Svidnik, Slovakia, April 30, 2014. Chemes HUMENNE finished a great season by winning its fourth title in the history of the Slovak Extraliga.  The team from the eastern part of the country completed the sweep against VK Slavia SVIDNIK and won the series by four victories to none.  Thus Chemes collected three medals this season having won the Slovakian cup in early February and the bronze from the Middle European League.

Chemes won all four final matches in four sets and won the league again after doing so in 2008, 2010 and 2012.

"It was our goal to win the title this season.  We have worked very hard and I am happy that we have done it successfully.  Slavia was a very good opponent.  We won all four matches, but the series was not easy," said head coach of Chemes Richard Vlkolinsky.

This season was specific for the Slovak Extraliga, since last year’s champion Volley Team BRATISLAVA finished its existence in November because of financial problems.  Chemes, on the other hand, had to make changes in the team during the season, because Polish setter Mariusz Leszczawski and spiker Milan Lizala got injured and the club terminated the contracts with them.  In January Chemes signed Spanish setter Miguel Angel De Amo who perfectly fit the new team.

"I spent a lot of time in December in bringing in a new setter.  We had a lot of options and we finally decided on Miguel.  He played very well and he was one of the factors of our success," added Vlkolinsky, who had as many as three foreign players in the team. In addition to De Amo, there was the duo from Poland Mikolaj Sarnecki, opposite, and Radoslav Szymczak, libero.  Chemes will represent Slovakia in the CEV European Cups again next season.

Slavia SVIDNIK advanced to the final series for the first time in the history of the club.

"We did not use the chances that we had during these finals, but I think that Chemes won the title deservedly and proved that it actually is the best team in Slovakia.  The progress of our team was very good and we are happy for the silver medals," said head coach of Slavia Peter Kalny.  The former head coach of Czechoslovakia and Slovakia has won the league in his native country with three different teams and now wrote history with the silver medals with the team from Svidnik as well.  It was his first season in this club and it is not clear if he stays also for the next season, because he has already received some other offers.

The final series between the two teams from the eastern part of Slovakia was interesting also because of the fans.  These two squads are known to have the best fan clubs in Slovakia and, with the two cities only 70 kilometers apart, all the matches between them were very emotional.

"I think the atmosphere in the finals was great and both teams deserved to play for the gold medal," added Vlkolinsky.

The only player who won all four titles with Chemes is spiker Miroslav Jakubov who started the season in Germany, but came back in November because of the financial problems of his club there.

"I am happy that I came back and we won the Slovakian cup and the league," said the 26-year-old spiker who is also returning to the national team.  In May the Slovakians will play in the 2nd Round of qualification for the 2015 CEV Volleyball European Championship - Men and then they will compete in the FIVB Volleyball World League for the first time in history.