PGE Skra Bełchatów

KPS Skra Bełchatów SA is a Polish professional men's volleyball team based in Bełchatów, founded in 1957. Nine–time Polish Champion and seven–time Polish Cup winner. The team has been playing in the top level Polish Volleyball League, PlusLiga continuously since 2001.

PGE Skra Bełchatów
Full nameKlub Piłki Siatkowej Skra Bełchatów Spółka Akcyjna
Founded1930 (club)
1957 (volleyball team)
GroundHala Energia
ul. Dąbrowskiego 11a
97–400 Bełchatów
(Capacity: 2,700)
Chairman Konrad Piechocki
Manager Michał Mieszko Gogol
LeaguePlusLiga
CEV Champions League
WebsiteClub home page
Uniforms
Home
Away

Achievements

Team history
Bee – mascot of PGE Skra.
Winiarski, Zatorski and Kurek during the match with LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk on September 30, 2011, Ergo Arena, Gdańsk.
Setter Falasca and opposite, captain of PGE Skra Bełchatów Wlazły during the match against LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk on September 30, 2011.
PGE Skra after winning silver medal of Polish Championship in season 2011/2012.
Daniel Pliński and Paweł Woicki during the match against LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk in PlusLiga on March 17, 2013.
Opposite hitter - Aleksandar Atanasijević during the match against LOTOS Trefl Gdańsk in PlusLiga on March 17, 2013.
First six during match of PlusLiga with Asseco Resovia Rzeszów at Atlas Arena, Łódź on November 30, 2014.
Head coach Miguel Ángel Falasca and middle blocker Andrzej Wrona during a break on November 30, 2014.
Team in season 2014/15.

Robotniczy Klub Sportowy (Workers Sports Club) Skra was founded in 1930 in Bełchatów. First, it was a football club. In 1957, a volleyball section was created. In 1977 the football section was separated from the club and incorporated into KWB Bełchatów. In 1991 Bełchatów Power Station became the sponsor of the club, and the club changed its name to Energetyczny Klub Sportowy (Energetic Sports Club) Skra. In 1994, the club advanced to Polish league II, and in 1997 to league I "B" series. In 1999, it was promoted to series "A", but after a year it fell back down to series "B" again.

In 2001, the club led by Wiesław Czaja was promoted to PlusLiga. In their first season there - 2001/2002 - the team achieved the bronze medal in the Polish Men's Volleyball Championship, defeating Jastrzębski Węgiel after three matches. In 2002/2003 Skra took 6th place in the league and lost in the second round of the CEV Cup in a match against Russian club Lokomotiv Yekaterinburg. The team had a new head coach - Ireneusz Mazur. In 2003/2004 the club was close to achieving its next medal. Skra lost against AZS Częstochowa after five matches. The team was also defeated in the final match of the Polish Cup by KP Polska Energia Sosnowiec. In 2004/2005 players of Skra began their masterful passe. They won first title of Polish Champion after three matches with AZS Olsztyn and achieved their first Polish Cup also after a final match with the club from Olsztyn (3-1). The team repeated this success in the next season, when they won second title of Polish Champion in four final matches with Jastrzębski Węgiel, and Polish Cup for the second year in a row (winning final match with AZS Częstochowa (3-0)). They lost two matches against Greek Iraklis Thessaloniki V.C. in play-off 6 of CEV Champions League 2005/2006.

In 2006, the new coach was Daniel Castellani, who was the first coach of the club from outside Poland. He spent three seasons in Bełchatów. During his work PGE Skra won next three title of Polish Champion (2006/2007, 2007/2008, 2008/2009) and two Polish Cups (2007, 2009). In 2008 PGE Skra as host played in Final Four of CEV Champions League 2007/2008 held at Hala MOSiR in Łódź. On March 29, 2008 the team lost the semi final against Russian club Dynamo-Tattransgaz Kazan (2-3). Next day, PGE Skra players won bronze medal in match with Italian Sisley Treviso (3-2).

In 2009 a new coach was hired. It was Jacek Nawrocki. The first success under the guidance of the new coach was the silver medal in the FIVB Club World Championship 2009. At this tournament after promoting from Pool B, PGE Skra won their semi final against VC Zenit-Kazan (3-1), but on November 8, 2009 the Polish club lost the final against Trentino Volley (0-3). 2 of 7 individual awards were received by PGE Skra players - Bartosz Kurek as the Best Scorer, Marcin Możdżonek as the Best Blocker. In 2010 the Polish team was the host of the Final Four CEV Champions League 2009/2010 again. They lost the semi final against VC Dynamo Moscow and won bronze medal in a match against ACH Volley Bled. Mariusz Wlazły was the Best Scorer of the Final Four tournament. In 2009/2010 the club won their 6th title of Polish Champion. On December 21, 2010 PGE Skra achieved silver medal of the FIVB Club World Championship 2010. They lost against Trentino Volley (1-3). In 2010/2011 Polish club won their 7th title of the Polish Champion and fifth Polish Cup. The first trophy in 2012 was the sixth Polish Cup in the history of the club. On March 18, 2012 PGE Skra achieved the silver medal of the CEV Champions League. They won the match against Arkas Izmir in the semi final, but lost the final against Russian club - VC Zenit-Kazan in the Final Four held at Atlas Arena in Łódź, Poland.[1] The final match ended controversially, because the referee didn't see the block of Russian player and ended the match despite the fact that the audience and all the players saw the error on screen.[2] PGE Skra players received 3 of 8 individual awards. Best Receiver was Michał Winiarski, the award for Best Spiker was received by Bartosz Kurek and the title of Most Valuable Player was gained by team captain Mariusz Wlazły.[3] In season 2011/2012 the club lost in the final of the PlusLiga with Asseco Resovia Rzeszów and achieved the silver medal. On October 18, 2013 PGE Skra lost the semi final of the FIVB Club World Championship with Sada Cruzeiro (2-3). Next day, Polish team won bronze in their match with VC Zenit Kazan (3-2). Opposite Aleksandar Atanasijević was awarded the Best Scorer. In season 2012/2013 the club took 5th place in the PlusLiga and was eliminated from the CEV Champions League by Arkas Izmir.

In 2013 a former setter of this club, Miguel Ángel Falasca, returned to the club from Bełchatów, who after ending his sports career debuted as the head coach. In 2013/2014 PGE Skra competed in the CEV Cup, continuing as far as the semi final, which they lost to Gubierniya Nizhny Novgorod. On October 24, 2013 one of the players - Stephane Antiga - signed a contract with the Polish Association of Volleyball and became the new head coach of Poland men's national volleyball team. For the first time in the history of the Polish national team, the current coach was an active player. In season 2013/2014 PGE Skra won a title of Polish Champion 2014, which is the 8th title of Polish Champion in its history.[4] On October 8, 2014 PGE Skra as the Polish Champion 2014 played with ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle (winner of Polish Cup2014) for the ENEA Polish SuperCup2014.[5] PGE Skra won 3-1 at Arena Poznań in Poznań. Facundo Conte was awarded a title of the Most Valuable Player.[6] In season 2014/2015 PGE Skra has been playing in 2014–15 CEV Champions League. They won all matches in Pool F with Precura Antwerpen, Hypo Tirol Innsbruck, Jihostroj České Budějovice, with a perfect record, winning 18 and losing only 2 sets along the way.[7] In playoff 12 beat Italian club Cucine Lube Treia twice - 3–0 in Macerata[8] and 3–1 at Atlas Arena, Łódź.[9] They went to playoff 6, where their opponents were Italian Sir Safety Perugia. PGE Skra lost their first match with Italian team (2-3) and gained 1 point. In a revenge match, on March 11, 2015 at Atlas Arena, Łódź PGE Skra Bełchatów beat Sir Safety Perugia 3-1, gained 3 points and went to the Final Four, which will be held in Berlin.[10] They will play with another Polish team - Asseco Resovia Rzeszów and for the firsat time in history two Polish teams will be playing at semifinal of CEV Champions League Final Four.[11] Club played in Final Four of 2014–15 CEV Champions League, but lost with Asseco Resovia Rzeszów in semifinal and next day in bronze medal match with Berlin Recycling Volleys and did not achieve any medal. On May 6, 2015 they won bronze medal of Polish Championship after winning matches with Jastrzębski Węgiel.[12]

On February 7, 2016 PGE Skra achieved Polish Cup 2016 (beat ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle 3-2 in the finale).[13] They received four individual awards: Conte was the Best Receiver, Lisinac was the Best Blocker, Wlazły was the Best Opposite Spiker and Most Valuable Player of tournament. During the final with ZAKSA, the captain Mariusz Wlazły was injured in tie-break. Skra got eliminated from 2015–16 CEV Champions League in playoffs 6 by Zenit Kazan (first match 3-2, second 0-3). After the failure a head coach Miguel Ángel Falasca has been dismissed during clubs meeting. The decision was announced on March 28, 2016.[14] Management of Skra announced also that duties of head coach to the end of season 2015/16 were taken by Falasca's assistant Italian Fabio Storti, but next day on March 29, 2016 club signed a contract with a new head coach – Philippe Blain.[15] On February 7, 2016 PGE Skra 2016 won the Polish Cup after beating ZAKSA in the final.[16] In April 2016 the team won a bronze medal in the 2015–16 PlusLiga.[17]

Former names
1957–1991RKS Skra Bełchatów
1991–2004EKS Skra Bełchatów
2004–2005KPS Skra Bełchatów
2005–2007BOT Skra Bełchatów
2007–presentPGE Skra Bełchatów

Head coaches
1997–1999 Paweł Blomberg
1999 Waldemar Kuczewski
1999–2000 Zbigniew Zarzycki
2000–2003 Wiesław Czaja
2003–2006 Ireneusz Mazur
2006–2009 Daniel Castellani
2009–2013 Jacek Nawrocki
2013–2016 Miguel Ángel Falasca
2016–2017 Philippe Blain
2017–2019 Roberto Piazza
2019–present Michał Mieszko Gogol

Team
Main article: PGE Skra Bełchatów squads

Retired numbers
No. Name Date of birth Position
2 Mariusz Wlazły(1983-08-04)August 4, 1983opposite
10 Miguel Ángel Falasca(1973-04-29)April 29, 1973setter

2020/2021
Head coach: Michał Mieszko Gogol
Assistant:
Coach of physical preparation:
Physiotherapists:
Scoutman:
Doctor:
No. Name Date of birth Position
Karol Kłos (1989-08-08) August 8, 1989middle blocker
Milad Ebadipour (1993-10-17) October 17, 1993outside hitter
Dušan Petković (1992-01-27) January 27, 1992opposite
Milan Katić (1993-10-22) October 22, 1993outside hitter
Kacper Piechocki (1995-02-17) February 17, 1995libero
Grzegorz Łomacz (1987-10-01) October 1, 1987setter
Taylor Sander (1992-03-17) March 17, 1992outside hitter
Mateusz Bieniek (1994-04-05) April 5, 1994middle blocker
Bartosz Filipiak (1994-02-27) February 27, 1994opposite
Robert Milczarek (1983-11-28) November 28, 1983libero
Mikołaj Sawicki (1999-11-23) November 23, 1999outside hitter
Norbert Huber (1998-08-14) August 14, 1998middle blocker
Jennings Franciskovic (1995-05-10) May 10, 1995setter
Sebastian Adamczyk (1999-02-28) February 28, 1999middle blocker

Notable players

See also

References
  1. Zenit KAZAN shatters PGE Skra dreams of home glory – cev.eu – 18-03-2012
  2. PGE Skra Bełchatów - Zenit Kazań 2:3. Sędzia odebrał PGE Skrze szanse na sukces – lodz.naszemiasto.pl – 19-03-2012
  3. Mariusz Wlazły MVP Final Four LM – plusliga.pl – 18-03-2012
  4. PGE Skra mistrzem Polski – plusliga.pl – 27-04-2014
  5. ENEA Super Puchar w piłce siatkowej 2014 dla PGE Skry Bełchatów – plusliga.pl – 08-10-2014
  6. Facundo Conte MVP ENEA Super Pucharu w piłce siatkowej mężczyzn 2014 – plusliga.pl – 08-10-2014
  7. PGE Skra make it six in a row to cap memorable campaign in CL League Round – cev.eu – 27-01-2015
  8. Skra makes big step forward towards Playoffs 6 – cev.eu – 11-02-2015
  9. PGE Skra BELCHATOW claim last spot in Playoffs 6 in front of a sell-out crowd of 12,000 fans – cev.eu – 19-02-2015
  10. PGE Skra BELCHATOW secure Final Four ticket to delight 12,000 home fans – cev.eu – 11-03-2015
  11. Asseco Resovia RZESZOW claim historic Final Four ticket to set up much anticipated Polish derby with Skra in semis – cev.eu – 11-03-2015
  12. PGE Skra z brązowym medalem – plusliga.pl – 06-05-2015
  13. PGE Skra Bełchatów zwycięzcą Pucharu Polski! – plusliga.pl – 07-02-2016
  14. Miguel Falasca odchodzi z PGE Skry Bełchatów – skra.pl – 28-03-2016
  15. Mistrz Świata poprowadzi PGE Skrę – skra.pl – 29-03-2016
  16. POLISH CUP M: Venture of all time - Skra win trophy after annulling 3-8 in tie-break! – worldofvolley.com – 07-02-2016
  17. Brązowa PGE Skra! – skra.pl – 26-04-2016
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