National champions of Europe - Women Part 4: North-East

The domestic leagues have come to an end and we now approach the draws of the 2015/16 European season, starting with the Women's EHF Champions League draw on 26 June.

In six parts, the spotlight is shone on each of the national champions and their path to glory. The fifth part consists of teams from Finland, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Moldova.

Finland - IF Dicken

While IF Dicken's men's team finished the season empty-handed, the ladies crowned themselves Finnish champions.

In the five-legged final series against HIFK, Dicken got ahead 2:0, but their opponents managed to break back, winning the following two matches. The final fifth match had to decide the championship.

HIFK did not manage to benefit from their home advantage, being on par with the guests most of the way. At half time Dicken were leading 12:11, half way through the second half, the score was still even 19:19.

At the end, however, Dicken turned out to have more resources, winning 29:24.

Belarus — BNTU-BelAZ Minsk Region

Belarus' perennial champion left their rivals no chance for surprises, earning the national title for the 22nd time. Only once in the history of Belarusian handball BNTZ BelAZ failed to win gold, losing the final against Gorodnichanka in 2008.

Some of their best players leaving the club every summer to seek happiness elsewhere, does not keep the Minsk region club from collecting national trophies.

The team of Konstantin Sharovarov predictably took the first place in the regular season. In the semi-finals against HC Berestie, two victories was all they needed to proceed to the next round.

After winning twice in the final, they gave their opponents HC Gomel some hope losing the match 18:24 at home. But in the fourth match in Gomel, BNTU BelAZ showed great moral and therefore celebrated a 25:22 victory.

Russia — Rostov-Don

The team coached by Denmark's Jan Leslie caused a small revolution in Russia, putting an end to the six year reign of Dinamo Sinara - well timed as the club celebrates not just the title but also its 50-year anniversary this year.

The last and only time they won the Russian league was in 1994 when the club was still named "Rostelsmash". Before that they became champions of the Soviet Union twice in 1990 and 1991.

During the last two decades, Rostov-Don finished second and third multiple times but constantly fell short of the absolute top.

This year, though, Leslie's team was not only successful on domestic level but also played a prominent role in Europe, reaching the EHF Cup final. In the Russian League they eliminated Universitet and Astrakhanochka on their way to the final and needed just two games in the decisive round to beat Lada Toliatti and take the trophy.  

Ukraine — Galytchanka

For the first time in history Galytchanka won the Ukrainian championship. Three days before the end of the season the team of Vasili Kozar crowned themselves with the title - and then did not slow down, eventually earning a maximum of 60 points out of 30 matches.

With this championship the team from Lviv, that has only Ukrainian women in their roster, now broke the three year long lasting hegemony of Karpaty Uzhgorod.

But also on the European stage, Galytchanka was pretty successful. For the second year in a row, Kozar's team reached the Challenge Cup semi-final in which Poland's Pogon Baltica Szezecin were too strong.

Lithuania — ACME-Zalgiris

Since 2012 ACME Zalgiris have been dominant in the national league, winning the gold medal every year. Just like this season when they took their fourth Lithuanian championship after beating HC SM Garliava in the final.

Before that they already proved their quality in the regular season and in the semi-final, where they beat Egle Vilnuis. Garliava awaited them in the final, but Zalgiris struggeled only once agaist their final opponents, when they converted the decicive penalty to the 42:41 win only in the dying seconds.

Latvia — SK Latgols

After a five-year break, the team from Ludza won a Latvian title once again. After finishing third in 2013 and second in 2014, SK Latgols made another step forward and finally took the championship.

In the regular season they only finished second, one point behind LSPA Riga, whom they had to face later in the final after eliminating Dobele SS in the semifinal. SK Latgold showed great commitment and with a 33:23 and a 32:31 win secured the long-awaited title.

Estonia — Reval-Sport/Mella

Reval Sport/Mella from Tallin and SK Tapa are the only two women's clubs in Estonia. During the season they take part in friendly matches and tournaments and in May traditionally determine the national champion in a single game.

The roles are clearly defined: Reval Sport/Mella are the clear favorites as they are more experienced as the young players from SK Tapa. The ladies from Tallin usually win quite easily, already having 12 titles on their record. In similar style to the previous years they beat their oppontents 41:24, grabbing the title once again.

Moldova - Școala Sportivă Tiraspol Nr.1

Tiraspol seem to be the leading force in the Moldovan handball, after both the men's and women's team became the national champions.

With a young team, which has an average age of 19 years - and the oldest player being only 23 years old - ȘS1 Tiraspol cruised to their fifth consecutively title.

"We had a difficult season, but I expect us to be even stronger next year", concluded one of Tiraspol’s best players Ana Loghinov.