After triumphing with a historic double victory – the title in Poland and the Challenge Cup – the Bogdanka LUK Lublin team is preparing for a new season with ambitions to solidify its position among the leading teams in the PlusLiga and to make a successful debut in the most prestigious European club tournament – the Champions League. The upcoming campaign brings key changes, both to the coaching staff and the roster, but the club also relies on retaining a large part of its championship backbone. This was reported by the Polish website siatka.org
Change of conductor after a dream season
Last season was undoubtedly a dream for LUK Lublin under the leadership of Massimo Botti. The team not only won the Challenge Cup after a dramatic final against Cucine Lube Civitanova but also clinched the Polish title, defeating Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie in the final series. Despite the tremendous success, a change is coming at the helm of the team. Massimo Botti is moving to Asseco Resovia, and in his place, the experienced French specialist arrives in Lublin from RzeszówStéphane Antiga, who has a serious coaching career and successes behind him.
Squad stability with key players remaining
The good news for fans is the retention of a large part of the championship squad, which will provide the necessary continuity and stability. The team's leader, global star Wilfredo Leon, will continue to defend the colors of LUK Lublin next season, which is extremely important for the team's ambitions.
Other key figures are expected to continue their collaboration with the Polish champion: attackers Kevin Sasak and Mateusz Malinowski, liberos Thales Hoss and Maciej Czyrek, setter Marcin Komenda, outside hitters Jakub Wachnik and Mikołaj Sawicki. It is extremely important that central blockers Finnian McCarthy, Maciej Zając, and the Bulgarian international also remain with the teamAlex Grozdanov, who made a significant contribution to last season's successes.
Farewell to three and new additions
Only three players will say goodbye to the team from Lublin – Jan Nowakowski, Mikołaj Słotarski, and Benny Tuinstra.
New faces are also expected to appear in the squad that will attack the top of the PlusLiga and debut in the Champions League. One of the most intriguing additions is the young and promising French talentHilir Henno. His arrival is awaited with great interest given his impressive volleyball pedigree. Henno comes from the US collegiate championship, where he played for the University of Irvine and was one of the main rivals for the NCAA championship title of our Moni Nikolov.
He is the son of the legendary French libero Hubert Henno, a multiple medalist with France and one of the icons of that position, and the brother of Mathis Henno, who competes for the French club Chaumont. In the setter position, Komenda will be assisted byRafał Prokopczuk, who won a bronze medal in the First League with KPS Siedlce last season.
Another new addition is the team's second Canadian (after McCarthy) – central blockerDaenan Gyimah(Daenan Gyimah).
Overall, Bogdanka LUK Lublin will largely rely on its already established squad, strengthened with a few new faces and led by the new coaching staff of Stephane Antiga. The question remains how this combination of stability and change will perform in the extremely strong Polish PlusLiga and on the big European stage in its debut season in the Champions League.
photos:siatka.organd cev.eu
