Tartu Volleyball
Estonian volleyball club
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BIGBANK Tartu is an Estonian professional volleyball club based in Tartu, Estonia, that competes in the Baltic Men Volleyball League.
Full nameBIGBANK Tartu
Founded1999
GroundUniversity of Tartu Sports Hall, Tartu
(Capacity: 1,650)
(Capacity: 1,650)
ChairmanAlari Jõesaar
| Full name | BIGBANK Tartu |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Ground | University of Tartu Sports Hall, Tartu (Capacity: 1,650) |
| Chairman | Alari Jõesaar |
| Manager |  Alar Rikberg |
| Captain | Martti Juhkami |
| League | Baltic Men Volleyball League Estonian Volleyball League |
| 2024–25 | 1st (Baltic League) 1st (Estonian League) 2nd (Estonian Cup) |
| Website | Club home page |
| Championships | 6 Baltic Championships 6 Estonian Championships 6 Estonian Cups |
Founded in 1999, the team has won 6 Baltic League championships, 6 Estonian League championships and 6 Estonian Cups.
The team plays its home games at University of Tartu Sports Hall.
History
The team was founded 1999 as Pere Leib Tartu. Before that Tartu volleyball was represented by Ösel Foods Tartu, who had won the Estonian League in 1998 and 1999. Pere Leib Tartu was founded by two former Ösel Foods players, Raivo Simson and Alari Jõesaar.[1]
Pere Leib Tartu won another Estonian League title in 2006, defeating Selver/Audentes 2–0 in the finals. The team won their first Estonian Cup in the same season.[2] Pere Leib Tartu won another Estonian Cup in 2008–09.[3]
The 2006–07 season was historical as Pere Leib Tartu made their European debut when they held the CEV Top Teams Cup tournament.[4]
In 2011–12, the club won second Estonian League title and also their first ever Baltic League title by defeating the defending champions Selver Tallinn in the finals. In 2012, the team changed their name to BIGBANK Tartu for sponsorship reasons. First title under the new name came in 2014, when the club won their third Estonian League championship.
In 2014–15, BIGBANK Tartu won their second Baltic League title.
Team roster
2023/2024
| Head coach: | Alar Rikberg |
| Assistant: | Andrei Ojamets |
| Manager: | Hendrik Rikand |
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Siim Päid | June 2, 1989 | middle blocker |
| 3 | Taavet Leppik | July 31, 1993 | libero |
| 6 | Martti Juhkami (C) | June 6, 1988 | outside hitter |
| 7 | Romi Aros | April 11, 2001 | libero |
| 8 | Timo Lõhmus | May 30, 2001 | outside hitter |
| 11 | Aleksander Eerma | August 3, 1995 | setter |
| 12 | Kristjan Unt | July 9, 2005 | outside hitter |
| 13 | Andris Vahula | August 3, 2005 | setter |
| 14 |  Andris Širjakovs | October 12, 2000 | opposite |
| 19 | Robin Rohula | December 19, 2006 | outside hitter |
| 20 | Tamur Viidalepp | November 12, 1997 | outside hitter |
| 21 | Hergo Hansman | February 18, 2000 | opposite |
| 22 | Ron Rudolf Teesaar | September 23, 2005 | middle blocker |
| 31 |  Anthony Daniel Matheney | May 12, 2000 | middle blocker |
| 99 | Mart Naaber | December 15, 1992 | middle blocker |
| Team roster – season 2022/2023 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Position | ||
| 1 | Rait Rikberg (C) | August 30, 1982 | libero | ||
| 2 |  Matej Šmidl | February 25, 1997 | opposite | ||
| 3 | Taavet Leppik | July 31, 1993 | outside hitter | ||
| 6 | Siim Päid | June 2, 1989 | middle blocker | ||
| 7 | Kevin Soo | December 3, 1993 | middle blocker | ||
| 8 | Timo Lõhmus | May 30, 2001 | outside hitter | ||
| 10 | Martin Tamm | June 12, 2004 | outside hitter | ||
| 12 | Kristjan Unt | July 9, 2005 | outside hitter | ||
| 13 | Ronald Järv | May 10, 1993 | setter | ||
| 20 | Tamur Viidalepp | November 12, 1997 | outside hitter | ||
| 22 | Markkus Keel | August 18, 1995 | setter | ||
| 25 | Markus Tamm | June 12, 2004 | outside hitter | ||
| 99 | Mart Naaber | December 15, 1992 | middle blocker | ||
| Head coach: Alar Rikberg Assistant: Mikk KeskülaAssistant: Hendrik Rikand | |||||
| Team roster – season 2021/2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Position | ||
| 1 | Rait Rikberg | August 30, 1982 | libero | ||
| 3 | Taavet Leppik | July 31, 1993 | outside hitter | ||
| 5 | Kert Toobal (C) | June 3, 1979 | setter | ||
| 6 | Martti Juhkami | June 6, 1988 | outside hitter | ||
| 7 | Kevin Soo | December 3, 1993 | middle blocker | ||
| 9 | Hergo Hansman | February 18, 2000 | opposite | ||
| 11 | Siim Tammearu | June 13, 1999 | outside hitter | ||
| 12 | Albert Hurt | April 22, 1999 | outside hitter | ||
| 13 | Ronald Järv | May 10, 1993 | setter | ||
| 17 | Allar Keskülla | April 1, 2001 | libero | ||
| 18 | Alex Saaremaa | December 18, 2000 | middle blocker | ||
| 20 | Tamur Viidalepp | November 12, 1997 | outside hitter | ||
| 33 | Valentin Kordas | December 31, 1998 | opposite | ||
| 66 | Siim Päid | June 2, 1989 | middle blocker | ||
| 99 | Mart Naaber | December 15, 1992 | middle blocker | ||
| Head coach: Alar Rikberg Assistant: Oliver LüütseppAssistant: Hendrik Rikand | |||||
| Team roster – season 2020/2021 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Position | ||
| 1 | Rait Rikberg | August 30, 1982 | libero | ||
| 3 | Sander Lepp | September 23, 2001 | libero | ||
| 4 | Märt Tammearu | March 17, 2001 | outside hitter | ||
| 5 | Kert Toobal (C) | June 3, 1979 | setter | ||
| 6 | Siim Päid | June 2, 1989 | middle blocker | ||
| 7 | Kevin Soo | December 3, 1993 | middle blocker | ||
| 9 | Hergo Hansman | February 18, 2000 | outside hitter | ||
| 10 | Stefan Kaibald | May 19, 1997 | outside hitter | ||
| 11 | Siim Tammearu | June 13, 1999 | outside hitter | ||
| 12 | Albert Hurt | April 22, 1999 | outside hitter | ||
| 13 | Ronald Järv | May 10, 1993 | setter | ||
| 17 | Alex Saaremaa | December 18, 2000 | middle blocker | ||
| 18 | Siim Põlluäär | May 30, 1989 | opposite | ||
| 24 | Kristo Karp | February 11, 1997 | middle blocker | ||
| Head coach: Alar Rikberg Assistant: Argo MeresaarAssistant: Hendrik Rikand | |||||
| Team roster – season 2019/2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Position | ||
| 1 | Rait Rikberg | August 30, 1982 | libero | ||
| 2 | Albert Hurt | April 22, 1999 | outside hitter | ||
| 3 | Mihkel Tanila | September 30, 1991 | middle blocker | ||
| 5 | Kert Toobal (C) | June 3, 1979 | setter | ||
| 7 | Kevin Soo | December 3, 1993 | middle blocker | ||
| 8 | Märt Tammearu | March 17, 2001 | outside hitter | ||
| 9 | Hergo Hansman | February 18, 2000 | outside hitter | ||
| 10 | Stefan Kaibald | May 19, 1997 | outside hitter | ||
| 11 | Siim Tammearu | June 13, 1999 | outside hitter | ||
| 12 |  Curtis Stockton | April 22, 1993 | opposite | ||
| 13 | Ronald Järv | May 10, 1993 | setter | ||
| 18 | Alex Saaremaa | December 18, 2000 | middle blocker | ||
| 19 | Johann Olaf Lääne | February 14, 1994 | outside hitter | ||
| 20 | Rauno Kink | January 6, 1996 | middle blocker | ||
| 21 | Maksim Sevtsenko | March 9, 1996 | setter | ||
| Head coach: Andrei Ojamets Assistant: Argo MeresaarAssistant: Hendrik RikandAssistant: Alar Rikberg | |||||
Season by season
| Season | Estonian League | Estonian Cup | Baltic League | European competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–00 | Runner-up | Runner-up | – | – |
| 2000–01 | Runner-up | Runner-up | – | – |
| 2001–02 | Runner-up | Runner-up | – | – |
| 2002–03 | Runner-up | Runner-up | – | – |
| 2003–04 | 3rd place | Runner-up | – | – |
| 2004–05 | Runner-up | Semifinalist | – | – |
| 2005–06 | Champion | Champion | Runner-up | – |
| 2006–07 | Runner-up | Runner-up | 5th place | 2 CEV Top Teams Cup Round I |
| 2007–08 | Runner-up | Runner-up | Runner-up | – |
| 2008–09 | Runner-up | Champion | Runner-up | – |
| 2009–10 | 3rd place | Semifinalist | Runner-up | – |
| 2010–11 | Runner-up | Semifinalist | 4th place | – |
| 2011–12 | Champion | Runner-up | Champion | – |
| 2012–13 | 4th place | Semifinalist | 6th place | – |
| 2013–14 | Champion | Runner-up | Runner-up | – |
| 2014–15 | Runner-up | Semifinalist | Champion | 3 CEV Challenge Cup 1/16 Finals |
| 2015–16 | Quarterfinalist | Semifinalist | 8th place | – |
| 2016–17 | Runner-up | Semifinalist | 3rd place | – |
| 2017–18 | Runner-up | Runner-up | 5th place | – |
| 2018–19 | Runner-up | Semifinalist | Champion | – |
| 2019–20 | cancelled | Champion | cancelled | – |
| 2020–21 | Champion | Runner-up | 4th place | – |
| 2021–22 | Champion | Champion | Champion | 2 CEV Cup 1/32 Finals |
| 2022–23 | Runner-up | Champion | Champion | 3 CEV Challenge Cup 1/8 Finals |
| 2023–24 | 4th place | Champion | Runner-up | – |
| 2024–25 | Champion | Runner-up | Champion | 3 CEV Challenge Cup 1/16 Finals |
Honours
Baltic League
- Winners (6): 2012, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025
- Runners-up: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2024
Estonian League
- Winners (6): 2006, 2012, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2025
- Runners-up: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023
Baltic Cup
- Winners (2): 2003, 2004
- Runners-up: 2006
Estonian Cup
- Winners (6): 2005, 2008, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Runners-up: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2024
Head coaches
- 1999–2001
Andres Toode - 2001–2005 Alar Kaljuvee
- 2005–2008 Urmas Tali
- 2008–2009 Oliver Taats
- 2009–2012 Rainer Vassiljev
- 2012–2015 Andrei Ojamets
- 2015–2018 Oliver Lüütsepp
- 2018–2020 Andrei Ojamets
- 2020– Alar Rikberg
Notable players
- Martti Juhkami (6 seasons: 2009–2012; 2021–2022; 2023–)
- Kristo Kollo (7 seasons: 2007–2012; 2013–2015)
- Argo Meresaar (4 seasons: 2005–2007; 2013–2015)
- Jaanus Nõmmsalu (1 season: 2007–2008)
- Hindrek Pulk (1 season: 2018–2019)
- Rait Rikberg (22 seasons: 2001–2023)
- Janis Sirelpuu (3 seasons: 2000–2003)
- Rauno Tamme (2 seasons: 2009–2011)
- Renee Teppan (2 seasons: 2012–2014)
- Andres Toobal (4 seasons: 2009–2011; 2012–2014)
- Kert Toobal (4 seasons: 2008–2009; 2019–2022)
- Henri Treial (4 seasons: 2012–2016)
- Robert Täht (3 seasons: 2012–2015)
- Oliver Venno (3 seasons: 2006–2009)