Ukraine announced its extended squad for the Nations League, with head coach Raul Lozano outlining a clear vision for the team that will face Bulgaria already in the preparatory tournament in Poland in May.
The Argentinian specialist included 20 volleyball players who will begin preparations on May 2 in Maribor, Slovenia. The biggest name on the list is undoubtedly outside hitter Oleh Plotnytskyi (Perugia), who returns to the national team after a period of tension with the federation.
The selection appears expected in its structure – 13 players compete abroad, and 7 come from the Ukrainian Superleague. The rejuvenation is also notable, with several players receiving their first call-up.
A key libero is missing, but his brother replaces him.
One of the key absentees is libero Oleksandr Boiko, who is recovering from an injury. His brother Yevhen Boiko, also a debutant in the national team, comes in his place. Expectations are that upon recovery, the starting libero will return during the international season.
Ukraine's Extended Squad
| Position | Player | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Setter | Vitalii Shchytkov | Epicentr-Podolyany |
| Setter | Yurii Synytsia | Baoding Volleyball Hebei (China) |
| Setter | Serhii Yevstratov | Lvi Prague (Czech Republic) |
| Opposite Hitter | Oleksandr Boiko | Calabria Vibo Valentia (Italy) |
| Opposite Hitter | Vasily Tupchiy | Barkom-Kazhany / Arcada Galati |
| Opposite Hitter | Maksym Tonkonoh | Fano (Italy) |
| Outside Hitter | Iliya Kovalev | Barkom-Kazhany |
| Outside Hitter | Timofiy Poluyan | Milon (Greece) |
| Outside Hitter | Oleh Plotnytskyi | Perugia (Italy) |
| Outside Hitter | Yevhen Kisilyuk | Rapid Bucharest (Romania) |
| Outside Hitter | Dmytro Yanchuk | Panathinaikos (Greece) |
| Outside Hitter | Oleksandr Nalozhnyi | Epicentr-Podolyany |
| Center | Yuriy Semeniuk | Warsaw (Poland) |
| Center | Maksym Drozd | Epicentr-Podolyany |
| Center | Andriy Chelenyak | Epicentr-Podolyany / U20 |
| Center | Denys Veletskyi | Epicentr-Podolyany / U20 |
| Center | Ruslan Chervatiuk | Epicentr-Podolyany / U20 |
| Center | Vladyslav Shchurov | Barkom-Kazhany |
| Libero | Yaroslav Pampushko | Barkom-Kazhany |
| Libero | Yevhen Boiko | Reshetylivka |
Ukraine enters preparation with a well-balanced team – a combination of experienced players from strong European championships and young talents. The strongest link appears to be the reception line, where Plotnytskyi, Yanchuk, and Kovalev provide significant attacking variability.
There is also depth in the middle, but some of the players lack international experience, which could be a factor against higher-class opponents. In the opposite positions, Tupchii remains a key figure, while the other options are more developmental.
Schedule and match against Bulgaria
Preparation in Maribor will continue until May 18, with friendly matches planned against Croatia. Afterwards, the Ukrainians will participate in the strong "Silesia Cup" tournament in Poland:
May 20 – Ukraine vs Bulgaria (Sosnowiec)
May 22-23 – matches against Poland and Serbia (Katowice)
The first match against the Bulgarian team will provide an initial realistic idea of the level of Lozano's selection before the start of the Nations League.
photo: .volleyballworld.com
