The new volleyball season officially got under way this morning with “The First Serve” event, in which the fixture lists were unveiled on live streaming on the Lega Volley Channel from the Zanhotel Centergross in Bentivoglio.
First of all, the new Italian Volleyball League, Paola De Micheli, was introduced: “I am a big volleyball fan, my main characteristic will be my passion. A lot of responsibility comes with this position. Extraordinary steps forward have been made by the Lega to adapt to modern society, often by being ahead if its time. Now I’d like to give back to sport what sport gave me and is still giving me”.
Between one sketch and another from the exuberant Paiella, many important figures of the world of volleyball came on stage. Carlo Magri, Federation President, said how happy he was with the election of the new President: “We have common goals, I count on the friendship and long-term collaboration we have with Paola De Micheli: we will work hard, especially on communication and international relationships”.
Some entertaining moments filled the day thanks to the performance of singers like Fabrizio Voghera or Claudia Paganelli, who are coming off the sold-out musicals “Notre Dame de Paris” and “Romeo and Giulietta”.
There was time for the tributes and awards to the Junior League won by Modena, the Boy League won by CMC Romagna, and obviously the treble conquered by Modena, led by its President Catia Pedrini.
Emotional moment with the “Passion for volleyball” award, dedicated to the unforgettable journalist Adelio Pistelli, who passed away last November. In front of his wife Silvana, the award went to Samuele Papi, who remembered many anecdotes with the journalist Pistelli. “I’ll play for another year at Piacenza, my last one” he said causing laughter. And he added “I was hoping to end my career together with President Carlo Magri but it wasn’t to be”.
Other awards went to Verona, winner of the Challenge Cup 2016, Gino Giannetti, Sora owner promoted in the SuperLega, and Franceco Prestinenzi, sport director of Vibo Valentia, winner of the Del Monte Italian Cup A2.
The media Stracca awards went to Daniele Dellera (in charge of the sport in the Corriere della Sera), Francesco Segala (Trentino, his second after 2011), Carla De Caris (Sora) and Francesco Iannello (Vibo), tied for the Serie A2.
