VolleyBar40# : Friday July 10, 2026

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Welcome to the 40th (wow!) episode of VolleyBar, and the last one of the week!
We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and for all the messages you send us every day!

In Italy, Rana Verona has announced the signing of Austrian opposite Paul Buchegger for the 2026/27 season.
An experienced international player and a cornerstone of the Austrian national team, he arrives in Verona after two standout seasons with Valsa Group Modena, where he established himself as one of the most reliable opposites in the Italian league. Throughout his career, he has gained valuable experience in Italy, Germany and Turkey, representing Modena, Monza, Ravenna, Ortona, Spor Toto and Catania, after beginning his professional career with Holding Graz in Austria.

“I’m very happy to begin this new adventure in Verona. From the very beginning, I felt a great deal of trust from the club and a lot of enthusiasm surrounding the project, especially after the results achieved last season. I’m joining an ambitious team, and I can’t wait to meet the fans and start working with the coaching staff and my new teammates to achieve even more important goals together,” Paul Buchegger said in the club’s official statement.

“We are very pleased and proud to have brought a player of Paul’s caliber to Verona. He knows the Italian league extremely well, has international experience, and over the past few years has consistently performed at a high level in SuperLega, establishing himself as one of the best players in his position. We are convinced that his technical qualities will fit perfectly with the group we have been building over the years and that he will make a significant contribution on the court,” added sporting director Adi Lami.

In Poland, experienced outside hitter Igor Grobelny has joined PGE GiEK Skra Bełchatów.
Grobelny has already played 11 seasons in PlusLiga, scored nearly 2,000 points, and won two Polish Championship bronze medals. The 33-year-old began his volleyball career in Belgium with VC Euphony Asse-Lennik before making his PlusLiga debut in 2014 with Cerrad Czarni Radom. Two years later he moved to Cuprum Lubin, then spent the 2017/18 season with Austria’s Hypo Tirol AlpenVolleys Haching before returning to Cuprum.
In 2019, he joined Projekt Warszawa, where he spent five seasons, winning two Polish Championship bronze medals and the CEV Challenge Cup. In 2024, he moved to ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle.
After two seasons there, Grobelny is ready for another challenge, having signed with PGE GiEK Skra Bełchatów. He will represent the club in both PlusLiga and European competitions during the 2026/27 campaign.
Last season, Grobelny appeared in 27 PlusLiga matches, scoring 319 points: 257 in attack, 39 blocks and 23 aces, and was named MVP twice.

“Igor is a player who has proven his value in PlusLiga for many years. He brings extensive experience, is a versatile outside hitter, and has repeatedly shown that he can take responsibility for the team’s play in the most important moments. We are delighted that he is joining PGE GiEK Skra Bełchatów,” said club president Michał Bąkiewicz in the club’s official statement, “I believe his skills, character and experience will be a tremendous asset to our team.”

In France, Spacer’s Toulouse has announced its gala match against Narbonne, which will officially open the club’s 2026/27 season on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. And speaking of Narbonne, the club has also announced that its first training session of the new season will take place three months earlier, on August 10.
Meanwhile, Cambrai Volley has announced the signing of Noam Ariel for the 2026/27 season.
Currently preparing with the Israeli national team for the upcoming CEV competitions, he plays as a setter for Israel. A product of his hometown club, he has represented Hapoel Mate-Asher Akko since making his professional debut in 2017, steadily developing into one of the country’s top players.

Internationally, Vietnam’s men’s national team played a friendly match against Mongolia as part of its preparations for the upcoming SEA V Cup in Candon City, Philippines.
Vietnam won the tune-up match 3–1.

Meanwhile, the President of the Polish Volleyball Federation, Sebastian Świderski, has delivered his strongest criticism to date of the International Volleyball Federation’s decision to reinstate Russia in international competitions and restore its place in the world rankings with the points it had when they were frozen in 2022.

And that’s all from us today. Have a great weekend—whether it includes volleyball or not! VolleyBar will be back as always on Monday at 8:00 p.m.
In the meantime, feel free to enjoy the usual “roundups” or press reviews published by real professionals who not only copy, paste, and translate our articles into Italian without bothering to credit the source, but also reproduce press releases word for word.

See you on Monday!

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