SUPERLEGA
Cisterna Volley
Cisterna Volley is playing its third year in the Credem Banca SuperLega, with a revamped roster. Seven players remain and seven new additions form a young team that will also count on experienced players. The opposite hitter has been completely revamped, with the additions of Tommaso Guzzo and Tommaso Barotto. Among the spikers, Daniel Muniz, the experienced Filippo Lanza, and the confirmed Efe Bayram and Yuga Tarumi are making their debut. Bayram, in his third consecutive season, is the team captain. Enrico Diamantini, Jacopo Tosti, and Daniele Mazzone have been confirmed at the middle block, along with the arrival of Dutch national team middle blocker Fabian Plak.
Cucine Lube Civitanova
After winning the eighth Italian Cup and reaching the finals in the SuperLega and Challenge Cup, Cucine Lube Civitanova is entering its 31st year in the top division, with continuity under the guidance of reconfirmed head coach Giampaolo Medei. The lineup will rotate between the outgoing familiars and three emerging names: U19 world champion Noa Duflos-Rossi, Argentina’s Pablo Kukartsev, and Wout D’Heer. Two key players will be captained by Fabio Balaso, a gold medalist and top libero at the World Championships in the Philippines, and Francesco Bisotto, the director, along with Mattia Boninfante, the best U23 player in the latest Credem Banca SuperLega, and the evergreen Santi Orduna. Alex Nikolov, world champion Mattia Bottolo, and the 9-meter snipers Eric Loeppky and Poriya Hossein Khanzadeh will also be in charge.
MA Acqua S.Bernardo Cuneo
Cuneo Volley is preparing to compete in the SuperLega Credem Banca season as a newly promoted team, returning to Cuneo after 11 years in the top Italian men’s league. This is their eighth consecutive season in Serie A. In addition to the confirmation of their title sponsors, MA Acqua S.Bernardo Cuneo can count on continuity in the coaching staff with Sporting Director Paolo Brugiafreddo and Coach Matteo Battocchio, who relies on Turin native Mauro Rizzo and Cuneo native Fabio Genre as assistants. The team continues with the confirmation of libero Domenico Cavaccini, named captain, middle blocker Lorenzo Codarin (a record-breaking player for the team), and Simone Oberto, the young libero born and bred in Cuneo. The Cuneo club’s most significant signing is undoubtedly the signing of Ivan Zaytsev, who has further fueled the city’s already widespread enthusiasm for their return to the SuperLega. Setter Michele Baranowicz returns to the lineup, joined by the very young Matteo Bonomi, who excelled last season in Brescia’s Serie A2. At the opposite end, Nathan Feral, the best hitter in the French Ligue A with Toulouse Volley, and Lorenzo Sala, another familiar name in Cuneo, have arrived. The spikers’ department sees the arrival of Marko Sedlacek from Padova (SuperLega). Also upgrading from the youth ranks is middle blocker Giulio Colasanti, who, along with Serbian Aleksandar Stefanovic and Riccardo Copelli arriving from Ravenna (Serie A2), complete the roster at 14 players.
Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina
After last year’s comeback to avoid relegation, Yuasa Battery Grottazolina has chosen to renew half of its roster for the 2025/26 SuperLega Credem Banca championship. Of the fourteen players on the roster, seven are confirmed and seven are newcomers, supported by assistants Mattia Minnoni and Roberto Romiti. Petkovic, Fedrizzi, Marchisio, Tatarov, Marchiani, Cubito, and Vecchi are returning; they will mentor the new arrivals, who also bring a wealth of experience. These include Marco Falaschi at setter, the young Iranian opposite hitter Amir Golzadeh, the spikers Giulio Magalini and Serbian Lazar Koprivica, and the trio of middle blockers consisting of the perennial Dragan Stankovic, the young Marco Pellacani, and Bulgarian international Iliya Petkov. In short, a roster that’s a mix of young and experienced players ready to make its mark in the next Super League. The warmth of an entire region, the southern Marche region, will be the extra man on the pitch. Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina has managed to tell its sporting fairy tale as a protagonist and intends to continue with renewed ambitions.
Allianz Milano
Nine new names and five confirmed players: Allianz Milano’s 2025/26 roster, which in addition to the Credem Banca SuperLega will also be competing in Europe for the third consecutive year in the CEV Challenge Cup, combines youth, solidity, and excellent coaching. On the bench is, of course, Roberto Piazza, one of the world’s best coaches, a longtime international figure and key figure in the development of many champions. Sporting Director and General Manager Fabio Lini has worked to improve, where possible, some fundamentals compared to last season. Standouts in the center back line include Edoardo Caneschi, Gabriele Di Martino, Nemanja Masulovic, fresh from his experience with Olympiacos and the World Cup with the Serbian national team, and the young Alessandro Benacchio. The backline is all about responsiveness, elevation, and entertainment, with the return to Italy of Francesco “Checco” Recine, the arrival of Seppe Rotty, a talented Belgian coming off an excellent season in his home country, in the Champions League, and with the national team, and the confirmation of Japanese player Tatsunori Otsuka, who is expected to reach his full potential. Milan’s main defense is among the strongest in the world, with the arrival of a top player like Brazilian Fernando “Cachopa” Kreling under the Madonnina and the confirmation of striker Ferre Reggers, who led Belgium to the World Cup in the Philippines.
Valsa Group Modena
Despite numerous changes and confirmed players, Valsa Group Modena is restarting with renewed enthusiasm and a desire to play a strong season. Coach Alberto Giuliani, in his third consecutive year as Modena coach, remains at the helm. The new captain is Simone Anzani, a World Champion with Italy and the main point of reference for the staff and teammates. At the center, in addition to the 1992-born center, are Pardo Mati, Giovanni Sanguinetti, and the newcomer Luca Tauletta, who grew up in the Modena youth academy and has just finished two years in the A3 league with Mantua. There are important changes among the setters, where the Canary Islands club has decided to focus on the young French talent Amir Tizi-Oualou and Matias Giraudo, who has returned to Italy after six years spent traveling the world. Among the hammers, the arrivals of youngsters Luca Porro and Arthur Bento, both key players at the World Cup with their respective national teams, stand out. Porro was the youngest member of the splendid Italian team, while Bento has found plenty of playing time despite his unfortunate experience with the Brazilian national team. Vlad Davyskiba and Jacopo Massari round out the roster. The opposite hitters are confirmed, with Paul Buchegger and Ahmed Ikhbayri, both in their second consecutive season with the Emilian team. Finally, the liberos have confirmed Filippo Federici and the arrival of Australian Luke Perry, a player of international standing and renown, in the shadow of the Ghirlandina.
Vero Volley Monza
Vero Volley Monza is competing in the Credem Banca SuperLega for the twelfth consecutive season. After securing a spot in the top division and playing a key role in its historic first participation in the CEV Champions League, coach Massimo Eccheli’s team aims to perform well in a challenging and high-level championship. The roster is composed of a mix of experienced players—starting with captain Thomas Beretta—and young, up-and-coming players such as Diego Frascio (born in 2006), Zhasmin Velichkov (born in 2007), and Lorenzo Ciampi (born in 2007). The team also boasts a fair amount of international appeal: four players were featured in the World Championships held in the Philippines this summer. Two of these players are set-setter Jan Zimmermann and spiker Erik Rohrs, both German internationals. Luka Marttila, the Finnish spiker, is also an international and will once again wear the Vero Volley jersey. Newcomer Martin Atanasov, a spiker, is making his first appearance in Italy and coming off a remarkable World Championship where he won a silver medal with Bulgaria. The second line will be manned by libero Leonardo Scanferla, who arrived in Monza after several seasons with Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza. Krisztian Padar will be the opposite hitter, while the second setter is American Aidan Knipe.
Sonepar Padova
Sonepar Padova is preparing for the 2025/26 Credem Banca SuperLega season. The Padua-based team is starting with a young and revitalized squad, in line with the philosophy that has characterized past seasons. The black and white roster will include setters Vuk Todorovic and Francesco Zoppellari, opposite hitters Tommaso Stefani and Veljko Masulovic, spikers Davide Gardini, Mattia Orioli, Tim Held, and Francesco Bergamasco, middle blockers Alberto Polo (Sonepar’s captain for the upcoming season), Boris Nachev, Andrea Truocchio, and DiAeris Taila McRaven, and liberos Benjamin Diez and Alessandro Toscani. Stefani, Masulovic, Orioli, Polo, Truocchio, Diez, and Toscani have all confirmed their positions in the black and white jerseys, while Zoppellari and Gardini, who previously played for the club, return to Padua. New additions to the team include Todorovic, Held, Nachev, McRaven, and Bergamasco, who complete the Padua roster. The coaching staff remains fully confirmed: Jacopo Cuttini will continue to lead the team, joined for the second consecutive year by Alberto Salmaso as assistant coach. Luca Beccaro (assistant coach), Tommaso Rizzi (scoutman), and Alessio Carraro (athletic trainer) round out the coaching staff.
Sir Susa Scai Perugia
Perugia is preparing for the new season under the new name Sir Susa Scai. The starting six remains unchanged, with five additions to the rest of the squad. The second-choice starting lineup remains unchanged, with captain Simone Giannelli and Wassim Ben Tara. His new partner in the lineup will be the very young Gabrijel Cvanciger, 21, from Grottazzolina, where he played his first season in the Superleague championship last year. Giannelli’s assistant is also a new face: the youngest member of the Juventus team, 18-year-old Bryan Argilagos, arrives from Treviso. The Italian-Cuban setter, but with an Italian passport, is Roberto Russo, Sebastian Solè, and Agustin Loser, who will be joined by newcomer Federico Crosato. The spikers’ department has been strengthened with the arrival of a major player: Donovan Dzavoronok joins Yuki Ishikawa and the well-established duo of Oleh Plotnytskyi and Kamil Semeniuk. The Bianconeri’s defense will continue to be led by Massimo Colaci, who has won 15 trophies for his ninth consecutive season. Colaci will also see a change of teammate with the arrival of Marco Gaggini, born in 2002 and trained at Monza. The bench will remain entrusted to Angelo Lorenzetti, in his third consecutive season at the helm of the Block Devils, and his assistant, Massimiliano Giaccardi. Former middle blocker Davide Candellaro joins the staff as team manager.
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, having completed its seventh consecutive season in the Credem Banca SuperLega, is eager to impress as they enter the 2025/26 season. After finishing last season by qualifying for a European competition, the CEV Cup, President Elisabetta Curti’s team has undergone a makeover, adding several young players to the roster, but their ambitions remain the same: to remain at the top of the SuperLega and do well in Europe. Head coach Dante Boninfante will be supported by his trusted Samuele Papi, while Filippo Pugnalini will be the statistics wizard.
Paolo Porro has left Milan’s Madonnina and is coming to the banks of the Po River; Dragan Travica will be his partner. There are also plenty of new faces among the high ball players: Lukas Bergmann and Miguel Gutierrez join the confirmed Efe Mandiraci and Robbert Andringa, while the established Alessandro Bovolenta and newcomer Henri Leon will be playing diagonally behind the setter. In addition to the iconic Robertlandy Simon and world champion Gianluca Galassi, Parma’s Francesco Comparoni and France’s Joris Seddik will play at center. Another World Champion will join the red and whites: Domenico Pace will wear the libero jersey and will partner the confirmed Luca Loreti, runner-up at the Under-21 World Championship. The team will be captained by Robertlandy Simon, who is playing in his fourth consecutive season in Piacenza.
Itas Trentino
Changes are needed to stay at the top, as has been the case in the recent past. Itas Trentino returns to the starting line of the Credem Banca SuperLega as the defending champion, but also with many changes compared to the lineup that led them to win their sixth Scudetto last May 7th in Civitanova. The Argentine Marcelo Mendez is new to the team (making his debut in our league after successfully leading teams in Brazil, Spain, and Poland). Two new members of the starting six are also new, both acquired this summer from Cisterna: French opposite hitter Theo Faure and Spanish spiker Jordi Ramon, who has been thrust into the starting lineup following Daniele Lavia’s serious injury over the summer. The key players are Captain Riccardo Sbertoli, Gabriele Laurenzano, Flavio (the only two-time defending champion, who also won the title in Perugia in the 2023/24 season), Bela Bartha (promoted to the starting six after Jan Kozamernik’s departure), and, above all, Alessandro Michieletto, MVP of the recent World Cup in Manila and best player of the last Scudetto Finals. The squad is also strengthened by the arrival of German middle blocker Simon Torwie and the confirmation of Gabi Garcia, the best hitter of the World Championship tournament in the Philippines. These are key elements in a season that will see Trento competing on at least three fronts (the Championship, Super Cup, and Champions League).
Rana Verona
Rana Verona’s new season is ready to begin, welcomed with great enthusiasm in the city. The biggest signing is the arrival of Micah Christenson, one of the best setters in the world. Coach Fabio Soli, fresh from winning the championship with Trento and returning from the World Championships with Slovenia, is in charge. He is supported by the charismatic Matteo De Cecco, a familiar face in Verona. Among the new arrivals, Brazilian opposite hitter Darlan Souza stands out, a young and already established talent, capable of combining power, a powerful serve, and a hunger for victory. Alongside him remain two key pillars: Rok Mozic, captain and a fan favorite, and Noumory Keita, last season’s explosive star. These confirmations strengthen the project, ensuring spectacle and solidity. The roster is rounded out with targeted additions and valuable confirmations: Francesco Sani, a recent world champion with Italy; middle blockers Lorenzo Cortesia, Aidan Zingel, and Marco Vitelli; libero Francesco D’Amico; and Pietro Bonisoli, who is constantly improving; in addition to the arrivals of Fabrizio Gironi, an opposite hitter with many years of SuperLega Credem Banca under his belt; Austrian hammer Lukas Glatz; young youth product Marco Valbusa; and setter Uros Planinsic. A balanced squad, bridging the present and the future, with the goal of raising the bar and inspiring the Verona crowd.
1a giornata di andata – SuperLega Credem Banca
Lunedì 20 ottobre 2025, ore 20.00
Allianz Milano – Valsa Group Modena (Diretta VBTV)
Lunedì 20 ottobre 2025, ore 20.30
Sonepar Padova – MA Acqua S.Bernardo Cuneo (Diretta VBTV)
Rana Verona – Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza (Diretta DAZN e VBTV )
Cucine Lube Civitanova – Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina (Diretta VBTV)
Martedì 21 ottobre 2025, ore 20.30
Vero Volley Monza – Sir Susa Scai Perugia (Diretta DAZN e VBTV )
Cisterna Volley – Itas Trentino (Diretta Rai Sport e VBTV)
