Tartu Volleyball

BIGBANK Tartu is an Estonian professional volleyball club based in Tartu, Estonia, that competes in the Baltic Men Volleyball League.

BIGBANK Tartu

Full name	BIGBANK Tartu
Founded	1999
Ground	University of Tartu Sports Hall, Tartu (Capacity: 1,650)
Chairman	Alari Jõesaar
Manager	Alar Rikberg
Captain	Martti Juhkami
League	Baltic Men Volleyball League Estonian Volleyball League
2024–25	1st (Baltic League) 1st (Estonian League) 2nd (Estonian Cup)
Website	Club home page
Championships
6 Baltic Championships 6 Estonian Championships 6 Estonian Cups

Founded in 1999, the team has won 6 Baltic League championships, 6 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.^[1]

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.^[2] Pere Leib Tartu won another Estonian Cup in 2008–09.^[3]

The 2006–07 season was historical as Pere Leib Tartu made their European debut when they held the CEV Top Teams Cup tournament.^[4]

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 36)	middle blocker
3	Taavet Leppik	(1993-07-31) July 31, 1993 (age 32)	libero
6	Martti Juhkami (C)	(1988-06-06) June 6, 1988 (age 37)	outside hitter
7	Romi Aros	(2001-04-11) April 11, 2001 (age 24)	libero
8	Timo Lõhmus	(2001-05-30) May 30, 2001 (age 24)	outside hitter
11	Aleksander Eerma	(1995-08-03) August 3, 1995 (age 30)	setter
12	Kristjan Unt	(2005-07-09) July 9, 2005 (age 20)	outside hitter
13	Andris Vahula	(2005-08-03) August 3, 2005 (age 20)	setter
14	Andris Širjakovs	(2000-10-12) October 12, 2000 (age 24)	opposite
19	Robin Rohula	(2006-12-19) December 19, 2006 (age 18)	outside hitter
20	Tamur Viidalepp	(1997-11-12) November 12, 1997 (age 27)	outside hitter
21	Hergo Hansman	(2000-02-18) February 18, 2000 (age 25)	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 25)	middle blocker
99	Mart Naaber	(1992-12-15) December 15, 1992 (age 32)	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 28)	opposite
3	Taavet Leppik	(1993-07-31) July 31, 1993 (age 32)	outside hitter
6	Siim Päid	(1989-06-02) June 2, 1989 (age 36)	middle blocker
7	Kevin Soo	(1993-12-03) December 3, 1993 (age 31)	middle blocker
8	Timo Lõhmus	(2001-05-30) May 30, 2001 (age 24)	outside hitter
10	Martin Tamm	(2004-06-12) June 12, 2004 (age 21)	outside hitter
12	Kristjan Unt	(2005-07-09) July 9, 2005 (age 20)	outside hitter
13	Ronald Järv	(1993-05-10) May 10, 1993 (age 32)	setter
20	Tamur Viidalepp	(1997-11-12) November 12, 1997 (age 27)	outside hitter
22	Markkus Keel	(1995-08-18) August 18, 1995 (age 29)	setter
25	Markus Tamm	(2004-06-12) June 12, 2004 (age 21)	outside hitter
99	Mart Naaber	(1992-12-15) December 15, 1992 (age 32)	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	–
2024–25	Champion	Runner-up	Champion	3 CEV Challenge Cup 1/16 Finals

Honours

Baltic League

• Winners (6): 2012, 2015, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025
• Runners-up: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2024

Estonian League

• Winners (6): 2006, 2012, 2014, 2021, 2022, 2025
• 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, 2024

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 (6 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 seasons: 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)