In the last month or so, Jastrzębski Węgiel made four transfers. A 35-year-old libero Paweł Rusek (Asseco Resovia Rzeszów) has returned to the club after six seasons, signing a two-year deal. He is one of the most notable players in Jastrzębski history as he defended the colors of the club continuously for 8 seasons (2004-2012). Rusek appeared in Jastrzębski in a historical championship season in Plus Liga (2003/2004) to immediately become a starter despite being a 21-year-old at the time. He also won the Polish cup in 2010 to become the Best Receiver. In addition to Rusek, Jastrzębski signed setter Nikodem Wolański (AZS PWSZ Stal Nysa, Division 2), opposite Jakub Bucki (BBTS Bielsko-Biała), and outside hitter Patryk Czyrniański (brought in from the youth team).
Chemik Bydgoszcz (last season under the name Łuczniczka Bydgoszcz) decided to extend the contract with young opposite Paweł Gryc. Throughout the last season, he scored 217 points and received MVP of the match award twice. His backup in the 2018/19 will be the 19-year-old Mateusz Witek who came to the club after winning a silver medal in the Polish Junior League with Metro Warszawa and earning Best Opposite award. Former Polish junior champion Bartłomiej Lipiński strengthened Bydgoszcz, coming from Italian Division 2 side Aurispa Alessano. The experienced Brazilian setter Raphael Margarido “Vinhedo” (SL Benfica, Portugal) and Belarusian middle blocker Maksim Marozau (Dafi Społem Kielce) also came to Bydgoszcz.
MKS Będzin will have two players with the last name Kowalski in the 2018/19. Firstly, they hired a 2.03m tall setter Tomasz from Stocznia Szczecin, who returned to the club after three seasons and then extended with middle blocker Mateusz, who will play his third straight season with Będzin. Two more players extended as well: libero Szymon Gregorowicz and outside hitter Jakub Peszko.
Aluron Virtu Warta Zawiercie closed the roster for the 2018/19 by hiring young outside hitter Kamil Semeniuk, who spent the last season with Zaksa Kędzierzyn-Koźle and won the silver medal in Plus Liga. In the 2015/2016, Semeniuk was named MVP of the Polish Youth League. Aluron Virtu 2018/19 roster: SETTERS – Michal Masný and Arash Dosanjh; OPPOSITES – Grzegorz Bociek and Mateusz Malinowski; OUTSIDE HITTERS – Michał Żuk, Olieg Achrem, Marcin Waliński, and Kamil Semeniuk; MIDDLE BLOCKERS – Łukasz Swodczyk, Bartosz Gawryszewski, Marcin Kania, and Krzysztof Rejno; LIBEROS – Taichiro Koga and Krzysztof Andrzejewski; COACH – Mark Lebedew.
The former Poland national team outside hitter Michał Ruciak strengthened Cerrad Czarni Radom after playing the last two seasons with Stocznia Szczecin. Interestingly, a player who collected 166 caps for Poland and won the CEV European Championship and FIVB World League once each will switch to libero position in the next season. Czarni also hired Switzerland national team setter Reto Giger who came from Biogas volley näfels.
See our sections – Transfers – Done Deals and Transfers – Rumors.
SUBSCRIBE to have full access to WoV PROFILES, STATS, and WoVVIDEO.
Discover what’s new in the volleyball world.