Slovenia Has Selected Its Best Volleyball And Beach Volleyball Players and Coaches For 2023
2024.01.11
Online voting was used by almost 2,000 volleyball enthusiasts, and separate voting was conducted by the Beach Volleyball and Sitting Volleyball Commissions as well as the Expert Council of the Volleyball Federation of Slovenia.
The winner of the title of best female volleyball player of the year was Maša Pucelj. Pucelj performed admirably for the Slovenian national team in the 2023 Olympic qualifications and the CEV EuroVolley. At the European young Olympic Festival, she earned a gold medal with the young national team and was crowned the national champion for Calcit Volley. Her impressive results in the prestigious CEV Champions League are another way that she is showcasing her talent. Pucelj has never before won the best volleyball player of the year title; past winners include Tina Grudina, Iza Mlakar, Eva Mori, and Saša Planinšec.
Three times, Tine Urnaut, Klemen Čebulj, and once, Gregor Ropret, have been named the best male volleyball players of the year. Rok Možič received the award for the first time. He qualified for the Volleyball Nations League final tournament, won bronze with the Slovenian national team at the 2023 CEV EuroVolley, and led his team to a high seventh place in the world rankings with his teammates. Meanwhile, at just 21 years old, Možič proudly dons the captain’s armband for Rana Verona, an elite Italian team, where he plays a significant role.
There have been three awards for the best female beach volleyball player thus far, and Tjaša Kotnik is the lone winner. Maja Marolt, who competed for Slovenia in the 2024 Olympic Games qualifications and won the MEVZA Senior Club Championship and the European Club Championship alongside her colleagues, received the honor this year for the first time. Furthermore, Marolt and Živa Javornik won the gold medal in both the MEVZA senior event and the National Championship, and they took ninth place in the U22 CEV Beach Volleyball European Championships
The top male beach volleyball players in the past have been named Vid Jakopin and Rok Bračko. Nejc Zemljak has been named the best male beach volleyball player for 2023 based on the votes cast by both beach volleyball fans and members of the Beach Volleyball Commission. Zemljak participated with the national team in the CEV Queen & King of the Court series this year, in addition to the qualifications for the 2024 Olympic Games. Zemljak has medals from the Beach Pro Tour tournaments and National Championships.
The top Paravolley players of the year were chosen for the first time ever in 2023. The prizes were given to Suzana Ocepek and Marko Pokleka in recognition. Ocepek began the year with a bronze in the Nations Golden League for her national team, then she and Robust Empeter won the Golden Euroleague. Subsequently, Ocepek placed sixth in the Egypt Paravolley World Cup and took home a silver medal at the European Championships.
Respected for his fierceness and enthusiasm on the court, Marko Pokleka participated in Division A competition at the European Championships in 2023 and helped the Slovenian national team win a bronze medal in the Silver Nations League. Along with winning the National Championship at the conclusion of the year, Pokleka also had a great club season. He played for the Šempeter squad and finished sixth in the Euroleague this year.
Bruno Najdič was named the best women’s team coach by the Expert Council of the Volleyball Federation of Slovenia in 2023, while Radovan Gačič was named the best men’s team coach.
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