The Finals of the Romanian Volleyball Cup were nothing short of unforgettable. By the end of an electrifying evening, CSM Corona BRASOV and CSM Volei Alba BLAJ emerged victorious, lifting the coveted men’s and women’s trophies, respectively.
CSM Corona BRASOV claimed the men’s title in Blaj
Over 2,000 spectators filled the Blaj Arena on Saturday, March 29, to witness an outstanding double-header. The men’s final set the stage, with CSM Corona BRASOV defeating SCM ZALAU 3-1 (25-21, 26-24, 31-33, 25-18), thus securing their first-ever Romanian Cup title. The match, which lasted over two and a half hours, was a true nail-biter, especially in the second and third sets.
“The second set was the turning point for us,” remarked Corona’s head coach, Laurențiu Lică. “We came back from 13-18 and managed to win.”
In just his second year as a coach, Lică has already secured a National Championship and a Romanian Cup title with Corona BRASOV. Now, his team is preparing for another National Championship final against Dinamo. “It is incredible. When I started coaching, I never imagined I would lift the league trophy and then immediately add a cup. I truly did not expect this.”
The Men’s Championship final, played in a best-of-five format, begins on April 4 and 5 at Dinamo’s home court in Bucharest, with both matches set for 6:00 PM and broadcast live on TVR Sport.
The combined finals for men and women played in Blaj were a major success
Ștefan Lupu named MVP of the men’s Final
Corona’s middle blocker and National Team player, Ștefan Lupu was named MVP of the men’s final, marking his second Romanian Cup triumph. His first came two years ago while playing for SCM CRAIOVA alongside his current coach, Laurențiu Lică.
“This is an incredible joy,” Lupu shared. “Being in both the Romanian Cup and National Championship finals and securing the cup for Corona BRASOV is amazing. We have worked so hard, playing countless matches this season, including in European competitions. This victory is the reward for all our efforts.” Lupu contributed 11 points in the final (nine from attacks, and two from blocks).
Despite SCM ZALAU suffering defeat, their player Bozidar Cuk stood out as the match’s top scorer with 25 points (24 from attacks, plus one block).
Volei Alba BLAJ claims fifth Romanian Cup title
In the second final of the day, CSM Volei Alba BLAJ triumphed over CSO VOLUNTARI 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-11) in an intense two-hour contest, particularly gripping in the first three sets.
“We wanted this trophy so much. We knew it would be tough, but we are thrilled to have achieved our goal,” said Diana Veres, the team’s libero.
Middle blocker Raisa Ioan also expressed her delight: “I am beyond happy. This match was challenging, but having our supporters by our side made all the difference. Managing the tough moments well was key to our victory.” Ioan adds this cup to her previous titles, including the 2022/2023 championship and the 2023/2024 Supercup.
CSM Volei Alba BLAJ cemented their domestic supremacy with a fifth title
Amélie Rotar named MVP of the women’s Final
Amélie Rotar (24), a French-Romanian outside hitter who joined the team in January from ROMA Volley, was named MVP after scoring an impressive 29 points. Daughter of former Romanian international Tudor Rotar, she has been in outstanding form.
For Rotar and her teammates, the challenge continues. On April 1, they face Italy’s Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA in the CEV Cup final’s second leg (having lost the first leg 1-3). Then, from April 6, they will compete in the National Championship final against CSO VOLUNTARI. The first two matches will be played in Blaj, both starting at 6:00 PM and broadcast live on TVR Sport.
A record-breaking audience
The event stood out not only for the quality matches, but for the great ambiance as well
The finals in Blaj were played in front of a packed house, with tickets selling out within hours. More than 2,000 fans attended the matches and the shared awards ceremony. Such an overwhelming turnout marks a milestone for Romanian Volleyball, signalling a revival of passion for the sport.
“This event was on a whole new level. Having such a large audience elevated everything we did,” stated Adin Marian Cojocaru, President of the Romanian Volleyball Federation. “Seeing so many fans was a dream come true, and I hope it’s just the beginning.”
President Cojocaru is optimistic that the upcoming men’s and women’s league finals will attract similar crowds. “High fan engagement raises the quality of the sporting spectacle. We hope to see packed stands for every final match.”