Alan Nine
Transfer news: Milano sign Tapia Cruz as uncertainty surrounds Diop
MILAN – Numia Vero Volley Milano have signed Dominican opposite Alondra Denis Tapia Cruz to provide back-up for Paola Egonu.
The move comes amid uncertainty over Bintu Diop’s position at the club. The Italian opposite, whose signing was announced in May, is no longer listed in the squad on Milano’s official website.
Reports in Turkey have linked her omission to a shoulder problem, but the club have yet to clarify either her fitness or her contractual status.
Brazil: Superliga set for October start
SÃO PAULO – The 2026/27 Superliga will get under way on 17 October with the women’s competition, followed by the men’s league on 24 October.
At the season launch, the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation outlined plans for the competition’s 33rd edition, featuring 12 clubs in each league. Together, the teams represent 18 cities across seven states and the Federal District.
Dentil Praia Clube and Sada Cruzeiro return as defending champions, with Cruzeiro chasing an 11th men’s title.
Around 290 matches are scheduled over seven months. Grupo Globo will provide coverage through Sportv2 and GETV, with TV Globo broadcasting the finals.
Among the rule changes, teams will be allowed eight substitutions per set, up from six. The men’s top flight will also welcome newcomers Norde Vôlei, from Ceará, coached by Marcelo Negrão.
Women’s Serie A1: Santarelli prepares for 10th season in charge of Conegliano
CONEGLIANO – Daniele Santarelli is heading into his 10th season as head coach of Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano and his 12th with the club.
The Italian champions have kept much of their core intact, although there has been a significant reshuffle at middle blocker, with three of the four players in the position replaced.
Santarelli expects another tight title race, with Milano, Scandicci and Novara among the contenders. Conegliano’s absence from this season’s Club World Championship will give his staff a longer window between the Italian Super Cup and Coppa Italia to work with the squad’s younger players.
League renews support for FrecciaRosa
The Italian Women’s Volleyball League has renewed its backing for FrecciaRosa, the health awareness and prevention campaign run by Gruppo FS and Fondazione IncontraDonna.
Players will wear campaign shirts at four Serie A1 fixtures during October, starting with Scandicci against Chieri on 4 October. Campaign messages will also be displayed in arenas throughout the month.
Beach volleyball: Gottardi and Dal Corso take top honours
CERVIA – Valentina Gottardi and Gianluca Dal Corso were named athletes of the year at the second Italian Beach Volleyball Awards, held at the Fantini Club.
Micol Lafuenti and Nicola Koerner collected the rookie awards. Further honours went to coach Emanuele Sbravati, referee Bruno Frapiccini, supervisor Giuseppe Caricato and national club champions Beach Volley Training.
The ceremony marked the close of the 2026 domestic summer season.
Community: Bologna prison team to compete in FIPAV league
BOLOGNA – Fenice Volley Team, a men’s team made up of prisoners, will compete in a FIPAV league through an initiative to be presented at Bologna’s Rocco d’Amato prison on 5 October.
The team will train in a refurbished gym, supported by the Italian Men’s Volleyball League, Gerflor, FIPAV and the prison authorities. The league supplied the Taraflex playing surface through its partnership with Ennova.
The project is led jointly by the prison, Bologna’s CPIA 2 adult education centre and Pallavolo Bologna, with backing from the Emilia-Romagna regional authority.
