Albania men's national volleyball team
The Albania men's national volleyball team is the national volleyball team of Albania. As of December 2021, the team is ranked 78th in the world.[1][2] They have competed in many European and World volleyball championships, but as of October 16, 2021 are yet to win a gold medal.
 | |||
| Association | Albanian Federation of Volleyball | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Confederation | CEV | ||
| Head coach | Jovan Melka | ||
| FIVB ranking | 77 (as of November 26, 2021) | ||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
| World Championship | |||
| Appearances | 1 (First in 1962) | ||
| Best result | 16th (1962) | ||
| European Championship | |||
| Appearances | 3 (First in 1955) | ||
| Best result | 10th (1955) | ||
| fshfv.org (in Albanian) | |||
Campaigns
Albania competed in the Men's European Volleyball Championship three times: 1955, 1958, and 1967. They also competed once in the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in 1962.
They competed 7 times at the Mediterranean Games. Their first participation was in 1991 in Athens, Greece. Afterwards, they played at the Mediterranean Games in 1993, 1997, 2001, and again in 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.[3][4][5][6]
1955
Albania competed for the first time at the 1955 Men's European Volleyball Championship in Bucharest, Romania.
In Group A they faced France, Finland, and the Soviet Union. Albania lost their first two matches against France and the Soviet Union (both 3–0) but won their first ever match at a Men's European Volleyball Championship against Finland 3–1. Albania finished 3rd within the group of four countries.
In the 9–14th place group, Albania faced Egypt, Italy, Belgium, Austria, and Finland. After a 3–2 loss against Finland, the team beat their next three opponents: Egypt and Austria 3–0, and Belgium 3–2. In the final match Albania lost to Italy. In the end, Albania ranked 10th place in the tournament.[7]
1958
Albania competed for the second time in the 1958 Men's European Volleyball Championship in Prague, Czechoslovakia.
In Group D, Albania faced the Soviet Union, Austria, Turkey, and Yugoslavia. Albania first beat Austria 3–0, but lost their next four matches against Turkey, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia, all with a score of 3–0. Albania ranked 4th out of five places in the group.
Albania then faced the following teams in the 9–16th place group: East Germany, Turkey, Italy, Finland, Tunisia, Egypt, and the Netherlands. Albania was successful in beating Tunisia and Turkey 3–1, Egypt 3–0, and Finland 3–1. Albania then faced East Germany, losing 3–0. They went on to beat the Netherlands in a close match 3–2, for their 6th win of the tournament. In their final match, for 10th place, Albania lost to Italy by a score of 3–0, finishing in 11th place at the end of the tournament.[8]
1967
The Albania men's national volleyball team participated one more time at the 1967 Men's European Volleyball Championship in Istanbul, Turkey.
In Group D, Albania faced Poland, West Germany, Bulgaria, and Romania. Albania lost to Romania 3–0, to Bulgaria 3–1, and to Poland 3–0. They later beat West Germany 3–0, again qualifying for the 9–16th place group.
In this group, Albania faced France, Belgium, Sweden, Israel, Turkey, Bulgaria, and the Netherlands. Albania lost to France 3–1 and to Belgium 3–0. After that, they won 3 matches in a row against hosts Turkey 3–1, Sweden 3–0, and the Netherlands 3–2. To close out the tournament, Albania lost to Israel 3–0 and ended in 13th place.[9]
Team
Current roster
Updated: 17 October 2016
List of players that represented Albania at the 2016 CEV Volleyball European League.[10]
| Head coach: | Jovan Melka |
| Assistant: | Artan Kalaja |
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Height | Weight | Spike | Block | 2015/16 club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Altin Gorenxha | May 4, 1978 | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 305 cm (120 in) | 290 cm (110 in) | Studenti |
| 2 | Renato Kola | July 8, 1987 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | 64 kg (141 lb) | 320 cm (130 in) | 300 cm (120 in) | Vllaznia |
| 3 | Osman Qepa | April 2, 1996 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 79 kg (174 lb) | 345 cm (136 in) | 334 cm (131 in) | Farka Volley |
| 4 | Redjon Koçi | November 1, 1994 | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | 350 cm (140 in) | 338 cm (133 in) | Farka Volley |
| 5 | Gert Lisha | June 28, 1995 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | 354 cm (139 in) | 340 cm (130 in) |  USC Trojans |
| 6 | Arbër Troka | December 29, 1988 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 356 cm (140 in) | 320 cm (130 in) | Studenti |
| 7 | Adriatik Kajtazi | August 17, 1987 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 86 kg (190 lb) | 335 cm (132 in) | 325 cm (128 in) |  Drenica R&Rukolli |
| 8 | Gazmend Husaj | December 23, 1987 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 97 kg (214 lb) | 360 cm (140 in) | 345 cm (136 in) |  Inegol Belediyesi |
| 9 | Kreshnik Malaj | November 9, 1989 | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | 330 cm (130 in) | 320 cm (130 in) | Studenti |
| 10 | Enea Xhelati | May 15, 1982 | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | 97 kg (214 lb) | 345 cm (136 in) | 335 cm (132 in) |  Pamvohaikos |
| 11 | Alvi Shurdhi | August 3, 1995 | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | 345 cm (136 in) | 320 cm (130 in) | Foinikas Syros |
| 12 | Asmend Kula | January 10, 1994 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | 94 kg (207 lb) | 345 cm (136 in) | 335 cm (132 in) | Tirana |
| 13 | Blerim Pepaj | November 9, 1985 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 340 cm (130 in) | 330 cm (130 in) | Tirana |
| 14 | Anton Qafarena | June 11, 1997 | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) | 360 cm (140 in) | 340 cm (130 in) | Vllaznia |
| 15 | Adri Arapi | June 12, 1997 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 345 cm (136 in) | 330 cm (130 in) | Tirana |
| 16 | Gjergj Bardhi | September 12, 1982 | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | 332 cm (131 in) | 320 cm (130 in) | Teuta |
References
- FIVB World Rankings
- "Albania-CEV". Archived from the original on 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2016-09-28.
- https://cijm.org.gr/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/JM1991.pdf
- https://cijm.org.gr/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/JM2009.pdf
- "Tarragona 2018 INFO". results.tarragona2018.cat. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- "Dr. Giovanni Armillotta: Albanian Volley in International Field". www.giovanniarmillotta.it. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- "Men European IV Championship 1955 Bucuresti (ROM) - 15-25.06 Winner Czechoslovakia". 2012-03-28. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- "Men European V Championship 1958 Praga (TCH)-30.08-11.09 - Winner Czechoslovakia (3rd)". todor66.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- "Men Volleyball VII European Championship 1967 Istanbul (TUR) - 26.10-08.11 Winner Soviet Union". todor66.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
- "Albania team roster". Archived from the original on 2018-01-07. Retrieved 2016-10-17.