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Welcome to the 58th episode of VolleyBar, bringing you another roundup of the latest news from the world of international volleyball.
The Russian Volleyball Federation has officially informed the FIVB that it has voluntarily decided not to participate in the 2027 FIVB Menâs Volleyball World Championship in Poland.
According to the federation, the decision was made because of the lack of security guarantees for Russian athletes in Poland. It also expressed concerns that the tournament could be heavily affected by the ongoing political tensions between Russia and Poland amid the war in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russiaâs womenâs national team could still take part in the 2027 FIVB Womenâs Volleyball World Championship, which will be co-hosted by the United States and Canada. The FIVB continues to hold consultations with the Local Organizing Committee and other relevant stakeholders regarding Russiaâs potential participation.
Nikola GrbiÄ has long been regarded as one of the most respected figures in international volleyball, but nowhere in the world is he admired as much as he is in Poland.
His brother, Vladimir GrbiÄâOlympic champion and one of the greatest players in volleyball historyâspoke movingly about the special bond between Nikola and Polish fans.
âThere is nowhere in the world where Nikola is respected as much as he is in Poland. Itâs incredible. As his brother, it warms my heart to see that he has found a country and a nation that respect him so much, not only as a coach but also as a person,â Vladimir said in an interview.
Itâs easy to understand why.
Since taking charge of the Polish menâs national team in 2022, Nikola has guided Poland to a medal at every major international tournament they have played, including the Volleyball Nations League, the FIVB World Championship, the CEV European Championship and the Olympic Games.
That remarkable consistency now stretches across nine consecutive major tournaments.
However, his popularity goes far beyond the results. Polish fans appreciate his calm leadership, humility, professionalism and the way he manages the team. He is also known for always making time for supporters, happily posing for photos and signing autographs whenever possible.
It is no surprise, then, that even his brother admits seeing the affection and admiration shown by Polish fans fills him with pride.
Chinese Taipei opened its campaign at the 2026 Asian Eastern Zonal Menâs Volleyball Championship with a commanding straight-sets victory over Macao (25:14, 25:16, 25:17).
South Korea also made a winning start in Ulaanbaatar, defeating Japan in four sets (25:20, 23:25, 25:21, 25:19).
In Italy, Slovenian outside hitter Rok MoĆŸiÄ has extended his contract with Rana Verona until 2029, committing his future to the club for another three seasons.
The Polish club Cuprum Stilon GorzĂłw has officially welcomed experienced libero Mateusz MasĆowski to its roster.
The 29-year-old has built an impressive PlusLiga career, representing clubs including Asseco Resovia RzeszĂłw, Cerrad Enea Czarni Radom, KGHM Cuprum Lubin and Steam Hemarpol Norwid CzÄstochowa. Most recently, he played for Steam Hemarpol Politechnika CzÄstochowa.
A former Polish champion and youth international, MasĆowski is widely respected for his reliable serve reception, fighting spirit and wealth of experienceâqualities that Cuprum Stilon GorzĂłw hopes will strengthen the team heading into the new season.
ZAKSA KÄdzierzyn-KoĆșleâs new signing is young libero Marcel Steyer, a native of KÄdzierzyn-KoĆșle, for whom wearing the jersey of his hometown club is the realization of a lifelong dream.
He has been part of the local volleyball community since childhood, and the opportunity to represent ZAKSA marks a special milestone in his career. The 18-year-old libero previously played for AZS UJD Stoelzle CzÄstochowa, and this will be his first experience in Polandâs top-flight league.
âThis is an incredible source of joy and pride for me. My entire family is from KÄdzierzyn-KoĆșle, and I have many friends here. Ever since I started playing volleyball, Iâve dreamed of one day representing ZAKSA. Joining the club was an easy decision. I believe itâs one of the best teams in Poland, and working with a coach like Andrea Giani is a fantastic opportunity to improve my game.
Iâm joining the team with a fighting spirit, a real hunger to play, and a positive mindset. I want to compete for the highest possible goals, continue developing as a player, and earn regular playing time in the PlusLiga. It means a great deal to me to proudly represent both my hometown club and the city where I come from,â he said.
ZAKSAâs new libero emphasized that playing in front of the home fans in KÄdzierzyn-KoĆșle will carry special meaning for him. For him, this is not just another step in his career, but also an emotional return to the city with which he has deep personal ties.
Defending champions Chabeb Batroun triumphed with the menâs volleyball title of Lebanon after a tough five-match best-of-five final series against Anwar Beirut and, in the deciding fifth game, they produced a 3-0 (29:27, 25:17, 25:20) home victory with opposite Omar Abi Karam named Most Valuable Player of the Finals. The team of Qnat earned the bronze medals with a 3-0 (25:18, 25:20, 31:29) shutout of Blat in the single match for the third place.
Meanwhile, Bohemios Montevideo celebrated the national menâs volleyball title in Uruguay.
In the single-match final against defending champions Lagomar Ciudad de la Costa, played in the Uruguayan capital, they celebrated a 3-0 (25:17, 25:16, 25:19) sweep to return to the throne. Argentinean setter Valentin Lombardo was voted MVP of the final.
CBR Montevideo took the bronze after a 3-1 (25:10, 25:21, 16:25, 28:26) home victory over Parada 6 Punta del Este in the third-place playoff.
Will our stories end up being translated into Italianâor reduced to a hilariously broken paragraph of English? Especially the latest ones from Lebanon and Uruguay? Weâre curious to see!
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