A Golden 300 Days: Bogdanka Lublin complete maiden domestic hat-trick; León makes history

In less than 300 days, Bogdanka LUK Lublin completed a remarkable domestic hat-trick – or, more accurately, a ‘grand slam’. On Sunday in Kraków, in front of nearly 13,000 spectators, León, Sasak, Komenda, Grozdanov & co. added the Polish Cup to an already impressive trophy cabinet. The achievement is all the more extraordinary given that the 2025 Challenge Cup winners captured every available title within less than a year for the first time in history – and they remain eager for more, setting their sights high in their maiden #CLVolleyM campaign. Their leader, Wilfredo León, also reached a remarkable milestone, becoming the first player ever to complete all three major domestic titles in Russia, Italy and Poland.

Bogdanka LUK Lublin kicked off 2026 in the best possible way. On Sunday, January 11, at Kraków’s Tauron Arena, in front of 13,000 spectators, they lifted the final missing domestic trophy in their collection. In the semifinals, they overcame the season’s revelation, AZS Olsztyn, in a dramatic five-set battle, before dominating Asseco Resovia Rzeszów in the final with a straight-sets victory. Last year, the team fell in the semifinals empty-handed, but in the weeks that followed, they carved their names in history with golden letters.

Founded in 2013 in Lublin, the club made its PlusLiga debut - Poland’s top tier - in the 2021/2022 season. However, their golden era truly began in 2024/2025, under then-coach Massimo Botti. The squad was strengthened by superstar Wilfredo León, promising middle blockers Aleks Grozdanov and Fynian McCarthy, and powerful opposite Kewin Sasak, who fully showed his potential in Lublin. Alongside playmaker Marcin Komenda, libero Thales Hoss, and another opposite, Mateusz Malinowski, they formed the core of the team’s success.

Their first major trophy came in March 2025, when they claimed the Challenge Cup against the more experienced Cucine Lube Civitanova, marking the beginning of their golden streak. Shortly after, they captured their first Polish Championship, defeating 2025 CEV Champions League runners-up Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie in the PlusLiga finals.

With new head coach Stéphane Antiga at the helm and a few additions in their squad – outside hitters Jackson Young and Hilir Henno, and middle blocker Daenan Gyimah – the team continued to break new ground. They began the 2025/2026 season by winning their maiden Polish SuperCup against Zawiercie and now have completed a historic domestic grand slam with their first-ever Polish Cup.

The 29-year-old setter has been with Bogdanka LUK Lublin since 2022, and through his exceptional playmaking, he has also become the first-choice setter for the national team last season.

While these trophies marked the first major titles of their careers for most of Lublin’s players, Wilfredo León reached another remarkable milestone. By winning the Polish Cup, Leon can now boast of having claimed all three of the most important domestic trophies – the national championship, Cup, and SuperCup – in Russia, Italy and now Poland, becoming the first player ever to achieve this feat.

Head coach Stéphane Antiga also achieved a career milestone with Bogdanka LUK Lublin’s Polish Cup victory. In his career, he lifted the Polish Cup as a player with Skra Bełchatów in 2009 and 2011, and as a coach, he has now won it with both women’s and men’s teams – with Developres Rzeszów in 2022 and Bogdanka LUK Lublin this season.

“It’s a huge joy and an even greater satisfaction, even if just for a brief moment, because soon we face our next matches. Still, it’s a beautiful moment to savor,” Antiga said when asked about the accomplishment. 

This season, Bogdanka has a chance at another maiden trophy as they compete for the first time in the 2026 CEV Champions League. For now, they have recorded two wins, remaining unbeaten at the top of Pool B. On Thursday, they will travel to face Galatasaray HDI Istanbul, continuing their push toward high seasonal goals.