The cornerstone on which to build a new, solid structure could only be captain Nicolò Katalan. The skilled creator, Sporting Director Luciano Sturam, and new Coach Simone Di Tommaso had no doubts: the roster for Tinet Prata’s first Superleague season had to start with the captain. Born in 1998, the 6-foot-1 middle blocker Nicolò Katalan from Trieste will bring his two-meter-tall frame to the fields of Italy’s top division wearing the yellow-and-blue jersey. This will be his seventh season in Prata. A journey that has brought him two promotions, a Serie A3 Italian Cup, and a personal record: he has recorded the most game-winning blocks in a single Serie A game, 14, in December 2023 against Castellana Grotte. “Over these six years,” he says, “I’ve seen myself grow as a player and as a person, within a club eager to improve and become better and better structured. The first year wasn’t great competitively, but then it was a crescendo, during which we achieved a lot of success. The A2 championship proved increasingly competitive, but also more fun to play. Over the last two years, we’ve been able to establish ourselves at the top levels of the division. We’re not hiding it: losing not one, but two, Coppa Italia finals at home was a real pain, but this year’s final result repaid us with interest. In the end, we achieved a historic result for ourselves, for the club, and for our region, and looking each other in the eye, we understood the reason for this wonderful journey.”
What are your expectations for next season?
We, the players, the staff, and the club, really want to enjoy this Super League. We’ve earned it with so much hard work, dedication, and commitment, and it’s only right that we arrive in the best league in the world and enjoy the experience. We’ll have to focus on ourselves, both individually and as a team, trying to take one small step at a time because I’m convinced we can achieve some great things. And without too much anxiety, we’ll be able to express ourselves better and play well.
