ALBANIA
The village of Farke e Vogel welcomed both FSHV Cup (Albanian Volleyball Federation Cup) finals for women and for men on Sunday. Studenti Tirana earned the crown in the men’s competition for the first time after taking a 3-0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-22) victory over Partizani Tirana.
Pogradeci Pogradec celebrated victorious with the women’s trophy for the first time in the club’s history. In the gold medal match, they claimed a 3-1 (25-15, 23-25, 25-22, 25-19) win over Skenderbeu Korce.
MALI
The finals of the women’s and the men’s National Volleyball Championships of Mali were held in Bamako on Sunday, with the teams of USFAS Bamako claiming both crowns. In a remake of last year’s final, the women’s squad defended their title with a 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-15, 25-16) victory over CFVD Bamako. 1008 Logements Bamako grabbed the bronze.
The men’s showdown also offered a remake of last year’s final. Once again, it took five sets to determine the champion, but this time the victory changed hands. USFAS Bamako lifted the trophy after a 3-2 (21-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-19, 16-14) nail-biter against defending champions 1008 Logements Bamako. The bronze medals were claimed by Commune V Bamako.
RUSSIA
Defending trophy holders Dinamo-Ak Bars Kazan won the second edition of the Legends Cup in Russia’s women’s volleyball. They earned the first national trophy of the year by achieving a 3-0 (25-16, 28-26, 25-21) sweep of Sunday’s final against Lokomotiv Kaliningrad. The game was played in Kaliningrad. Earlier in the day, Zarechie Odintsovo snatched the bronze with a 3-0 (28-26, 27-25, 25-18) shutout of Dinamo Moscow for the third place.
SOUTH AFRICA
Both the women’s and the men’s volleyball champions of South Africa emerged on Saturday, when Bloemfontein hosted the finals. Aqua Sissu Johannesburg triumphed with the women’s title after a 3-0 victory over VUT Vanderbijlpark. The bronze medals went to Quantum Dragons Johannesburg. Sissu’s 39-year-old Botswanan outside hitter Tebogo Sejewe was named Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Then, Quantum Dragons Johannesburg mastered a 3-0 sweep of the men’s final against Magnum Predators oThongathi to claim the South African crown. The team of Uni Jozi Johannesburg brought home the bronze medals. 27-year-old Zimbabwean opposite Tafadzwa Mapfumo of Quantum Dragons was honored with the MVP award.
