The 2015–16 CEV Challenge Cup was the 36th edition of the CEV Challenge Cup tournament, the former CEV Cup.
This edition of the CEV Challenge Cup was historic one since a team from Kosovo was invited for the first time to take part in a CEV competition - the Kosovo's champions Drenica R&Rukolli Skenderaj. Italian club Calzedonia Verona beat Russian Fakel Novy Urengoy in the finale. American outside hitter Taylor Sander received individual award for the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Participating teams The number of participants on the basis of ranking list for European Cup Competitions:
+ Rank Country Number of teams Teams11 Fakel Novy Urengoy21 Calzedonia Verona41 İstanbul BB51 Prefaxis Menen 81 C.S. Arcada Galati91 Ethnikos Alexandroupolis112 Union Raiffeisen Waldviertel, VCA Amstetten NÖ122 Calcit Volleyball, Panvita Pomgrad132 OK Novi Pazar, Spartak Ljig152 Biogas Volley Näfels, Volley Amriswil 191 Raision Loimu201 Orion Doetinchem 221 Hapoel Kfar Saba231 Bate-Bgu Borisov242 Mladost Zagreb, Mladost Marina Kastela252 Anorthosis Famagusta, Pokka AE Karava261 Mladost Brcko 271 Spartak Myjava 282 S.L. Benfica, Fonte Bastardo Açores302 BK Tromsø, Nyborg Bergen 311 Studenti Tirana321 Fino Kaposvar331 Gentofte Volley351 Ballymoney Blaze - 1 Drenica R&Rukolli Skenderaj
Qualification phase
1st round 1st leg 24 October 2015 2nd leg 25 October 2015
2nd round 1st leg 4–21 November 2016 2nd leg 17–22 November 2016
Main phase In this phase, the 16 teams eliminated from 2015–16 Men's CEV Cup Round of 32 joined the 16 teams from qualification.
16th finals 1st leg 1–15 December 2016 2nd leg 15–17 December 2016
Notes
8th finals 1st leg 19–21 January 2016 2nd leg 26–28 January 2016
4th finals 1st leg 16–17 February 2016 2nd leg 18 February – 2 March 2016
Final phase
Semi-finals
First leg
Second leg
Final
First leg
Second leg
Final standing
RankTeam Calzedonia Verona Fakel Novy UrengoySemifinalists Prefaxis Menen S.L. Benfica
2016 Men's CEV Challenge Cup winnerCalzedonia Verona 1st title Aidan Zingel, Uroš Kovačević, Nicola Pesaresi, Carmelo Gitto, François Lecat, Luca Spirito, Michele Baranowicz, Saša Starović, Giacomo Bellei, Taylor Sander, Simone Anzani, Bartosz BućkoHead coach Andrea Giani
References
External links Official site