ARGENTINA
The Argentine Men’s volleyball side Ciudad Vóley will enter their sixth consecutive Liga Argentina season with a younger squad than in the 2017/18. Ciudad returned two players that used to play in the club two seasons ago: Felipe Benavídez (Libertad Burgi Vóley) and Ignacio Roberts (PSM Vóley). As for the other reinforcements, Ciudad engaged outside hitter Ignacio Luengas (Obras de San Juan), middle blocker Fabián Flores (Lomas Vóley), and Venezuelan opposite Emerson Rodríguez (Juiz de Fora, Brazil). their captain Santiago Darraidou moved to play in UNTREF Vóley. Four players will leave the club: Jan Martínez, Agustín Loser, Ignacio Fernández, and Gaspar Bitar.
The current league runners-up Personal Bolívar hired their former player Lucas Ocampo who was a protagonist of the two national titles with the club – in the 2010 and 2017.
GREECE
Rafael-Koumentakis
The returnees in the Greek top division Volleyleague, A.E.K., hired experienced libero Dimitrios Gkaras from G.A.S. Pamvohaikos and a 27-year-old Argentine setter Edgardo Lioca who arrived from Personal Bolívar.
Olympiacos S.F.P. poked the fans of their biggest rivals in the previous several seasons P.A.O.K. in the eye by hiring their outside hitter Rafael Koumentakis. A 27-year-old country’s national team player was the MVP of the 2017/18 national cup Final Four. As a logical consequence of winning three titles on the national level, and a silver medal in the 2018 CEV Challenge Cup, Olympiacos continued collaboration with the Spanish coach Fernando Muñoz.
After securing a berth in the next season’s Volleyleague throughout play-out, 18-time champions Panathinaikos A.O. turned to compose the roster for the next season. The “green and white” have hired the trio from A.O. Foinikas Syros: Giorgos Pentidis, Bulgarian Boyan Yordanov, and Dimitrios Zisis. Earlier, Panathinaikos signed PAOK middle blocker Panagiotis Pelekoudas and extended the deal with veteran Sotirios Pantaleon.
A two-time national champion and cup winner with PAOK, Giannis Takouridis, extended the contract with the Thessaloniki club. In addition to a 30-year-old middle blocker, PAOK made the change on the head coach position. Instead of an Italian expert Daniele Ricci, PAOK appointed a promising Romanian coach Sergiu Stancu. A 35-year-old expert led a club in his home country, Tricolorul LMV Ploiești, to the double crown. Recall that PAOK also signed Greece NT captain Djurić.
TURKEY
Ziraat Bankası hired one of the key players of Tokat Bld. Plevne on their way toward returning to the Turkish top flight Efeler Ligi: a 29-year-old outside hitter Fırat Ezel Filiz.
An experienced Ukrainian outside hitter Andrii Tupchii returned to play in Turkey after one season which he spent in Qatar, competing for Al Ahli. As a matter of fact, he wore the jersey of two clubs in Turkey earlier – Afyon Bld. Yüntaş (2015/16) and Jeopark Kula Bld. (2017/18). Now, he will play for Beşiktaş.
GERMANY
Bartlomiej-Boladz
The current German Bundesliga runners-up VfB Friedrichshafen closed several deals for the 2018/19. A 20-year-old Romanian outside hitter Adrian Aciobăniţei returned to the “Häfler” after two seasons which he spent with United Volleys Rhein-Main. The Czech setter Jakub Janouch also arrived in Friedrichshafen, coming from the team in his home country VK Dukla Liberec. Friedrichshafen will have the same pair of opposites in the next season as both Daniel Malescha and the Pole Bartłomiej Bołądź decided to stay in the club for one more year.
See our sections – Transfers – Done Deals and Transfers – Rumors.
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