In one week is starting the first round of Italian Seria A1, which is considered as the most prestigious volleyball league in the world. Several important transfers have been made and most of the teams participated in them. It can hopefully mean not just growing thrillingness, but also growing financial stability of Italian teams. Although many teams could fight for the highest ranking, there are still few favorites…
Modena Volley
One of the aspirators on the gold will be the club from Northern Italy Modena. Thanks to new 3 years contract with company Errea as well as thanks to proactive work on social media (more than 53 000 followers) the team could effort not just to contract several volleyball stars, but also to hire one of the best coaches on the planet Bulgarian Radostin Stoychev, who won several times Italian league as well as Champions league with Trentino Volley. Modena has also prolonged the contract with French superstar N’Gapeth and the team should join for new season also the Brazilian setter Bruno Rezende, who played in Modena a few years ago and helped to start a new successful era of local volleyball. Another change is the arrival of Italian bomber Sabbi, spiker of Slovenian NT Urnaut and Italian rising stars middle-blockers Bossi and Mazzone, who should replace on their position MB Piani (It.) and Le Roux (Fr.). Modena hired well-known coach as well as volleyball stars and this ambitious team would like to succeed not just in Italian league, but in Champions league as well.
Diatec Trento
After years of international domination, Trento lost many players from last season starting line-up and therefore is hoping for new “Golden era” with completely new team. The core of the team should be the captain and spiker of Italian NT Langa together with young perspective setter Giannelli. Coach Lorenzetti hired for new season 6 foreign players and will have to solve the problem, which 3 of them will play in the Italian league. With almost 100 % one of them will be the Serbian left-handed spiker Kovačevic, who lead his NT to several successes in past years. For the second place for foreign player, there will be a high competition between 3 MB: Brazilian Eder, Australian Zingel and Slovenian Kozamernik. The stability and striking force should be in upcoming seasons Italian representative Vettori and will be backed-up by Kanadian spiker Hoag. The question remains if this newly built team will be able to compete with rivals on the same level as in the last seasons.
Cucine Lube Civitanova
The team from province Macerata masterfully won final of Seria A1 and the bronze from Champions league was quite disappointing ending for this ambitious team. Manager was able to prolong contracts with the “architects” of past successes: spikers Juantorena and Kovar (It.) opposite Sokolov (Bul.), blocker Stankovic (Srb.), setter Christenson (USA) and libero Grebennikov (Fr.). New coach Giampolo Medei will have to again solve the problem, which 3 players will start in the national league and maybe he will have to disadvantage for one of the best world liberos Frenchman Grebennikov. This team will have the highest ambitions and can start his journey to success already at the beginning of October in his stadium Eurosuole Forum, where will be held the match of Italian Supercup.
Sir Safety Perugia Volley Club
The club from the Central Italy started his rise between the top teams in season 2013/2014 and last year participated in the Final of Champions league. After successful season club prolonged contract of coach Bernardi, who helped team after featureless performances at the beginning of last season. In the upcoming season the team will miss two significant MB: Birarelli and Buti, but the club managed to keep all biggest stars: the brain of the team setter De Cecco (Arg.), hammers Zaytsev (It.) and Atansijevic (Srb.), MB Podrašcanin (Srb.) as well as spikers Berger (Aut.) and Russell (USA). The new acquisition is the libero of Italian NT Colaci and young setter Shaw (USA). Perugia (same as Macerata) managed to maintain the core of the team and new enforcements should create strong replacement if needed and Perugia hopes that will finally overcome its shadow self and reach some of the trophies.
