The men’s national volleyball champions were crowned in 13 countries – Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Switzerland - from Friday to Sunday of last week
Cup winners emerged in Qatar on Saturday and in Egypt on Sunday
Super Cup winners celebrated in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday
BELGIUM
Knack Roeselare beat Greenyard Maaseik in the best-of-five final playoff in Belgium to claim their fourth consecutive and 15th overall national title. Greenyard started the series with a 3-1 (25-21, 31-29, 21-25, 25-19) home win on 18 April. Knack reacted with a 3-1 (25-22, 27-29, 25-15, 25-20) home win on 20 April and edged ahead with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 26-24) away win on 23 April. Greenyard managed a hard-fought 3-2 (19-25, 25-19, 24-26, 25-16, 15-8) victory in Roeselare on 25 April to level the series again to 2-2. In the deciding match in front of three thousand fans in the stands in Maaseik on Sunday, Knack delivered a 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-23) sweep to win the title. The two teams qualified for the final after topping the standings in a six-team double round-robin playoff. Lindemans Aalst finished third to take the bronze.
Knack Roeselare’s team roster
BRAZIL
In a stunning volleyball spectacle, Sesi Bauru secured the Brazilian men's volleyball Superliga title last Sunday by defeating Volei Renata Campinas in a resounding 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-20) victory at the Geraldao Gymnasium in Recife. Under the guidance of coach Anderson Rodrigues, an Olympic champion at Athens 2004, the team cruised to their second championship title in the competition's history. The standout performer of the match, and indeed the entire Superliga, was opposite Darlan Souza, who amassed an impressive 22 points. Not only did Darlan dominate the final, but he was also rightfully crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the league. At just 21 years of age, Darlan emerged as the league's top scorer and boasted the highest number of aces throughout the competition. In the best-of-three semi-finals earlier in April, Sesi overcame Joinville Volei, while Renata knocked out Vedacit Volei Guarulhos.
Sesi Bauru’s team roster
BULGARIA
Levski Sofia returned to the champion’s throne in Bulgaria after 15 years. They celebrated their 20th national title, but first since 2009. The best-of-five final playoff offered three exciting editions of Bulgaria’s “derby” between Levski Sofia and CSKA Sofia. Levski won the series in three matches – 3-2 (21-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-18, 15-11) at home on 20 April, 3-1 (25-20, 30-28, 19-25, 25-22) away on 23 April and 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-21) at home again on Friday. In the best-of-five semi-finals, Levski eliminated Neftohimik Burgas, while CSKA beat Deya Volley Burgas, each in 3-1 in wins.
Levski’s 20-year-old outside Vladimir Garkov received the MVP honours. On the season’s Dream Team, he was joined by setter Delcho Raev (CSKA), opposite Spas Bayrev (Beroe Stara Zagora), outside hitter Branimir Grozdanov (Neftohimik), middle blockers Bruno Rubbo (Montana) and Svetoslav Gotsev (Levski), and libero Petar Karakashev (Hebar Pazardzhik). The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation President Lyubomir Ganev presided over the awards ceremony.
Levski Sofia’s team roster
EGYPT
Al Ahly Cairo have been crowned the winners of the 2023-2024 Egypt Cup. They beat las years’ winners Zamalek Giza by 3-1 (24-26, 25-19, 25-16, 25-20) in the final on Sunday to cap a perfect season that also saw them emerge victorious in many other competitions including the Egyptian league, the Egypt Super Cup and the African Club Championship. Al Ahly had beaten Petrojet Cairo in straight sets in the semi-finals to qualify for the final and Zamalek had beaten Tala'ea El Gaish Cairo in a five set semi-final.
Al Ahly Cairo’s team roster
Al Ahly’s players and officials celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2023-2024 Egypt Cup (Photo credits: EVBF)
ENGLAND
The Final 4 Weekend in England’s Super League was held at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering on Saturday and Sunday. Defending champions Durham Palatinates claimed their third consecutive title after a 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17) victory over IBB Polonia London in the final. Essex Rebels Colchester earned the bronze after a spectacular 3-2 (19-25, 23-25, 25-22, 28-26, 15-10) comeback against Malory Eagles London in the third-place match. Durham’s 25-year-old middle blocker Grant Maleski of the USA was named MVP.
Durham Palatinates’ team roster
FRANCE
Saint-Nazair Atlantique triumphed as French champions for the first time in history. A golden set decided the final playoff against Tours on Sunday. Saint-Nazair had produced a 3-1 (25-17, 21-25, 25-17, 25-17) home win in the first match on 24 April, but lost the return game in Tours on Sunday by a narrow 3-2 (21-25, 25-18, 29-27, 21-25, 17-15). In the golden set that followed, Saint-Nazair managed a 15-12 win to celebrate the win. Before that, in the best-of-three semifinals, Saint-Nazair overcame Tourcoing Lille Metropole in a deciding third match, while Tours knocked out Chaumont 52 Haute Marne in two games.
Saint-Nazair Atlantique’s team roster
GERMANY
Berlin Recycling Volleys have been named the champions of Germany again, for the eighth time in a row and 14th time overall. They mastered a spectacular turnaround in the best-of-five final playoff after losing the first two matches to rivals Friedrichshafen. Berlin started their comeback with a 3-1 (24-26, 25-19, 25-22, 25-15) home win on 20 April and leveled the series with a 3-2 (23-25, 25-15, 23-25, 25-19, 15-13) win on 23 April.
In Sunday’s decider in front of over 8,500 spectators in the sold-out stands in the German capital, the team from Berlin secured an emphatic 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-17) sweep. Friedrichshafen’s 30-year-old Polish opposite Michal Superlak was voted MVP by the fans. The German Volleyball Federation President Markus Dieckmann handed the trophies to the winners. Earlier, in March and April, Berlin swept their semi-final series against SVG Lueneburg with three back-to-back wins, while Friedrichshafen had to persevere through another five-match playoff to overcome Helios Grizzlys Giesen.
Berlin Recycling Volleys’ team roster
HUNGARY
Defending champions Fino Kaposvar celebrated in Hungary’s best-of-five final playoff against MAV Elore Foxconn Szekesfehervar after the fourth match and collected the 20th national title in the club’s history. They started with two four-set victories on 16 April and 19 April. The squad from Szekesfehervar came back with a 3-2 (20-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-19, 15-13) victory in Kaposvar on 22 April. However, on Friday, Fino Kaposvar secured the win to lift the trophy. MAFC-BME Budapest beat DEAC Debrecen in the bronze medal series by 3-1 in wins.
Fino Kaposvar’s team roster
ITALY
Reigning club world champions Sir Susa Vim Perugia completed an impressive golden quadruple after adding the national title to the national cup and national super cup trophies they also claimed earlier in the season. In the best-of-five final series, they defeated Mint Vero Volley Monza by 3-1 in wins to pick up the second national championship title in the club’s history. The stunning play by Sir’s 27-year-old star setter Simone Giannelli earned him the finals’ MVP recognition. Allianz Milan took the bronze, beating Itas Trentino Trento in the third-place playoffs, also by 3-1 in wins.
Sir Susa Vim Perugia’s team roster
NETHERLANDS
Active Living Orion Doetinchem closed the championship playoff against Draisma Dynamo Apeldoorn in the Netherlands on Friday to triumph as national champions for the third time in history. They won the best-of-five final series with a hard-fought 3-2 victory on 20 April and another five-set win on 21 April. The third match on 24 April in Doetinchem offered yet another five-set battle with Dynamo claiming victory in a remarkable 3-2 (23-25, 14-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-10) comeback. On 26 April, Orion secured a 3-1 (21-25, 25-14, 25-22, 25-23) away win to win the series. The two teams had both won epic five-game semi-final playoffs with Orion beating Numidia Limax Linne, and Dynamo eliminating Nova Tech Lycurgus Groningen.
Active Living Orion Doetinchem’s team roster
POLAND
Defending champions of Poland Jastrzebski Wegiel Jastrzebie-Zdroj picked up their fourth national title after winning the best-of-three final playoff against Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie in three matches. On 24 April, they managed a 3-0 (25-18, 27-25, 25-23) away win, but Aluron came back to achieve a 3-1 (27-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-23) win in Jastrzebie-Zdroj on Saturday. In Sunday’s decider, again in Jastrzebie-Zdroj, the home side delighted their fans with a 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-23, 25-18) victory and the trophy. Projekt Warsaw claimed the bronze after two straight-set wins over Asseco Resovia Rzeszow in the bronze medal match.
Jastrzebski Wegiel Jastrzebie-Zdroj’s team roster
QATAR
Al Arabi Doha won the Qatar Cup for the 18th time in the club’s history. In Saturday’s final, they produced a 3-1 (25-19, 25-27, 28-26, 27-25) victory over Al-Rayyan. The Qatar Volleyball Association President Ali Ghanim Al-Kuwari presented the trophy to the winners.
Al Arabi Doha’s team roster
SAUDI ARABIA
Al-Hilal Airlines Riyadh topped the final standings in the Saudi Arabia Premier League Volleyball Championship and claimed the title for the 19th time in history. Al-Ittihad Jeddah received the silver medals, while third-placed Al-Ibtisam Qatif completed the podium with bronze. The Saudi Arabian Volleyball Federation President Khaled Mansour Al-Zughaibi presented the trophy and the gold medals to the winners during Sunday’s awarding ceremony in Jeddah.
SERBIA
Crvena Zvezda Belgrade celebrated as champions of Serbia for the first time since 2016. After emerging victorious from a hard-fought five-match final playoff against competitors Partizan Efbet Belgrade, they added the seventh national title to their showcase, which also contains five Yugoslavian titles and one title of Serbia and Montenegro. Crvena Zvezda took a two-victory lead in the championship series after a 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-23) sweep at home on 14 April and a 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 22-25, 25-17) win away on 17 April. Partizan struck back with two five-set victories - 3-2 (27-29, 25-20, 21-25, 25-20, 15-12) at Crvena Zvezda on 20 April and 3-2 (25-23, 27-25, 22-25, 22-25, 15-13) at home on 23 April. In Friday’s decider, Crvena Zvezda celebrated a 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-18) win to snatch the trophy. Volleyball Federation of Serbia President Gyula Mester handed the trophy to the winners. Crvena Zvezda’s 22-year-old opposite Dusan Nikolic was recognised as MVP. In the semi-finals, the champions-to-be produced two wins over Karadjordje Topola, while Partizan overcame Radnicki DOO Kragujevac to secure a spot in the final.
Crvena zvezda Belgrade’s team roster
SWITZERLAND
Volley Schoenenwerd defended their title in Switzerland after winning Saturday’s deciding fifth match of the best-of-five final playoff against Volley Amriswil. After four games of the series it was level at 2-2 however Schoenenwerd capitalised on their home-court advantage for the fifth game to deliver a 3-1 (25-18, 17-25, 25-20, 26-24) win and close the series. Lausanne beat Concordia Volley Lucerne to claim the bronze.
Volley Schoenenwerd’s team roster
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai won the Super Cup in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. They finished the three-day single round-robin final-four tournament on top of the final standings on a 2-1 win-loss record and 6 points. This was a point clear of second-placed Ajman, who also won two of their three matches. Al Jazira Abu Dhabi, the only team that managed to defeat the eventual winners, finished in third place on 1-2 and 4, leaving Al-Nasr Dubai behind in fourth on 1-2 and 3. The United Arab Emirates Volleyball Association President Abdulla Juma Aldarmaki was among the distinguished award presenters at the closing ceremony.