Lublin hosts Bogdanka Volley Cup with six European champions and international stars

Tournament lineup and Lublin schedule

The fifth edition of the Bogdanka Volley Cup named after Tomasz Wojtowicz takes place on 10 and 11 October at Hala Globus in Lublin. Four clubs will contest the pre-season tournament: Polish vice-champions Bogdanka LUK Lublin, bronze medalists PGE Projekt Warszawa, Turkish club Fenerbahce Istanbul, and Slovenian club ACH Volley Ljubljana. The competition features six Polish national team players who won gold medals at the European Championship, including tournament MVP Wilfredo Leon, Marcin Komenda, and Kewin Sasak from Lublin, alongside Bartlomiej Lemanski, Aleksander Sliwka, and Jan Firlej from Warsaw.

The first semifinal on Saturday, 10 October, features Bogdanka LUK Lublin against Fenerbahce at 17:30, followed by PGE Projekt Warszawa against ACH Volley at 20:30. On Sunday, 11 October, the third-place match begins at 17:30, and the winners will meet in the final at 20:30. Title sponsor Lubelski Wegiel Bogdanka S.A. backs the tournament alongside strategic partners PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A. and Grupa Kom-Eko S.A., with municipal support from the city of Lublin and the Lublin Voivodeship.

Roster presentation and international additions

Bogdanka LUK Lublin officially unveiled its new squad on 1 October at the Lublin City Hall, where outside hitter Ran Takahashi and libero Tomohiro Ogawa met with supporters. Both Japanese players joined the club after winning the 2026 Asian Championship. Club president Krzysztof Skubiszewski and head coach Stephane Antiga introduced the roster in the presence of Lublin Mayor Krzysztof Zuk, club vice president Maciej Krzaczek, and Japanese embassy secretary Koji Mimura.

A year ago we had a very good season. I like that our club is constantly trying to look forward and build a team so that we are even better. We tried to sign Ran and Tomo, and we succeeded. I am very glad that we will work together. I think the fans will be very pleased because they are spectacular, very good players.

The club expanded its international presence by adding French national team player Mousse Gueye and Canadian middle blocker Daenan Gyimah to a lineup that also includes Aleks Grozdanov of Bulgaria. Domestic players Mikolaj Sawicki, Jakub Wachnik, Rafal Prokopczuk, Maciej Zajac, Mateusz Malinowski, and Pawel Rusin complete the Lublin roster for the upcoming season.

Commemoration of Montreal 1976

The tournament honors the legacy of Tomasz Wojtowicz, an Olympic champion from the 1976 Montreal Games who was closely tied to the Lublin region. The 2026 edition coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Olympic gold medal won by Poland under coach Hubert Wagner. Pawel Markiewicz, president of the Tomasz Wojtowicz Lublin Volleyball Development Foundation, noted that the tournament aims to honor Wojtowicz by bringing volleyball to local fans.

Tomasz was part of a team built on talent, work, and mutual trust. I am glad that the tournament bearing his name recalls that success and inspires future generations.

Preparation for the league opener

The games in Hala Globus serve as the primary test for participating teams before Polish league action commences on 17 October. The opening round includes matchups between GKS Katowice and Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie, as well as a clash between ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle and Bogdanka LUK Lublin. Players from the Lublin roster will use the weekend tournament against foreign and domestic opponents to establish tactical form before entering regular league competition.

I am very glad that once again we can start the season in Lublin with great play. This tournament has a special character because it is held in honor and memory of Tomasz Wojtowicz, an outstanding Polish volleyball player. We want to perform well in front of our fans and test our form before the league.