# 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. They have competed in many European and world volleyball championships, but as of October 16, 2021, are yet to win a gold medal.

## Campaigns

Albania competed in the Men's European Volleyball Championship three times, in 1955, 1958, and 1967. They also competed in the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in 1962.
Albania competed seven times at the Mediterranean Games. They first participated in 1991 in Athens, Greece. Afterwards, they played at the Mediterranean Games in 1993, 1997, 2001, and again in 2018 in Tarragona, Spain.

### Albania at the Men's European Volleyball Championships
#### 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 recorded their first win at a Men's European Volleyball Championship against Finland 3–1. Albania finished third in 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 lost 3–0 to Albania, and Belgium lost 3–2. In the final match Albania lost to Italy. Albania finished in 10th place in the tournament.

#### 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 fourth out of five in the group.
Albania then faced East Germany, Turkey, Italy, Finland, Tunisia, Egypt, and the Netherlands in the 9–16th place group. 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 3–2 in a close match for their sixth 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.

#### 1967

The Albania men's national volleyball team participated once more 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.

## Team
### Current roster

Updated: 17 October 2016
The following is a list of players that represented Albania at the 2016 CEV Volleyball European League.
| Head coach: | Giannis Melkas |
| Assistant coach: | Artan Kalaja |
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Height | Weight | Spike | Block | 2015/16 club |
| 1 | Altin Gorenxha | (1978-05-04) May 4, 1978 (age 46) | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 305 cm (120 in) | 290 cm (110 in) | Studenti |
| 2 | Renato Kola | (1987-07-08) July 8, 1987 (age 37) | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | 64 kg (141 lb) | 320 cm (130 in) | 300 cm (120 in) | Vllaznia |
| 3 | Osman Qepa | (1996-04-02) April 2, 1996 (age 28) | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 79 kg (174 lb) | 345 cm (136 in) | 334 cm (131 in) | Farka Volley |
| 4 | Redjon Koçi | (1994-11-01) November 1, 1994 (age 30) | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | 350 cm (140 in) | 338 cm (133 in) | Farka Volley |
| 5 | Gert Lisha | (1995-06-28) June 28, 1995 (age 29) | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | 354 cm (139 in) | 340 cm (130 in) | USC Trojans |
| 6 | Arbër Troka | (1988-12-29) December 29, 1988 (age 35) | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 356 cm (140 in) | 320 cm (130 in) | Studenti |
| 7 | Adriatik Kajtazi | (1987-08-17) August 17, 1987 (age 37) | 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 | (1987-12-23) December 23, 1987 (age 36) | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 97 kg (214 lb) | 360 cm (140 in) | 345 cm (136 in) | Inegol Belediyesi |
| 9 | Kreshnik Malaj | (1989-11-09) November 9, 1989 (age 35) | 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) | 84 kg (185 lb) | 330 cm (130 in) | 320 cm (130 in) | Studenti |
| 10 | Enea Xhelati | (1982-05-15) May 15, 1982 (age 42) | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | 97 kg (214 lb) | 345 cm (136 in) | 335 cm (132 in) | Pamvohaikos |
| 11 | Alvi Shurdhi | (1995-08-03) August 3, 1995 (age 29) | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | 82 kg (181 lb) | 345 cm (136 in) | 320 cm (130 in) | Foinikas Syros |
| 12 | Asmend Kula | (1994-01-10) January 10, 1994 (age 30) | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | 94 kg (207 lb) | 345 cm (136 in) | 335 cm (132 in) | Tirana |
| 13 | Blerim Pepaj | (1985-11-09) November 9, 1985 (age 39) | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 340 cm (130 in) | 330 cm (130 in) | Tirana |
| 14 | Anton Qafarena | (1997-06-11) June 11, 1997 (age 27) | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) | 87 kg (192 lb) | 360 cm (140 in) | 340 cm (130 in) | Vllaznia |
| 15 | Adri Arapi | (1997-06-12) June 12, 1997 (age 27) | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | 90 kg (200 lb) | 345 cm (136 in) | 330 cm (130 in) | Tirana |
| 16 | Gjergj Bardhi | (1982-09-12) September 12, 1982 (age 42) | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | 98 kg (216 lb) | 332 cm (131 in) | 320 cm (130 in) | Teuta |