VolleyBar51# : Monday July 27, 2026

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Welcome to the first and original daily column bringing together all the biggest volleyball stories of the day!

After two special weekend episodes, we kicking off the new week and Episode 51 with news from France, where Paris Volley has officially announced the signing of Andrey Efremov, a 20-year-old Russian middle blocker (2.08 m), for the 2026–2027 season.
A product of the Lokomotiv Novosibirsk youth academy, he arrives in Paris after three outstanding seasons with one of Russia’s top development programs. He joins the French club as a two-time consecutive Russian Junior League champion (2025 and 2026), having also collected several individual awards.

His résumé is already impressive:
• Russian Junior League Champion (2025, 2026)
• Russian Junior League Cup Winner (2023, 2025, 2026)
• Best Middle Blocker of the Russian Junior League (2025/26)
• Best Attacker of the Russian Junior League (2025/26)
• Best Middle Blocker of the Russian Junior League Cup (2025/26)

Arago de Sète has also unveiled four new signings for the upcoming season:
Japanese Yuga Tarumi – Outside Hitter (25 years old, 1.87 m), arriving from Italy’s Cisterna Volley, American Michael Marshman – Middle Blocker (32 years old, 2.01 m), joining from Tours VB, Pépin Rajoharivelo – Setter (22 years old, 1.85 m), arriving from Nice, and Kazakhstan’s Klim Ryukhov – Opposite (20 years old, 2.09 m), joining from Kazakhstan’s Zhayik Uralsk.

In Poland, Łukasz Kaczmarek has officially become a new player for Asseco Resovia Rzeszów.
Resovia will be the opposite hitter’s fourth club in Poland’s top division and another important chapter in his distinguished PlusLiga career.
Meanwhile, Canadian setter Jay Blankenau and Iranian outside hitter Amirhossein Esfandiar will remain with CHKS Chełm for the 2026/2027 season.

In Italy, real excitement has taken over the Lube Civitanova fanbase ahead of the official presentation of the team’s new setter, Simeon “Moni” Nikolov.
The Bulgarian international will be officially introduced on Wednesday, July 29, at 7:00 PM at the Arturo Mare beach venue on the Lungomare Sud promenade in Civitanova Marche, with the club expecting a huge turnout.
According to Italian media, the arrival of Aleksandar Nikolov’s younger brother has generated enormous enthusiasm among the Biancorossi supporters after his impressive contribution during last season’s run to the Italian Championship Final.
Fans are expected to travel from regions including Campania, Lombardy, and Tuscany, making the journey specifically to welcome the Bulgarian star. The official supporters’ group Lube nel Cuore will also be present, opening an information stand from 6:00 PM, where fans will be able to join the supporters’ club and receive assistance with purchasing season tickets for the behind-the-court supporters’ section.
The growing excitement is also reflected in season ticket sales. Executive Director and Vice President Albino Massaccesi confirmed that the campaign has been extremely successful both at the club’s ticket offices and through the Vivaticket online platform.

“Season ticket sales are going extremely well. We’re seeing strong demand both in person and online. There is tremendous enthusiasm among our supporters,” he said.

The 2026 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League came to an end yesterday in Macao.
• Türkiye claimed its second VNL title, following its historic triumph in 2023, after a dramatic final.
• Brazil failed once again to break its VNL curse, suffering its fifth defeat in a championship match.
• Defending champions Italy had to settle for the bronze medal.
• Host nation China finished fourth, improving on its fifth-place finishes in each of the previous two editions.
• The United States, which topped the preliminary round standings, surprisingly failed to reach the semifinals.
• Canada finished sixth, achieving the best result in the nation’s VNL history.
• Poland, after winning bronze in the previous two editions, failed to qualify for the Final Eight.
• France successfully secured its place in the competition for a third consecutive season, surviving relegation once again.
• Bulgaria, which finished last in the preliminary round, was relegated for the third time.
• Melissa Vargas was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, repeating her 2023 achievement. She also set a new record for the most points ever scored in a VNL final, finishing with 33 points.

Starting from Wednesday, VNL Men’s Finals in Nigbo.

Finally, the 23rd Hubert Jerzy Wagner Memorial, the world’s most prestigious men’s national team friendly tournament, will take place from August 28 to 30 at the Tauron Arena in Kraków.
This year’s edition will feature four national teams: Poland, France, Slovenia, and the United States. Traditionally, the tournament serves as the final major test for Europe’s leading national teams before the start of the European Championship.

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