Karin Palgutová and Peter Michalovič are Slovakia’s top players

The awards for Slovakia’s Volleyball Players of the Year 2022 were presented on Sunday at the L+S Theatre in Bratislava. In the main categories, Karin Palgutová claimed this honour for the very first stime, and Peter Michalovič secured his fourth consecutive triumph.

Michalovič has been the only winner of this coveted prize since 2019. “For me, this is another great success, and it involves a sense of fulfilment. It is a signal that I still have a place in the game. It is interesting to appear in the company of Richard Nemec, a five-time winner of the poll, and Emanuel Kohút, a four-time winner. They were victorious and dominant in different eras,” said Peter who has spent the past two seasons in Greece with Foinikas SYROS.

In the women’s category, opposite hitter Karin Palgutová from PARIS St. Cloud claimed the award for the first time. “I never imagined I would be winning this poll. It is very encouraging and a beautiful recognition. I have joined a better team, and people appreciate that. I feel that 2022 was my year! I experienced many volleyball highlights during that time. I won the title and the cup in France, and with the national team, we qualified for the European Championship, with me serving as the team captain,” she said.

As for the Teams of the Year, Rieker UJS KOMÁRNO emerged victorious in the men’s category, while the Slovak national team claimed the women’s title. Juraj Mokrý was named the best referee for the eleventh time. Gabriel Chochoľak from Komárno was named the best male coach, and Michal Mašek received the honour of the best women’s coach for the first time in recognition of his work with the national team.

Spiker Adrián Petruf was awarded Junior Player of the Year, and Alexandra Fričová received the prize for the Junior Female Player of the Year.

Moving to Beach Volleyball, Marek Ludha emerged as the winner among men, while Ľubica Šipošová reigned supreme among women. Michaela Cibulová was named Coach of the Year, and Michal Trubač and Karolína Majerníková were recognised as Junior Player and Junior Female Player of the Year, respectively.

During the evening, Vladimír Sirvoň, Ján Repák (posthumously), and Mária Mališová were inducted into the Niké Hall of Fame.

Slovakia’s Volleyball Player of the Year – Results

Men
1. Peter Michalovič (Foinikas SYROS/GRE) 116 points
2. Tomáš Kriško (VK Lvi PRAHA/CZE) 112
3. Jakub Ihnát (ČEZ KARLOVARSKO/CZE) 108

Women
1. Karin Palgutová (Rocheville LE CANNET/FRA, PARIS St. Cloud/FRA) 103
2. Karolína Fričová (VK PROSTEJOV/CZE, Vasas Óbuda BUDAPEST/HUN) 81
3. Lenka Ovečková (UTE Volleyball Team BUDAPEST/HUN, Chemik POLICE/POL) 70