The Polish elite team Bogdanka LUK Lublin continues to build a strong roster for the new PlusLiga season, having attracted one of the biggest stars of Japanese volleyball Ran Takahashi. The news was spread by Polish journalist Jakub Balcerzak, who had already reported on the outside hitter's signed contract with the club at the beginning of the year.
The captain of Suntory Sunbirds will join the team after the end of the season in Japan and will become a teammate of the national team captain Alex Grozdanov. Thus, an increasingly interesting squad with a clearly expressed international presence is forming in Lublin.
"In these two years at Suntory, I have grown a lot and have become a player who takes responsibility for the team. This is an experience I will never forget. I want to part ways honorably and win another title," commented Takahashi upon announcing his departure from the Japanese club.
According to Balcerzak's information, another Japan national team player libero Tomohiro Ogawa will also arrive at Bogdanka LUK Lublin. Both will debut in PlusLiga next season and will form an interesting Asian tandem in the Polish team's squad.

Last year, Grozdanov played only against Ogawa at the tournament in Burgas. Takahashi was absent, having joined the national team for the home tournament in Chiba, Japan.
With this selection, the Polish club clearly demonstrates its ambitions to take a step forward, combining European physique and stability in the person of Grozdanov with the speed and technique of the Japanese national team players.

photo: Nikolay Varadinov