Italian women’s volleyball: Cozzoli elected league president as Serie A2 vote proves decisive
VENICE – Vito Cozzoli (photo)has been elected president of the Italian Women’s Volleyball League, succeeding Mauro Fabris, who held the post for 20 years.
The election, held at the league’s general assembly at the Hampton by Hilton in Venice, was decided by the Serie A2 clubs. With Serie A1 split evenly between Cozzoli and Massimo Beduschi, at seven votes apiece, the second division backed Cozzoli 13-3. The final weighted tally was 18.75–11.25 in his favour.
The assembly also elected a new board (photo). Following a second ballot and an agreement among the candidates, Ivano Angeli (Vallefoglia), Sandra Leoncini (Scandicci) and Andrea Veneziani (Bergamo) were chosen to represent Serie A1. Giuseppe Pirola will oversee the budget, while Pietro Paolella will chair the league’s consultative body.
Stefano Condina (Offanengo) and Roberto Mignemi (Roma Volley) were elected as Serie A2 representatives on the first ballot.
The new board then unanimously nominated Enzo Bruno Barbaro as managing director and its seventh member. The assembly endorsed the appointment, also unanimously.
2027 FIVB World Cup: Full 32-team field confirmed for Poland
MODENA – All 32 places at the 2027 FIVB Volleyball World Cup have been filled, with 17 European teams set to compete in Poland.
Previously known as the Men’s World Championship, the tournament will retain its group stage followed by knockout rounds and conclude on 26 September 2027.
Hosts Poland and defending champions Italy qualified automatically. Another 15 teams earned their places through continental competitions: France, Finland and Slovenia from Europe; Japan, Iran and South Korea from Asia; the United States, Canada and Cuba from NORCECA; Brazil, Argentina and Chile from South America; and Tunisia, Cameroon and Algeria from Africa.
The remaining 15 berths were allocated through the FIVB world rankings to Bulgaria, Germany, Ukraine, Belgium, Turkey, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Greece, Romania, the Netherlands, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Denmark, Egypt and Estonia.
Although the qualification cut-off is 16 October, the qualifying order is already settled, with no further eligible events scheduled before that date.
Europe will therefore account for more than half the field, with 17 representatives. NORCECA will have five teams, Africa four, and Asia and South America three apiece.
Men’s Serie A: Verona, Ravenna and Reggio Calabria fans honoured for sportsmanship
BOLOGNA – Supporters of Rana Verona, Consar Ravenna and Domotek Reggio Calabria have been recognised by the Lega Pallavolo Serie A for their sportsmanship during the 2025/26 season.
Verona’s fans won the Jimmy George Award for SuperLega, while the Kirk Kilgour Award went to Ravenna in Serie A2 and Reggio Calabria in Serie A3. The awards will be presented at each club’s first home match of the new season.
Verona’s ceremony will take place before the season opener against Cucine Lube Civitanova on Saturday 17 October at 18:00. The match will be broadcast live on Rai Sport and VBTV.
Ravenna will receive their award before hosting Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina on Sunday 18 October at 18:00, while Reggio Calabria will be honoured ahead of their meeting with Consoli Sferc Brescia on Sunday 25 October at 16:00.
Fonte: https://www.volleyball.it/links/rss/argomenti/volleyballit/rss.xml
