BIGBANK Tartu is an

Estonia Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...

n professional

volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...

club based in

Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,759 (as of 2024). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the ...

, that competes in the

Baltic Men Volleyball League The Baltic Men Volleyball League, known as the Cronimet League for sponsorship reasons, is the top official competition for men's volleyball clubs in the Baltic states The Baltic states or the Baltic countries is a geopolitical term encomp ...

. 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 University of Tartu Sports Hall () is a multi-purpose list of indoor arenas, indoor arena complex in Tartu. It was opened in 1982 and is owned by the University of Tartu Academic Sports Club. It's located on the left bank of the Emajõgi, in Ü ...

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 The CEV Cup is the second tier official competition for men's Volleyball clubs of Europe. The competition takes place every year. Until 2000, it was the CEV Cup Winners' Cup. In 2000 it was renamed to CEV Top Teams Cup and in 2007 to CEV Cup. T ...

tournament.TOP TEAMS CUP MEN – 2006/2007
. EVF. Retrieved on 2011-06-27 In 2011–12, the club won second Estonian League title and also their first ever

Baltic League The Baltic League (officially known as the Triobet Baltic League) was a Baltic men's football club tournament held four times between the top club sides from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Launched in 2007 inspired by the now defunct Scandinavi ...

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

title.

Team roster

2023/2024

Season by season

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 Andres Toode (born 23 July 1957) is an Estonian volleyballer and coach. He was born in Tartu. In 1982 he graduated from the University of Tartu's Institute of Physical Education. He began his volleyball career in 1967, coached by Taavo Veski and ...

*2001–2005

Alar Kaljuvee Alar Kaljuvee (born 9 April 1961) is an Estonian volleyball coach and sport pedagogue. He was born in Misso, Võru County. In 1983 he graduated from University of Tartu's Institute of Physical Education. 1973–1983 he practiced volleyball, coach ...

*2005–2008

Urmas Tali Urmas Tali (born 5 March 1970) is an Estonian volleyball player and coach. He was born in Võru. 1978–1993 he practised volleyball, coached by Taivo Rohtmaa, Aksel Saal, Andres Skuin and Marianne Karnesk. Started working as a volleyball coach ...

*2008–2009

Oliver Taats Oliver may refer to: Arts, entertainment and literature Books * ''Oliver the Western Engine'', volume 24 in ''The Railway Series'' by Rev. W. Awdry * ''Oliver Twist'', a novel by Charles Dickens Fictional characters * Ariadne Oliver ...

*2009–2012

Rainer Vassiljev Rainer Vassiljev (born July 19, 1983) is an Estonian professional volleyball coach. He is a head coach of the Latvia men's national volleyball team. On club level he is the current head coach of Pärnu VK of the Estonian Volleyball League and ...

*2012–2015 Andrei Ojamets *2015–2018 Oliver Lüütsepp *2018–2020 Andrei Ojamets *2020–

Alar Rikberg Alar Rikberg (born 11 August 1981) is an Estonian volleyball coach, sport personnel and former indiaca player. He was born in Tartu. In 2003, he graduated from the University of Tartu in public relations speciality. He has won silver medal at Wo ...

Notable players

* Martti Juhkami (6 seasons: 2009–2012; 2021–2022; 2023–) *

Kristo Kollo Kristo Kollo (born 17 January 1990) is an Estonian volleyball and beach volleyball player who currently plays for Cypriot club Pafiakos Paphos. He also represents the Estonian national team internationally. As a member of the senior Estonia m ...

(7 seasons: 2007–2012; 2013–2015) * Argo Meresaar (4 seasons: 2005–2007; 2013–2015) *

Jaanus Nõmmsalu Jaanus Nõmmsalu (born 19 January 1981) is a former Estonian volleyball player. He was a member of the Estonian national team from 1999 to 2013 and has represented his country at the 2009 and 2011 European Volleyball Championships. Nõmmsalu st ...

(1 season: 2007–2008) * Hindrek Pulk (1 season: 2018–2019) * Rait Rikberg (22 seasons: 2001–2023) *

Janis Sirelpuu Janis Sirelpuu (born 14 August 1977, in Rakvere) is a former Estonian volleyball player and a volleyball coach. He was a member of the Estonian national team from 1998 to 2011 and represented his country at the 2009 and 2011 Men's European Volle ...

(3 seasons: 2000–2003) *

Rauno Tamme Rauno Tamme (born 7 April 1992) is an Estonian volleyball player who plays for the Estonian volleyball club TalTech. He is a member of the Estonia men's national volleyball team. Estonian national team As a member of the senior Estonia men's ...

(2 seasons: 2009–2011) *

Renee Teppan Renee Teppan (born 26 September 1993) is an Estonian volleyball player, a member of the Estonia men's national volleyball team and Estonian club Pärnu VK, Pärnu. Club career Teppan was born in Pärnu, and started his career in hometown club Pä ...

(2 seasons: 2012–2014) *

Andres Toobal Andres Toobal (born 27 August 1988) is an Estonian volleyball coach. He is the head coach of Selver Tallinn of the Estonian Volleyball League and also serves as the assistant coach of the Estonia women's national volleyball team. Estonian natio ...

(4 seasons: 2009–2011; 2012–2014) *

Kert Toobal Kert Toobal (born 3 June 1979) is a former Estonian volleyball player, a long-term captain of the Estonia men's national volleyball team. After retiring from active sport Toobal took up the sporting director position in the Estonian Volleyball Fe ...

(4 seasons: 2008–2009; 2019–2022) * Henri Treial (4 seasons: 2012–2016) *

Robert Täht Robert Täht (born 15 August 1993) is an Estonian professional volleyball player who plays as an outside hitter for Cuprum Stilon Gorzów and the Estonia national team. Club career Robert Täht began his professional career in 2010 at the age ...

(3 seasons: 2012–2015) * Oliver Venno (3 seasons: 2006–2009)

References

External links

Official website

Estonian Volleyball Federation

FIVB

CEV
{{Baltic Men Volleyball League teams Volleyball clubs in Estonia Sport in Tartu Volleyball clubs established in 1999 1999 establishments in Estonia