Italy Men's Volleyball Squad Announced for Turkey Friendly

Italy’s men’s national volleyball team is set to launch its competitive season on Thursday, May 28, at 18:00. The team will open its campaign with a friendly match against Turkey at the Palazzetto dello Sport Arpad Weisz in Cavalese.

Preparing for the Global Stage

This opening match in Val di Fiemme serves as a critical preparation phase for the upcoming Nations League scheduled for this summer. The team is also looking ahead to the European Championships in September.

The stakes for the September tournament are high, as it will determine the first qualification pass for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Did You Know? The European Championships in September will offer the first available qualification spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Squad Selection and Strategy

Head coach Ferdinando De Giorgi has selected a 17-man roster for the opening encounter. This group will also compete in two subsequent friendlies against Belgium on Saturday, May 30, in Verona, and Turkey again on Sunday, May 31, in Bergamo.

The current squad includes four reigning World Champions: outside hitters Mattia Bottolo and Luca Porro, middle blocker Giovanni Gargiulo, and libero Domenico Pace.

Several high-profile players are currently resting. These include setter Simone Giannelli, hitters Alessandro Michieletto and Daniele Lavia, opposite Yuri Romanò, and libero Fabio Balaso.

Expert Insight: By resting key veterans like Giannelli and Michieletto, Coach De Giorgi may be utilizing these friendlies to evaluate roster depth and test the readiness of emerging players before the high-pressure Nations League and Olympic qualifying cycle.

Positional Breakdown

Alessandro Bovolenta and Kamil Rychlicki will serve as the primary offensive options, which could lead to a competition for the starting role. Setting duties will be managed by Paolo Porro and Mattia Boninfante.

The outside hitter rotation consists of Mattia Bottolo, Francesco Sani, Luca Porro, Mattia Orioli, and Tim Held. The middle blocker unit is composed of Giovanni Gargiulo, Giovanni Sanguinetti, Leandro Mosca, Francesco Comparoni, and Pardo Mati.

Defensive duties will be handled by liberos Gabriele Laurenzano, Domenico Pace, and Matteo Staforini.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the first friendly match?

The match takes place on Thursday, May 28, at 18:00 at the Palazzetto dello Sport Arpad Weisz in Cavalese.

24/5/26 Friendly Match Women Italy vs Türkiye Volleyball

Which key players are not participating in these friendlies?

The players remaining at rest include Simone Giannelli, Alessandro Michieletto, Daniele Lavia, Yuri Romanò, and Fabio Balaso.

What is the significance of the European Championships in September?

The tournament will put the first pass for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics up for grabs.

How do you think the absence of key veterans will impact the team’s performance in these early friendlies?

Italy Men’s Volleyball Squad Announced for Turkey Friendly