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Velasco: “Rest for Orro, Danesi, Egonu and Sylla. Now we need fresh energy for the World Championship cycle”
CONEGLIANO – During a visit to Italian clubs, Italy women’s head coach Julio Velasco spoke about the Azzurre’s 2026 plan and the future of Club Italia. Between technical observations and thoughts on the league, the Argentine coach confirmed that four long-time starters—Orro, Danesi, Egonu and Sylla—may benefit from a summer break.
"I’m visiting Serie A teams and also lower-division sides," explained Julio Velasco. "Yesterday I watched a Serie B match and today I’ll attend an Under 18 training session. We’re evaluating girls for next year’s Club Italia, because some will leave the project. I’m also taking the chance to talk with Serie A players who are part of the national group, like Sarah (Fahr) and Merit (Adigwe)."
On planning, the coach was clear: "I decided that four players—Monica De Gennaro was also supposed to be included, but she has left the national team—will have at least two months off. They’ve been doing club and national team for years without a break. This is the right moment to recharge mentally and physically ahead of the World and Olympic cycle. Danesi and Orro already said they’ll come back earlier, while Egonu and Sylla will respond later, by February. In the summer I’ll also launch younger players."
Velasco stressed the need to protect motivation: "After two years in which we won everything and played all the time, we need to stop. Motivation is fundamental, and it must be preserved."
“Conegliano isn’t a problem, it’s a model”
Velasco also analysed the Italian league, which this season looks more balanced than in the years dominated by Imoco Conegliano.
"I have never complained about Conegliano’s dominance," he said. "If anything, I’ve always said it was a sign of their extraordinary work—not only on court, but as an organisation, as a club, and in mentality. The other teams should learn from them if they want to get closer."
According to the coach, "for those who always win, it’s difficult to keep confirming themselves. The obligation to win is the number-one enemy, worse than anything else. The moment you don’t win, people ask ‘why’. But winning all the time is extraordinary, not normal."
Velasco then widened the view internationally: "World volleyball has grown. There was a time when one team dominated: the Soviet Union, then the United States, then Italy, then Brazil. Today there is balance: the Olympic winner isn’t the same team that wins the World Championship or the EuroVolley. It’s a positive sign for the sport."
And on Italy: "If the balance comes from others growing and not because Conegliano have problems, it’s good for everyone. Even for Conegliano, because they face tougher matches and find new motivations. The league today is beautiful, competitive, with results that aren’t foregone. Like football: Inter can lose to a newly promoted team. That’s what creates enthusiasm."
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SuperLega Credem Banca: Cisterna’s first three-point win of the season. 3-1 vs Monza
CISTERNA – In the match that closed Round 16 of SuperLega Credem Banca, Cisterna ended a winless run that had lasted since November and—above all—secured their first “full” victory of the season: three crucial points that lift Daniele Morato’s team to 10 points, six clear of last place (Grottazzolina), and back into the survival race, with an eye also on the Playoff zone.
The expected line-ups took the court: Fanizza with Barotto opposite, Mazzone and Plak in the middle, Lanza and Bayram on the pins, Currie libero; for Monza, Zimmermann, Padar, Beretta and Mosca, Atanasov and Rohrs, Scanferla libero. It produced a real battle: two tight sets that went Cisterna’s way, a third where Monza looked ready to flip momentum, and a fourth decided in the sprint—when Cisterna found clarity again from 20-all onwards.
In the first set Monza edged ahead early (2-4), but Cisterna replied aggressively from the service line: two Bayram aces delivered the overtake and the first break (7-5). The hosts managed side-out through Lanza and Barotto. Late on, Barotto’s block on Rohrs protected the lead (19-16) and Cisterna created three set points; Monza saved the first, but Atanasov’s serve hit the net and 25-22 closed the set.
The script repeated in the second. Monza again led at the start (1-4), Cisterna levelled at 4-4—again with a Bayram ace. It stayed point-for-point, then Monza tried to stretch (13-15), but Atanasov errors brought it back (16-16). Morato went to the bench, replacing Mazzone with Diamantini—an important choice in the finish. At 22-22 Cisterna found the spark: Lanza made it 23-22, Padar hit out on the potential equaliser, and Cisterna earned two set points. Monza saved the first, not the second: Plak closed (25-23) and the arena erupted for a 2-0 that would have seemed unlikely a few weeks ago.
Monza returned with different momentum in the third: balanced to 7-7, then Eccheli’s team broke away (7-10) and extended to +4 (10-14). Cisterna tried to reel them back (14-15), but Monza managed calmly to 18-25, reopening the match and putting pressure on the fourth.
In the fourth, Monza pushed again and tried to escape (3-6, then 10-14). Cisterna played on mental resilience and bench contribution: Muniz De Oliveira came on and the hosts changed pace. From -4 they completed the comeback, built with Plak’s growing presence at the net and Lanza’s key plays (14-14). At 20-20 came the turning point: Monza tilted with two costly errors (serve and attack), Cisterna moved to 22-20, and never let go. Lanza sided out (23-21), Plak blocked for 24-21, and at the second match point Lanza sealed it (25-22).
Fanizza was named MVP, and the numbers show a collective Cisterna: Barotto 18, Lanza 17, Plak 12, Bayram 11. For Monza, four players reached double figures: Padar 21, Atanasov 18, Velichkov 14, Beretta 10. A 3-1 that matters in the standings: Cisterna go six points clear of last place and breathe life back into their survival push.
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Del Monte Coppa Italia Serie A3: Reggio Emilia into the semifinals, Mantova beaten 3-0
REGGIO EMILIA – Conad Reggio Emilia booked a place in the Del Monte Coppa Italia Serie A3 semifinals with a clear 3-0 win over Gabbiano Farmamed Mantova at the PalaBigi (25-20, 25-16, 25-22). In the semis, the granata will face Belluno Volley, winners in the other quarterfinal against ErmGroup Altotevere San Giustino.
The hosts set the tone early through serving pressure and an organised block-defence system. The first set featured a progressive lead built with aces (Chevalier and Mian) and several “monster blocks” (Barone and Sighinolfi), before Sighinolfi’s quick attack closed it at 25-20. In the second set, Reggio increased the pace: 3-0, 7-2, then a decisive run from the service line—highlighted by four consecutive Chevalier aces—blew the set open (25-16).
In the third, Mantova stayed attached longer and levelled at 18-18 with Maiocchi’s ace, but in the finish the granata pushed again: Chevalier scored key attacks, Mian found the decisive solutions, and Reggio closed 25-22 to complete the sweep.
Next up for Conad: Sunday 18 January at 19:00 at the PalaBigi against Sav Trebaseleghe.
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CEV Champions League Women: Conegliano make it four straight wins – 3-0 vs Dresden
TREVISO – A. Carraro Prosecco DOC Conegliano beat Germany’s Dresdner SC 3-0 and moved to four wins out of four in Pool D of the CEV Champions League group stage. The battle for first place—worth direct qualification to the quarterfinals—will be decided at the end of January in the head-to-head with Ankara’s Zeren (featuring Ofelia Malinov).
MVP was Isabelle Haak with 19 points, scored with 45% in attack and 2 blocks. Top scorer overall was Dresden opposite Levinska with 20 points: 17 in attack (35%), 1 block and 2 aces.
Daniele Santarelli approached the match giving space to second-unit players alongside Fahr, Haak and De Gennaro. The starting six featured Ewert setter, Haak opposite, Munarini (3 blocks) and Fahr in the middle, Daalderop (2 aces) and Sillah on the pins, and De Gennaro libero.
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Perugia: Lorenzetti, “A misleading 3-0, but we’ll take the solidity. Now we must find our serve again”
PERUGIA – Sir Susa Vim Perugia returned from Piedmont with three points and top spot intact, but Angelo Lorenzetti kept the tone of someone who is satisfied with the result yet not complacent.
"Going home without dropping a set isn’t consistent with what we saw on court," said Lorenzetti. "Our serve didn’t come in and Cuneo often had the ball in Michele Baranowicz’s hands—when that happens, it gets complicated. We used a few break moments well in the second set, but in the third, even though we were a few points up, we suffered their reaction."
He highlighted the opponent’s quality, especially French opposite Nathan Feral: "They have servers who can do damage, and today the Frenchman caused us problems. In matches like these you must always stay on the wire, and that’s an awareness I have to pass on to the guys."
Serving remains the biggest concern: "The serve stuttered, like in the previous match. We have to recover it as soon as possible, also because we’re not spending that much time in the gym. The work will be more mental than technical."
The calendar weighs on preparation: "In some seasons trips line up in a particular way. Now we have Civitanova coming, and it’s not easy to maintain continuity with so little time to train."
Still, he found positives: "You can’t always be negative. When a team like Perugia goes down, like in the first set, and doesn’t get caught by nervousness, it means there’s maturity. We took points because of Cuneo’s quality and our attention, not because of emotional disorder. That matters—when there’s no nervousness, you can think only about volleyball."
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Modena: Giuliani, “This win is for the club and for Ciamarra. Arthur Bento? He trained—now he’s collecting the rewards”
MODENA – A night to remember for Valsa Group Modena, who beat reigning Italian champions Itas Trentino in front of a lively PalaPanini—still far from historic sell-outs, but with a standing-ovation feel. It was Modena’s third win of the season against a “big”, but the first at home with this kind of atmosphere.
"This is a win I dedicate to the club, which had been waiting for it for a long time, and to Roberto Ciamarra, who is at home injured," began Alberto Giuliani. "I don’t want to go into details, but he also took part in preparing the match with the staff. It’s a win that goes beyond the three points, even though the points are huge."
The coach broke down the match starting from set one: "Beautiful, played with great intensity. Then we struggled a bit in reception, but we managed to hold thanks to our attack and to Arthur Bento’s clarity, because he handled difficult moments well against their most dangerous servers."
On the Brazilian outside hitter—decisive on the night—Giuliani smiled when asked where he had been until now: "Arthur Bento has been in the gym training. He has worked a lot on fundamentals and still needs to improve, but like the whole team he has great potential. He’s growing, and today he showed it."
On the standings: "Fourth place becomes a target we have to protect. We have it, so we must keep it with all our energy."
And on tactical changes at the key moment: "You’re right—Giraudo for Tizi-Oualou helped both him and Porro and Buchegger to catch their breath and find rhythm again. Sometimes the guys need to calm down. Mattias came in well, and when Tizi returned he managed the counterattack extremely well."
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Trento: Sbertoli and Méndez after the 91st A22 derby, “A difficult moment, but we’ll get through it together”
TRENTO – The 91st “A22 derby” went to Valsa Group Modena, who beat Itas Trentino 3-1. After the match, Riccardo Sbertoli and head coach Marcelo Méndez spoke about a complicated phase, but with confidence in the group’s response.
"It’s normal that during a season difficult moments can happen," explained Sbertoli. "We’re going through a phase in which some fundamentals aren’t working as we’d like, but we’ll work to get out of it all together."
More analytical was Méndez, who credited the opponent: "Modena played very well, especially from the service line. We couldn’t react to their serve, which put us in great difficulty in almost every set. They scored twenty direct points from serving—we have to review and improve these situations, already thinking about the next match."
The focus turns immediately to the next game: "On Sunday we have Milano, it’s a match we must play well and win. With the little time we have, we’ll work on the things that didn’t function today."
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Transfer market: Bianca Bertolino leaves Florence for Paris
FIRENZE – Bianca Bertolino’s spell with Il Bisonte Firenze ends after six months. The Argentine outside hitter and the club reached an agreement for a mutual termination of the contract.
She will join Levallois Paris Saint-Cloud to reinforce a roster that, a few rounds ago, lost Lena Kindermann, who moved to Pinerolo.
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Serie A1 Tigotà: Egonu is SisalTipster MVP of the Month for December – big-match double and 417 points this season
MILANO – Paola Egonu is the SisalTipster MVP of the Month for December. On her third nomination of the season, the opposite of Numia Vero Volley Milano won the award ahead of Maja Ognjenovic (Savino Del Bene Scandicci), Loveth Omoruyi (Megabox Ondulati del Savio Vallefoglia) and Tatiana Tolok (Igor Gorgonzola Novara).
The prize comes after a month marked by two big matches that also affected Milano’s league positioning: against Chieri and Conegliano, Paola Egonu was named MVP, scoring 20 and 32 points. Overall, she is currently the league’s top scorer with 417 points.
In December, Egonu also moved past Francesca Piccinini in the all-time Serie A scorers’ rankings, adding an individual milestone to a season that has also seen her make her debut as captain.
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Toward the U18 European Championship: Italy’s U18 men gather for a training camp in Messina
MESSINA – The first training camp of the year for Italy’s U18 men’s national team, led by technical director Vincenzo Fanizza, will take place in Sicily, in Messina.
To begin preparing for the summer’s main event—the U18 European Championship, hosted in Italy from 7 to 18 July—the technical director has called up 18 athletes for a training block starting Sunday 25 January and ending Thursday 29 January.
The 18 players called up
Pietro Carlo Bevilacqua, Diego Bussolari, Nicola Massari, Lorenzo Moro (Diavoli Rosa); Federico Amadio (Volley Lube); Francesco Cavallini (Volley Tricolore); Andrea De Zaiacomo (Trentino Volley); Jacopo Maria Di Coste, Mario Francesco Notarnicola (Materdomini Volley); Leonardo Ferrari, Lorenzo Vannucci (Invicta Volleyball); Alessandro Ferrero (Volley Sassuolo); Tommaso Galinella (Sir Safety Perugia); Paolo Macca (Volley Modica); Gioele Miolo (Prata Pordenone); Giacomo Parmigiani (Fenice Roma); Gianmarco Pesce (Pallavolo Padova); Edoardo Trotta (Cisterna Volley).
Staff
Vincenzo Fanizza (Technical Director and head coach), Loris Palermo (Coach and scoutman), Pascal Laricchiuta (Physiotherapist), Daniele De Ceglia (Strength & conditioning coach), Giuseppe Venuto (Team Manager).
