Szczecin close to signing Kurek, Żygadło, and Kaziyski! İstanbul BBSK extend with blocker and libero

Bartosz-Kurek

POLAND

The Polish men’s volleyball Plus Liga team Stocznia Szczecin (competed as Espadon Szczecin for most of the last season before getting a new sponsor Stocznia) plan to invest big money in reinforcements for the 2018/19. According to sport.pl, two major Polish and one Bulgarian star are close to signing with the club: Bartosz Kurek (Ziraat Bankası, Turkey), Łukasz Żygadło (Sarmayeh Bank, Iran), and Matey Kaziyski (JTEKT Stings, Japan)! Allegedly, Szczecin already agreed to terms with Kurek and the official announcement of the transfer is expected soon. In the expectation of the trio fantastico, Szczecin hired experienced Czech setter Lukáš Ticháček who wore the jersey of Asseco Resovia Rzeszów from 2011. A 33-year-old coach Michał Gogol extended with the club as well as Marcin Wika and Adrian Mihułka. As for departures, six players left Szczecin: Michał Ruciak (Cerrad Czarni Radom), Bartosz Gawryszewski, Mateusz Malinowski (Aluron Virtu Warta Zawiercie), Tomasz Kowalski, and North American duo Jeff Menzel – Justin Duff.

MKS Będzin engaged the first newcomer for the next season – the best scorer of the 2009 CEV Youth European Championships, Adrian Buchowski, who came from Indykpol AZS Olsztyn. The Brazilian Rafael Araújo (ONICO Warszawa), Marcin Waliński, Bulgarian Zlatan Yordanov, Slovenian Jan Klobučar, and American Jonah Seif left Będzin while Artur Ratajczak renewed with the club.

Aluron Virtu Warta Zawiercie signed the setter’s duo – Slovak veteran Michal Masný from Cuprum Lubin in which he served as a captain and Australian prospect Arash Dosanjh from Swiss side Chênois Genève Volleyball. The club also tied Belarusian outside hitter Olieh Achrem, Asseco Resovia Rzeszów legendary player from 2009-2016, who spent the last season in Galatasaray HDI Sigorta (Turkey). Libero Krzysztof Andrzejewski, outside hitter Michał Żuk, and middle blocker Łukasz Swodczyk extended the deal Aluron Virtu. Kamil Długosz, Kacper Popik, Maciej Zajder, Mariusz Marcyniak, Slovak Matej Paták, Brazilian Hugo de Leon, and Grzegorz Pająk left the club.

Prospect libero Jędrzej Gruszczyński, the 2017 FIVB U21 World Championship winner with Poland junior national team, joined Cuprum Lubin from ONICO Warszawa while Estonia national team captain Kert Toobal came from Rennes Volley 35, France.

Trefl Gdańsk remained without their backup outside hitter Wojciech Ferens who spent only half of the 2017/18 in the club.

ITALY

The Italian SuperLega side Kioene Padova has reached a new two-year agreement with Marco Volpato, A 28-year-old starting middle blocker has already spent 6 seasons with the club. In the 2017/18, he made 62 kill blocks.

TURKEY

A 24-year-old middle blocker Uğur Güneş strengthened Turkish Efeler Ligi team İstanbul BBSK, coming from Maliye Piyango. Özkan Hayırlı, also a middle blocker, extended with the club as well as veteran libero Nuri Şahin. İstanbul BBSK parted ways with opposite Demirhan Durul.

İnegöl Bld. engaged three local players: Burak Hazırol from Fenerbahçe, Cüneyt Dağcı from Afyon Bld. Yüntaş and Berkan Bozan from Division 2 side Malatya B.Şehir Bld.

The 2017/18 EfelerlLigi newcomers Arhavi Bld. signed Maliye Piyango outside hitter Murat Karakaya.

RUSSIA

A 24-year-old outside hitter Evgeniy Bannov is the new player of the prominent Russian Superliga club Belogorie Belgorod. He started the last season in Yugra-Samotlor Nizhnevartovsk before moving to Bulgarian Levski. Bannov returned to Samotlor in the finish of the season but could not prevent the relegation of his team to Division 2.

Libero Valeriy Komarov will no longer wear the jersey of the current silver medalists Zenit Sankt-Peterburg.

A 24-year-old middle blocker Denis Getman left Ural Ufa after two seasons to sign with Fakel Novy Urengoy.

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.