The old guard returns to Italian women’s volleyball under the guidance of Julio Velasco. Among the 30 players called up, the Italian coach has decided to recall Paola Egonu. And with her also her rival Ekaterina Antropova, who had had strong tensions with Egonu under the management of Davide Mazzanti, who had promoted the Russian naturalized Italian to starter during the troubled 2023 European Championship. Velasco also wanted the veterans Monica De Gennaro in the squad and Caterina Bosetti. Among the new players, Yasmina Akrari and Benedetta Sartori stand out among the central players, Ilenia Moro in the free throws, Martina Bracchi and Rebecca Piva among the spikers. However, the former captain Cristina Chirichella, the director Ofelia Malinov and Beatrice Parrocchiale are absent.
How Italvolley can qualify for the Olympics
The goal for women’s Italvolley is to obtain a pass for the Paris 2024 Olympics through the Volleyball Nations league, the international traveling tournament that will allow them to move up the world ranking. At the moment Italy is fifth in the world ranking, among the best within the group of national teams not yet qualified for the Olympics. Among those fished out beyond Italy are China, Japan, Holland and Kenya. The five places still available will be assigned based on the world ranking, which will be considered on June 17, when the group stage of the tournament will be over.
Italy’s matches in the Volleyball Nations league 2024
The march towards the Paris games will begin for the Italians on May 14th in Antalya against Poland, Germany, Bulgaria and Turkey. In the next stop in Macau from May 29th they will find themselves ahead of France, Dominican Republic, Brazil and China. In the third week, scheduled in Fukuoka from 11 June, the Italians from Velasco will face Canada, South Korea, USA and Serbia. The final eight are scheduled for June 20th to 23rd in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Tags: Paola Egonu returns national team Velasco calls rival Antropova place Olympics Italvolley qualify
