the players have worked hard to take a step forward with our team development and style of play,” says head coach Martin Collins. “We are very lucky to get the opportunity to play these matches at home and no doubt the home support can help and give us a little extra. The matches will be tough as everything always is internationally. However, if we can play our best Volleyball consistently enough, we believe we have a good chance of progressing into the league and earning the right to play more matches with the red and white on.”

Team captain Nora Møllgaard adds: “We are really excited about this national team season because we will have at least three home games and the opportunity to show that we truly want to compete in the European League. We have all just come from our club season, so we are in top shape and have been looking forward to playing for the national team again. We have trained hard and played some good practice matches, and I hope that will show when we put on the jersey on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For me, it is a huge honour to represent our country and play Volleyball at an international level with the best players in Denmark. I am looking forward to standing together as a team this weekend, when we will fight together for a place in the main round of the European League.”

Denmark will first play Lithuania on Friday evening after Albania and Luxembourg open the competition earlier in the afternoon.