Daily Volleyball News - November 3: Sirci steps up calendar opposition, Italy reach Dakar semi-final

International Calendar

Gino Sirci has renewed his opposition to the proposed FIVB international calendar for 2028-32, responding directly to Polish federation president Sebastian Świderski. The Perugia president rejected the claim that the plan would give clubs more time, pointing to club windows of 33, 36, 31 and 31 weeks across the four-year cycle.

Sirci argued that the combination of matches, international travel and limited recovery would place players under excessive physical and mental strain, while clubs would carry the financial consequences of injuries. He said 30 European clubs had backed the campaign against the proposal, although Polish clubs had not yet joined, and called for a coordinated European bloc. He also noted that Italian federation president Giuseppe Manfredi had opposed the plan because of its potential effect on national-team activity.

SuperLega

Two of the three teams with perfect records meet in the fourth round of SuperLega on Wednesday, 4 November. Itas Trentino host Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza at the BTS Arena at 20.30, with both sides on nine points from three matches. Trento have won all nine sets they have played, a first in the club's 26-year history, while Piacenza have dropped only one set.

Piacenza captain Dragan Travica described the fixture as an opportunity to judge whether his side have closed the gap on the league's leading teams. Trento coach Marcelo Mendez, meanwhile, emphasised the value of home advantage against a deep and talented squad. In the 29 meetings since Piacenza returned to the top flight, Trento lead the series 22-7, although Piacenza won their pre-season meeting in Cagliari 3-0 on 11 October.

Allianz Milano also travel to Rana Verona on Wednesday after beating Padova 3-0. Milano opposite Basil Dermaux has scored 64 points and leads the league with an average of 5.82 points per set. The match could also mark the 200th regular-season appearance for both Milano captain Damiano Catania and Verona libero Leonardo Scanferla.

Beach Volleyball

Margherita Coretti and Micol Lafuenti advanced to the semi-finals of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games with a 2-0 victory over Argentina's Frascaroli A/Garcia C I. The Italian pair recovered after losing a 17-14 lead in the opening set, closing it 21-19 before taking control of the second and winning 21-15.

Coretti and Lafuenti remain unbeaten in the tournament. They won all three Pool D matches and then eliminated Paraguay's Martinez/Gomez in the round of 16. Their semi-final is against Switzerland's Gähwiler/Eugster.

International and Italian Round-up

Paola Egonu has passed 6,000 regular-season points in Italy's Serie A1. Her 19 points against Omag Consolini took her career total to 6,006 in 290 appearances. Only Carmen Turlea, with 6,166, remains ahead of the Milano opposite in the competition's historical standings.

In Japan, JTEKT Stings Aichi are the only unbeaten team left in the men's SV.League after a 3-1 win over Voreas Hokkaido gave them a fourth victory in as many matches. DevelopRes Rzeszów also preserved a perfect record in Poland's women's Tauron Liga, beating BKS Bielsko-Biała 3-1 for their fifth consecutive win. Taylor Mims scored 22 points and Alicja Grabka was named MVP.

Brazil's Montes Claros claimed their first men's Superliga win of the season by beating Norde 3-1. Paulo Victor came off the bench, remained in the starting line-up and finished with 15 points, earning the match MVP award.