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Welcome to the 42nd episode of VolleyBar!
Now a well-established appointment and the first-ever daily volleyball news column (promptly copied by our Italian friends), VolleyBar brings you all the biggest stories of the day in one place.
We begin today in Turkey, where Radostin Stoytchev has been confirmed as the head coach of Turkish powerhouse Halkbank Ankara.
In Italy, Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza, as previously reported, has officially announced the signing of American outside hitter Cooper Robinson (born in 2002) for the 2026ā2027 season.
A UCLA product, where he won back-to-back NCAA championships, Robinson arrives in Piacenza after his first professional season in Japan with the Hiroshima Thunders. Currently representing the United States in the Volleyball Nations League, he is now set to make his SuperLega debut.
āSigning with Piacenza means so much to me. Iām extremely grateful for the opportunity to wear the jersey of this Club and compete at the highest level. Iāve followed Piacenza over the past few years and have been truly impressed by the teamās level of play and the Clubās ambition. I canāt wait to meet the coaching staff, my new teammates, and everyone involved with the organization. Iāll give everything I have for this team and its fans, bringing maximum commitment and determination every single day. Playing in the SuperLega is a dream come true. Iāve followed this league since I was young and always imagined one day competing for one of its top clubs. Iām incredibly happy and proud to do that with Piacenza. I love the passion and energy this league generates thanks to both the players and the fans. I canāt wait to begin this new challenge, compete against the best players in the world, and represent the colors of such an important Club,ā he said in the clubās official statement.
Ninni De Nicolo, Sporting Director of Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza, added: āCooper is an outside hitter who combines outstanding technical ability with excellent athleticism. Heās a player with impressive physical tools, capable of reaching remarkable heights both in attack and at the net, and we believe he can make a significant contribution to our roster. His signing perfectly fits the technical direction the club has chosen to follow, focusing on young, talented players with tremendous room for growth. This season weāll have two American players on the roster, both from the same university and already involved with the U.S. National Team, which is aiming to be a major contender at the upcoming home Olympic Games. Itās certainly a source of pride for us to count on two athletes of this caliber and with such promising futures.ā
Piacenza also welcomed another outside hitter: young Serbian Nikola Brboric, from Vojvodina Mozzart Novi Sad.
Meanwhile, Modena Volley has confirmed Brazilian outside hitter Arthur Bento, while A.S. Volley Lube announced that outside hitter Noa Duflos-Rossi will spend the upcoming season on loan with another SuperLega club, Cisterna Volley.
In Poland, PGE GiEK Skra BeÅchatĆ³w has announced the signing of BartÅomiej Zawalski for the 2026ā2027 season. Standing 204 cm tall, he was one of the standout middle blockers in Polandās second division during the 2025ā2026 campaign and now earns his return to the PlusLiga.
In 2023, he signed with BBTS Bielsko-BiaÅa, where he played for the past three seasons.
During his time in Bielsko-BiaÅa, he appeared in 102 league matches, scoring a total of 761 points. Only in the 2025ā2026 season, he played 36 matches and recorded 268 points, including 24 aces, 84 blocks, and 160 attack points while posting an outstanding 58% attacking efficiency. He was named MVP of the match twice and finished third among all blockers in the Polish 1st League.
āBartÅomiej is a player who has consistently proven his value over the past few seasons,ā said MichaÅ BÄ kiewicz, President of KPS Skra BeÅchatĆ³w. āExcellent numbers, outstanding blocking, and steady development have earned him a return to the PlusLiga. I believe BeÅchatĆ³w is the perfect place for him to take the next step in his career. Heās an ambitious middle blocker who fits perfectly with the direction weāre taking as a club. Weāre delighted to welcome him to BeÅchatĆ³w and wish him a season full of success.ā
In Greece, Olympiacos S.F.P. has officially announced the contract extension of international middle blocker Lambros Pitakoudis. The Greek international has signed a new two-year deal.
In Japan, the SV.League has officially issued sanctions against the Toray Arrows clubs following financial compliance violations reviewed by the Board of Directors.
A significant gap was discovered between the financial forecasts submitted in March 2026 and the actual figures reported in June 2026.
Toray Arrows Inc. fell into a state of insolvency (negative net worth) for the fiscal year ending March 2026. This is a direct violation of the leagueās strict Net Asset Standard.
The Penalties:
ā¢ An official reprimand from the league.
ā¢ Mandatory submission of a detailed financial improvement plan.
ā¢ A fine of Ā„1,000,000 for each club (Shiga and Shizuoka).
The clubās operating company recently changed its fiscal year-end to June. They have been given a critical deadline of September 30, 2026, to prove they have resolved their insolvency and meet the net asset standards for the AprilāJune 2026 period.
If they fail to meet this requirement by the deadline, their 2026/27 SV License will be completely revoked.
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