07/11/2011 10:30
A success story from Poland, Konrad Piechocki and rookie Atom Trefl SOPOT
News from the clubs
Belchatow/Sopot, Poland, November 7, 2011. Many players and coaches have been joining the CEV Volleyball Champions League by representing different teams but this year Poland – Europe’s Volleyball “Mecca” – is coming up with a unique story, as Konrad Piechocki is the very first man in history who is chairing two clubs that are involved in Europe’s most elitist competition, namely PGE Skra BELCHATOW and rookie Atom Trefl SOPOT.
While PGE Skra is a much decorated team – having claimed the past 7 editions of Poland’s national league, finished twice in third place as the final four of the CEV Volleyball Champions League was held in Lodz in 2008 and in 2010 and returning two times (2009 and 2010) with a silver medal from the FIVB Club World Championship in Doha, Qatar – Atom Trefl SOPOT is debuting this season in the European Cups.
However, this group has already written history as last year Atom Trefl finished in second place its first campaign in Poland’s first division losing only the final series to Bank BPS Fakro MUSZYNA, thereby also qualifying for the 2012 CEV Volleyball Champions League. The club was founded only 15 months ago by a group of Volleyball enthusiasts including Mr. Piechocki. With the support of some major sponsors, Atom Trefl currently disposes of a very solid budget and has signed a group of great players to create a sort of “Dream Team”. The 15 girls included in the roster are indeed or were members of the national team in their respective countries. With such good pre-conditions the goal that Atom Trefl SOPOT has set for this season is to make it out of the Pool phase and hence advance to the 8th finals.
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