Crvena Zvezda impose their rule to secure progression to #CEVChallengeCupW 8th Finals

On Thursday night, the stage was set for another dramatic encounter between Crvena Zvezda BEOGRAD and Belgium’s Tchalou CHAPELLE-LEZ-HERLAIMONT, as the two teams were looking for a win to ensure their progression to the next stage of the women’s Challenge Cup 2026. 

The first matchup had brought a dramatic battle that narrowly went Tchalou’s way and the Belgians were able a secure a small advantage coming into the re-match in Serbia’s capital city. 

Both teams picked up where they left off in the last game, and from the first serve the fans saw an equal contest with players fighting for every point. However, Crvena Zvezda was able to slowly but surely build a small lead and eventually break off at the end of the first set. Tchalou fought back, but they could not come any closer and Red Star won the first set 25-18.

More of the same followed in the second set, as no one was willing to give up any point easily, and the lead was changing sides for the most part of the beginning of the set. Red Star managed to get ahead and seemingly bring the set to a close, however Tchalou made an amazing comeback, but stopped just short of going ahead and the set closed at 25-23 in favour of the hosts.

Tchalou came out strong in the third set, willing to mount a comeback, however it looked like they had given their all in the second set and Red Star was able to control the result and the game, and bring it to a close at 25-16 in the last set.

It was a collective effort by Red Star with Nikolina Lukić and Božica Marković leading the scoring with 14 and 13 points respectively. Tea Radović from Tchalou was the top scorer of the match with 19 points. 

Crvena Zvezda is going through and will be playing HOLTE IF of Denmark in the 8th Finals scheduled for January.