Team Estonia start final preparations for historic EuroVolley 2021
News
The players of the Estonian men’s national team have started their last preparation camp in Tallinn ahead of the historic CEV EuroVolley 2021 tournament coming up on home soil.
Head coach Cédric Énard has chosen 17 players to work with and among others, the experienced captain Kert Toobal is back in the business after missing the first half of the summer due to injury. The same goes for another leader of Team Estonia, outside-hitter Robert Täht, who has also overcome injury. After a two-year break, libero Rait Rikberg also received a call from the coach to bring his energy and experience.
All the players and members of the coaching staff are excited to step onto the court in front of the fans in Saku Suurhall and be the challenger of the tournament.
Cédric Énard“Personally, I am excited and I want to work hard to be ready for this competition. Our goal is to make it through the pool phase. We are not the favourite of the tournament but I want to be maybe the best challenger in the competition. And for that you need mind-set, big character on the court."
Head coach of Team Estonia
Captain Kert Toobal has led the attacks of Team Estonia since they first qualified for the European Championship back in 2009. At the age of 42, Toobal is the face of Estonian Volleyball and cannot wait to help the team in Tallinn.
Kert Toobal“Playing with the national team is always special and this year it is even more special. We train hard to make something beautiful and maybe something big out of this experience. Let us see how the body reacts to practicing again, but I am always ready to help the team in any way I can – whether on or on the side of the court. After seeing the young setters Robert Viiber and Renet Vanker in the Golden League, I am calm as they now have more experience and can manage to lead the team too."
Team captain of Estonia
Estonia starts the tournament on September 1 against their good friends and neighbours from Latvia – whose coach is the former chief of Team Estonia, Avo Keel. France, Germany, Slovakia and Croatia feature in Pool D as well.
The 17 players who started the preparations in Tallinn are:
Setters: Kert Toobal, Robert Viiber, Renet Vanker
Opposite Hitters: Oliver Venno, Renee Teppan
Middle Blockers: Ardo Kreek, Timo Tammemaa, Andri Aganits, Henri Treial
Outside-Hitters: Robert Täht, Kristo Kollo, Märt Tammearu, Albert Hurt, Karli Allik
Liberos: Silver Maar, Johan Vahter, Rait Rikberg