Slovenia release 23-player roster for the international season

Slovenia's men’s national team is set to return to action in a couple of months after the historic 2024 season, in which they made their Olympic debut, and new coach Fabio Soli has confirmed the players that will represent the country in the upcoming events.

Currently appearing in fourth place in the FIVB World Rankings, the Europeans will be among the candidates to contend for the titles of the Volleyball Nations League and the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in 2025.

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Still completing his club season schedule with Itas Trentino in Italy, Soli, who was appointed in February to replace the departing Gheorghe Cretu, who’s now at the helm of Serbia, picked 23 players to form the squad in 2025.

The new coach brought back nine of the 13 players who represented Slovenia in the historic campaign in Paris less than a year ago, but the absences are significant ones as the four players missing – setter Gregor Ropret, outside hitter Klemen Čebulj, middle blocker Alen Pajenk and libero Jani Kovačič – were all starters in the team.

Other pillars of the team, team captain and outside hitter Tine Urnaut, star opposite Tonček Štern and Jan Kozamernik, will all be back, as well as players who had important roles in the squad, such as outside hitters Rok Možič and Žiga Štern. The Slovenians will begin their preparations for the season on May 6, in Ljubljana.

VNL campaign starts in Brazil

Looking to return to the VNL semifinals, as they did last year, the Slovenians will be in Rio de Janeiro in the first week of the event, when they will face Cuba, Iran, the United States and hosts Brazil from June 11-15.

Later in the season, from September 12-28, the Slovenians will compete in the World Championship, in the Philippines – they’re part of Pool E alongside Germany, Bulgaria and Chile.

Slovenia men’s national team roster (subject to eligibility check to be conducted by the FIVB):

Setters: Dejan Vinčić, Gregor Pernuš, Nejc Najdič, Uroš Planinšič
Opposites: Jaka Sešek, Nik Mujanović, Tonček Štern
Outside hitters: Klemen Šen, Luka Marovt, Matej Kök, Rok Bračko, Rok Možič, Tine Urnaut, Vid Ranc, Žiga Štern
Middle blockers: Jan Kozamernik, Janž Janez Kržič, Jošt Kržič, Miha Fink, Sašo Štalekar
Liberos: Grega Okroglič, Urban Toman, Žiga Kumer

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