Italvolley, De Giorgi’s call-ups for Week 2 of VNL
Just a few hours after Week 1 in Canada, which saw Italy close the round with a balance made up of 3 wins and 1 loss, with 8 points and the fourth place in the provisional overall standings, in the Azzurri’s house it is already time to think about Week 2 of the Volleyball Nations League.
The second week of competition, as known, will be played in Chicago (United States)June 25-30 with Italy, Poland, China, Brazil and the hosts of the United States.
The debut of the tricolor national team at the NOW Arena in Chicago is set for Wednesday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. Italian time, when they will face the reigning European Champions Poland.
In comparison to Week 1, head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi has added five new players. Specifically, Fabio Balaso, Gianluca Galassi, Daniele Lavia, Alessandro Michieletto and Riccardo Sbertoli will relieve Domenico Pace, Simone Anzani, Francesco Sani, Francesco Recine and Mattia Boninfante; the latter will return this evening with a flight from Montreal heading to Milan Malpensa.
The five new Azzurri, however, will join the rest of the team on June 17.
The team from Tuesday, June 17 to Sunday, June 22 will undergo a preparation period in Ottawa and play two friendly matches against Canada on June 20 and 21 at the Gatineau Sports Center. Afterwards, the blue group will travel to the United States.
The following is the complete list of the 14 who will participate in week 2 of VNL in Chicago
Ballplayers: 6. Simone Giannelli (captain), 8. Riccardo Sbertoli
Centerbacks: 13. Lorenzo Cortesia, 14. Gianluca Galassi, 18. Giovanni Sanguinetti, 25. Giovanni Gargiulo
Slappers: 5. Alessandro Michieletto, 12. Mattia Bottolo, 15. Daniele Lavia, 31. Luca Porro
Opposites: 11. Kamil Rychlicki, 16. Yuri Romanò
Liberi: 4. Gabriele Laurenzano, 7. Fabio Balaso
The blue staff
Technical Commissioner: Ferdinando De Giorgi
Assistant Coach: Massimo Caponeri
Athletic Trainer: Nicola Giolito
Scoutman: Ivan Contrario
Doctor: Francesco Lanzani
Physiotherapist: Francesco Alfatti
Team Manager: Giacomo Giretto
The schedule of the Azzurri in Chicago
Week 2 (Pool 5 – Chicago, USA)
June 25, 7:30 p.m.: Italy-Poland
June 27, 11 pm: Italy-China
June 28, 11 pm: Italy-Brazil
June 30, 2:30 p.m.: Italy-United States
*Italian game times
