Italy - Serie A1 2015/16

Quote from Toguttt

Unendo Yamamay Busto Arsizio

Coach:
Marco Mencarelli

Setter:

Opposite:

Outside Hitter:
Alice Degradi
Giulia Angelina

Middle Blocker:
Giulia Pisani

Libero:
Celeste Poma

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Giulia Angelina is OPP and not OH

Excuse the length of this post. It is something worth discussing.

For those of you who don't know, Club Italia is a developmental team controlled by the federation and trained by the National team juniores/youth staff. The athletes, about 17-19 years old, are selected among the most promising Italians of their group of age. In the 2014-15 season Club Italia competed in serie A2 with surprising success (7th place). It used to be in serie B before (third tier), and it would have been relegated to the lower tier almost every year but the federation is allowed to include it in *whatever* league they wish.

http://www.oasport.it/2015/04/…-azzurro-campionato-a-13/

http://www.legavolleyfemminile…eggi.asp?tipo=2&ID=138990

The participation of Club Italia to the next serie A1 was approved with enthusiasm by the Italian volleyball league. It will be the thirteenth team.
I know that it's still early to draw conclusions, but the league and the federation had already decided in April.

1) Club Italia is in serie A1 exceptionally in view of the 2016 Olympics. Then, it may or may not continue its activity (planning ). This thing will have made sense if Egonu Danesi D'Odorico and the like make the Olympic team. Don't get me wrong: they are good, and full of olympic spirit, but it's hard to believe they will (Egonu is a phenomenon, but only 16). Even then, why don't they just sign for a pro team and prove their worth? Like Nicoletti in Conegliano, Bonifacio in Novara.

2) A 13-team championship is a "questionable" decision. It happened before to have odd numbers, but it was by accident (like the absence of Cuneo in our last Superlega). Instead, why not promote Forlì back into serie A1? Who doesn't miss the annual promotion of Forlì?!
No way. Unfortunately, the next club season is too short. 14 teams would make it last way too much longer than 13

3) The league president is proud to be a pioneer, an innovator, the creator of a model that delegates from other countries and other sports will admire and imitate. Pioneering aside, his main interests should be competitiveness and marketability of the league. As far as competition goes, perhaps Club Italia will be good enough, but I am skeptical. Will Club Italia attract more audience and more investors? Apparently, they hope so. Let's go to the next point.

4) What will the home court be? A few weeks ago they played their playoff home games in the opponent's arena. Their facility for the last few years has been "centro federale Pavesi", a gym in Milano. The proposition is to be itinerant, that is: today here, next week no one knows. The purpose is to promote top level volleyball throughout the country, maybe outside the traditional places. The championship is composed of 10 out of 12 teams based in Padania & Alps and 2 just below the gothic line. Who is the lucky winner of a road game in Bari?

Conclusion: 2014-2015 has been a successful and exciting year for women's volleyball in Italy. To make it last, you can try two things: leave it as is, or change something. In my opinion, the players, the teams, the audience, the won't benefit from this change.

I agree with you! On all the points you've written... firstly they can be good players, but I think they will have to continue to work hard in A2, showing the same good things they showed this year. Of course Forlì won't be missed, but it would be a wiser decision to make these girls play in a league that is suitable for them in terms of task. Let's not forget that they also have to finish their high school, ok volleybal is their prime issue, but I think it is good also for their future if they would get a diploma.
It won't be good to travel through out Italy searching for new gyms and palas where to train and play. Better to play in A2 with teams at your right level and develop eve more.

I wonder if this is a way to give to Bonitta a double role, in NT and in a sort of "club"...

During the press conference of yesterday, the club of Busto Arsizio made it clear that they won't take part to the Challenge Cup because they want to focus on Italian league.

Update: Conegliano gave up Challange Cup too. Piacenza will ask a wild card for Champions League.

Even LJ Modena gave up the CEV Cup, it's all explained here: http://www.volleyball.it/notiz…otizia_id=101298&n=101298
This means that italian teams who will compete in Europe will be Pomì Casalmaggiore, Igor Gorgonzola Novara and Nordmeccanica Rebecchi Piacenza, all qualified for Champions League.

The post on 1st page about Casalmaggiore says Gyselle Silva will play there Any source for that??