VolleyBar62# : Tuesday August 11, 2026

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Welcome to the 62nd episode of VolleyBar, with the final volleyball transfer updates and another good dose of international news.

Let’s start in Austria, where Maximilian Lugger is a new player for UVC Holding Graz. At just 17 years old, he will join the team as a libero next season. The young Graz native is part of the club’s academy and already gained his first experience in the Austrian 1. Bundesliga last season.

In France, Estonian middle blocker Ardo Kreek has extended his contract with Saint-Quentin until 2027, celebrating his 15th consecutive season playing in France!

Meanwhile, in Poland, Yuki Imahashi has become the latest addition to ChKS Chełm! The 25-year-old Japanese setter will play outside his home country for the first time in his career.
Born on December 25, 2000, in Koga, Fukuoka Prefecture, he is 182 cm tall and a left-handed player, and developed his volleyball career at institutions including Aoyama Gakuin University before joining the Tokyo Great Bears, one of the teams competing at the highest level of Japanese volleyball. There, he shared the court with well-known Polish international Bartosz Kurek.
In the 2025/2026 season, he competed in the SV.League, one of the fastest-growing volleyball leagues in the world, and in 2025, he also received his first call-up to the Japan national team. Imahashi was included in the wider squad coached by Laurent Tillie as the team began preparations for the next Olympic cycle.
He will become only the second Japanese player in the history of the Chełm club. Last season, ChKS featured Kazuma Sonae, a libero from Japan!

Meanwhile, Russia Volleyball Federation to host international friendly matches against Belarus, Iran, and Cuba from August 21–23!

Costa Rica swept Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 (25:21, 25:19, 25:15) in their first Win at the Men’s Pan American Cup in Morelos with 19 points from Ignacio Morales and 16 from Gilberth Solano.
Canada dominates at the net (19 blocks) against Puerto Rico to earn its second win at the (20:25, 25:21, 25:19, 25:19, 25:11) with 17 points from Daniil Hershtynovich, while Cuba earns first success after a 3-0 (25:18, 25:16, 25:19) over Curaçao.
Close the picture in a game that closed day 2 Mexico who improves to 2-0 with a straight sets win over Guatemala (25:15, 25:21, 25:22) with 18 points from Diego González.

Earlier, in Day 1, Canada kicks of the competition defeating Trinidad and Tobago in straight sets 3-0 (25:20, 25:13, 25:19), USA swept Costa Rica also 3-0 (25:15, 26:24, 25:14), Dominican Republic celebrated a thrilling win over Cuba 3-2 (25:20, 24:26, 15:25, 25:23, 15:9) with 27 points from Daniel Martinez, and Mexico starts their path defeating Curaçao 3-0 (25:22, 25:17, 25:17).

Fukuoka is where the Road to Los Angeles 2028 begins for Asia’s best men’s volleyball teams.
The stakes could not be higher at the AVC Men’s Volleyball Continental Championships Fukuoka 2026: the gold medalist will secure a direct ticket to the LA 2028 Olympic Games, while the top three teams will earn their places at the 2027 FIVB Men’s World Championship.
Twelve teams. One continental crown. One ticket to Los Angeles. Every set, every rally and every point will matter.
The dates? September 4/13!

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