# Tartu Volleyball

BIGBANK Tartu is an Estonian professional volleyball club based in Tartu, Estonia, that competes in the Baltic Men Volleyball League.
Founded in 1999, the team has won 5 Baltic League championships, 5 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.
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. Pere Leib Tartu won another Estonian Cup in 2008–09.
The 2006–07 season was historical as Pere Leib Tartu made their European debut when they held the CEV Top Teams Cup tournament.
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 | (1989-06-02) June 2, 1989 (age 35) | middle blocker |
| 3 | Taavet Leppik | (1993-07-31) July 31, 1993 (age 31) | libero |
| 6 | Martti Juhkami (C) | (1988-06-06) June 6, 1988 (age 36) | outside hitter |
| 7 | Romi Aros | (2001-04-11) April 11, 2001 (age 23) | libero |
| 8 | Timo Lõhmus | (2001-05-30) May 30, 2001 (age 23) | outside hitter |
| 11 | Aleksander Eerma | (1995-08-03) August 3, 1995 (age 29) | setter |
| 12 | Kristjan Unt | (2005-07-09) July 9, 2005 (age 19) | outside hitter |
| 13 | Andris Vahula | (2005-08-03) August 3, 2005 (age 19) | setter |
| 14 | Andris Širjakovs | (2000-10-12) October 12, 2000 (age 23) | opposite |
| 19 | Robin Rohula | (2006-12-19) December 19, 2006 (age 17) | outside hitter |
| 20 | Tamur Viidalepp | (1997-11-12) November 12, 1997 (age 26) | outside hitter |
| 21 | Hergo Hansman | (2000-02-18) February 18, 2000 (age 24) | opposite |
| 22 | Ron Rudolf Teesaar | (2005-09-23) September 23, 2005 (age 19) | middle blocker |
| 31 | Anthony Daniel Matheney | (2000-05-12) May 12, 2000 (age 24) | middle blocker |
| 99 | Mart Naaber | (1992-12-15) December 15, 1992 (age 31) | middle blocker |
Team roster – season 2022/2023 :
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Position |
| 1 | Rait Rikberg (C) | (1982-08-30) August 30, 1982 (age 42) | libero |
| 2 | Matej Šmidl | (1997-02-25) February 25, 1997 (age 27) | opposite |
| 3 | Taavet Leppik | (1993-07-31) July 31, 1993 (age 31) | outside hitter |
| 6 | Siim Päid | (1989-06-02) June 2, 1989 (age 35) | middle blocker |
| 7 | Kevin Soo | (1993-12-03) December 3, 1993 (age 30) | middle blocker |
| 8 | Timo Lõhmus | (2001-05-30) May 30, 2001 (age 23) | outside hitter |
| 10 | Martin Tamm | (2004-06-12) June 12, 2004 (age 20) | outside hitter |
| 12 | Kristjan Unt | (2005-07-09) July 9, 2005 (age 19) | outside hitter |
| 13 | Ronald Järv | (1993-05-10) May 10, 1993 (age 31) | setter |
| 20 | Tamur Viidalepp | (1997-11-12) November 12, 1997 (age 26) | outside hitter |
| 22 | Markkus Keel | (1995-08-18) August 18, 1995 (age 29) | setter |
| 25 | Markus Tamm | (2004-06-12) June 12, 2004 (age 20) | outside hitter |
| 99 | Mart Naaber | (1992-12-15) December 15, 1992 (age 31) | middle blocker |
| Head coach: Alar Rikberg Assistant: Mikk Kesküla Assistant: Hendrik Rikand ||||
Team roster – season 2021/2022 :
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Position |
| 1 | Rait Rikberg | (1982-08-30)August 30, 1982 | libero |
| 3 | Taavet Leppik | (1993-07-31)July 31, 1993 | outside hitter |
| 5 | Kert Toobal (C) | (1979-06-03)June 3, 1979 | setter |
| 6 | Martti Juhkami | (1988-06-06)June 6, 1988 | outside hitter |
| 7 | Kevin Soo | (1993-12-03)December 3, 1993 | middle blocker |
| 9 | Hergo Hansman | (2000-02-18)February 18, 2000 | opposite |
| 11 | Siim Tammearu | (1999-06-13)June 13, 1999 | outside hitter |
| 12 | Albert Hurt | (1999-04-22)April 22, 1999 | outside hitter |
| 13 | Ronald Järv | (1993-05-10)May 10, 1993 | setter |
| 17 | Allar Keskülla | (2001-04-01)April 1, 2001 | libero |
| 18 | Alex Saaremaa | (2000-12-18)December 18, 2000 | middle blocker |
| 20 | Tamur Viidalepp | (1997-11-12)November 12, 1997 | outside hitter |
| 33 | Valentin Kordas | (1998-12-31)December 31, 1998 | opposite |
| 66 | Siim Päid | (1989-06-02)June 2, 1989 | middle blocker |
| 99 | Mart Naaber | (1992-12-15)December 15, 1992 | middle blocker |
| Head coach: Alar Rikberg Assistant: Oliver Lüütsepp Assistant: Hendrik Rikand ||||
Team roster – season 2020/2021 :
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Position |
| 1 | Rait Rikberg | (1982-08-30)August 30, 1982 | libero |
| 3 | Sander Lepp | (2001-09-23)September 23, 2001 | libero |
| 4 | Märt Tammearu | (2001-03-17)March 17, 2001 | outside hitter |
| 5 | Kert Toobal (C) | (1979-06-03)June 3, 1979 | setter |
| 6 | Siim Päid | (1989-06-02)June 2, 1989 | middle blocker |
| 7 | Kevin Soo | (1993-12-03)December 3, 1993 | middle blocker |
| 9 | Hergo Hansman | (2000-02-18)February 18, 2000 | outside hitter |
| 10 | Stefan Kaibald | (1997-05-19)May 19, 1997 | outside hitter |
| 11 | Siim Tammearu | (1999-06-13)June 13, 1999 | outside hitter |
| 12 | Albert Hurt | (1999-04-22)April 22, 1999 | outside hitter |
| 13 | Ronald Järv | (1993-05-10)May 10, 1993 | setter |
| 17 | Alex Saaremaa | (2000-12-18)December 18, 2000 | middle blocker |
| 18 | Siim Põlluäär | (1989-05-30)May 30, 1989 | opposite |
| 24 | Kristo Karp | (1997-02-11)February 11, 1997 | middle blocker |
| Head coach: Alar Rikberg Assistant: Argo Meresaar Assistant: Hendrik Rikand ||||
Team roster – season 2019/2020 :
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Position |
| 1 | Rait Rikberg | (1982-08-30)August 30, 1982 | libero |
| 2 | Albert Hurt | (1999-04-22)April 22, 1999 | outside hitter |
| 3 | Mihkel Tanila | (1991-09-30)September 30, 1991 | middle blocker |
| 5 | Kert Toobal (C) | (1979-06-03)June 3, 1979 | setter |
| 7 | Kevin Soo | (1993-12-03)December 3, 1993 | middle blocker |
| 8 | Märt Tammearu | (2001-03-17)March 17, 2001 | outside hitter |
| 9 | Hergo Hansman | (2000-02-18)February 18, 2000 | outside hitter |
| 10 | Stefan Kaibald | (1997-05-19)May 19, 1997 | outside hitter |
| 11 | Siim Tammearu | (1999-06-13)June 13, 1999 | outside hitter |
| 12 | Curtis Stockton | (1993-04-22)April 22, 1993 | opposite |
| 13 | Ronald Järv | (1993-05-10)May 10, 1993 | setter |
| 18 | Alex Saaremaa | (2000-12-18)December 18, 2000 | middle blocker |
| 19 | Johann Olaf Lääne | (1994-02-14)February 14, 1994 | outside hitter |
| 20 | Rauno Kink | (1996-01-06)January 6, 1996 | middle blocker |
| 21 | Maksim Sevtsenko | (1996-03-09)March 9, 1996 | setter |
| Head coach: Andrei Ojamets Assistant: Argo Meresaar Assistant: Hendrik Rikand Assistant: 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 | – |

## Honours

Baltic League
* Winners (5): 2012, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023
* Runners-up: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2024
Estonian League
* Winners (5): 2006, 2012, 2014, 2021, 2022
* 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

## 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
* 2020–0000 Alar Rikberg

## Notable players

* Martti Juhkami (5 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 season: 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)