Estonia men's national volleyball team

Estonia
Nickname(s)Sinilõvid (Blue Lions)
AssociationEstonian Volleyball Federation
ConfederationCEV
Head coachAlar Rikberg
FIVB ranking40 (as of 10 July 2024)
Uniforms
Home
Away
World Championship
Appearances0
European Championship
Appearances7 (First in 2009)
Best result11th (2015)
volley.ee (in Estonian)
Estonia men's national volleyball team
Medal record
European Volleyball League
Gold medal – first place 2016 Bulgaria
Gold medal – first place 2018 Czech Republic
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Belgium
Challenger Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Portugal

The Estonia men's national volleyball team (Estonian: Eesti meeste võrkpallikoondis) is controlled by the Estonian Volleyball Federation (Eesti Võrkpalli Liit) and represents Estonia in international volleyball competitions. The team has reached the European Championships seven times (2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023).

Results

  Champions    Runners up    Third place    Fourth place

European Championship

European Championship record Qualification
Year Round Position Pld W L SW SL Squad Pld W L
19481991 Did not enter due to Soviet occupation
Finland 1993 Did not qualify 2[a] 1 1
19951999 Did not enter
Czech Republic 2001 Did not qualify 6[b] 4 2
Germany 2003 6[c] 6 0
ItalySerbia and Montenegro 2005 6 1 5
Russia 2007 8 4 4
Turkey 2009 Group stage 14th place 3 0 3 2 9 Squad 6 5 1
AustriaCzech Republic 2011 Playoffs 12th place 4 1 3 3 9 Squad 8 6 2
DenmarkPoland 2013 Did not qualify 6 2 4
BulgariaItaly 2015 Playoffs 11th place 4 1 3 6 9 Squad 8 6 2
Poland 2017 Group stage 13th place 3 0 3 4 9 Squad 8 5 3
FranceSloveniaBelgiumNetherlands 2019 Group stage 24th place 5 0 5 2 15 Squad 4 4 0
PolandCzech RepublicEstoniaFinland 2021 Group stage 21st place 5 1 4 6 14 Squad Host country
ItalyNorth MacedoniaBulgariaIsrael 2023 Group stage 20th place 5 1 4 4 14 Squad 4 2 2
Total 7/33 0 Titles 29 4 25 27 79 72 46 26

  1. ^ Eliminatory Matches against Ukraine.
  2. ^ 2nd place in Pool 1 of Category B, not promoted.
  3. ^ 1st place in Pool 2 of Category B, promoted to Category A.

World League / Nations League

World League record
Year Round Position Pld W L SW SL Squad
19902015 Did not enter
Poland 2016 Did not qualify
Brazil 2017 Final four (Group 3) 1st place (25th place) 8 7 1 22 7 Squad
Total 1/28 0 Titles 8 7 1 22 7
Nations League record
20182019 Did not qualify
Italy 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
20212024 Did not qualify
Total 0/6 0 Titles 0 0 0 0 0

From 2018, the World League was replaced by the Nations League.[1]

Challenger Cup

Challenger Cup record
Year Round Position Pld W L SW SL Squad
Portugal 2018 Final round 3rd place 4 2 2 7 7 Squad
Slovenia 2019 Did not qualify
2020–2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
20222024 Did not qualify
Total 1/5 0 Titles 4 2 2 7 7

European League

European League record
Year Round Position Pld W L SW SL Squad
Czech Republic 2004 Did not enter
Russia 2005 League round 8th place 12 2 10 13 33 Squad
Turkey 2006 League round 8th place 12 1 11 7 34 Squad
20072014 Did not enter
Poland 2015 Final four 4th place 12 10 2 30 13 Squad
Bulgaria 2016 Final four Champions 8 8 0 24 7 Squad
Denmark 2017 Did not enter
Czech Republic 2018 Final four Champions 8 7 1 21 6 Squad
Estonia 2019 Final four 4th place 8 2 6 9 22 Squad
Belgium 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Belgium 2021 Final four 3rd place 8 7 1 23 7 Squad
Croatia 2022 League round 5th place 6 4 2 13 10 Squad
Croatia 2023 League round 8th place 6 3 3 11 11 Squad
Croatia 2024 Final four 4th place 8 4 4 17 15 Squad
Total 10/20 2 Titles 88 48 40 168 158

Current squad

The following is the roster of Estonia men's national volleyball team for the 2023 Men's European Volleyball Championship

No. Name Date of birth Height Position Spike Block Club
1 Henri Treial 28 May 1992 2.02 m Middle blocker 363 cm (143 in) 344 cm (135 in) Belgium Knack Roeselare
2 Renet Vanker 22 September 1998 1.93 m Setter 333 cm (131 in) 319 cm (126 in) Belgium Greenyard Maaseik
3 Karli Allik 25 September 1996 1.92 m Outside spiker 340 cm (130 in) 325 cm (128 in) Israel Hapoel Mate-Asher Ako
6 Martti Juhkami 6 June 1988 1.95 m Outside spiker 347 cm (137 in) 320 cm (130 in) Estonia Bigbank Tartu
7 Renee Teppan 26 September 1993 1.97 m Opposite 360 cm (140 in) 345 cm (136 in) Poland MKS Będzin
8 Märt Tammearu 17 March 2001 1.96 m Outside spiker 345 cm (136 in) 320 cm (130 in) France Tours Volley-Ball
9 Robert Täht 15 August 1993 1.92 m Outside spiker 352 cm (139 in) 330 cm (130 in) Brazil Vôlei São José dos Campos
10 Silver Maar 11 February 1999 1.84 m Libero 315 cm (124 in) 300 cm (120 in) Czech Republic VK Dukla Liberec
11 Oliver Venno 23 May 1990 2.10 m Opposite 355 cm (140 in) 335 cm (132 in) Qatar Al Rayyan SC
11 Johan Vahter 19 November 1995 1.90 m Libero 322 cm (127 in) 314 cm (124 in) Estonia Selver/TalTech
17 Timo Tammemaa 18 November 1991 2.02 m Middle blocker 363 cm (143 in) 343 cm (135 in) Germany Berlin Recycling Volleys
19 Andri Aganits 7 September 1993 2.07 m Middle blocker 367 cm (144 in) 340 cm (130 in) Estonia Selver/TalTech
22 Markkus Keel 18 August 1995 1.91 m Setter 331 cm (130 in) 320 cm (130 in) Bulgaria VC Cherno More Baske
30 Marx Aru 8 November 2002 2.03 m Middle blocker 330 cm (130 in) 320 cm (130 in) Estonia Selver/TalTech

Statistics

Avo Keel, head coach from 2004 to 2014.
Ardo Kreek has appeared in 244 games for the national team.

Most games for Estonia

As of 19 August 2023.[2]
Rank Player Years Games
1 Kert Toobal 2001–2021 308
2 Ardo Kreek 2004–2022 244
3 Oliver Venno 2008–present 205
4 Rait Rikberg 2007–2021 183
5 Andri Aganits 2013–present 177
6 Argo Meresaar 2000–2013 175
7 Keith Pupart 2006–2016 170
8 Raimo Pajusalu 2000–2014 160
9 Renee Teppan 2014–present 156
10 Janis Sirelpuu 1998–2011 154
11 Robert Täht 2013–present 150
12 Veiko Lember 1998–2009 143
13 Timo Tammemaa 2015–present 142
14 Jaanus Nõmmsalu 1999–2013 133
15 Henri Treial 2015–present 130
16 Kristjan Õuekallas 2003–2013 124
17 Eerik Jago 2000–2011 123
18 Sten Esna 2003–2011 112
Andres Toobal 2010–2017 112
20 Kristo Kollo 2014–2022 108

Players in bold are still active at club level.
All players with over 100 games are listed in the table.

Head coaches

As of 25 June 2023.[3]
Years Head coach Pld W L Win % Major NT tournament appearances Achievements
1992–1996 (n/a) 22 13 9 59.1
1996–2000 Estonia Laimons Raudsepp 27 9 18 33.3
2000–2001 Estonia Andres Toode 20 9 11 45.0
2001–2003 Estonia Andres Skuin 15 8 7 53.3
2003–2004 Finland Pasi Sakari Rautio 39 15 24 38.5
2004–2014 Estonia Avo Keel 133 57 76 42.9 European Championships: 2009, 2011
2014–2019 Romania Gheorghe Crețu 140 92 48 65.7 European Championships: 2015, 2017, 2019 Gold 2016 EL, Gold EL 2018, Bronze 2018 CC
2019–2021 France Cédric Énard 21 16 5 76.2 European Championships: 2021 Bronze 2021 EL
2021–2023 Italy Fabio Soli 17 8 9 47.1
2023– Estonia Alar Rikberg 8 5 3 62.5 European Championships: 2023

Major NT tournaments include the Olympic Games, the World Championships and the European Championships.

References

  1. ^ FIVB drastically changes format for 2018 World League and Grand Prix - World of Volley, 19 June 2017
  2. ^ Mängud koondises (mehed). Volley.ee (in Estonian)
  3. ^ Mängud koondises (treenerid). Volley.ee (in Estonian)