Defending Champions Italy Set Roster for U18 World Championships

2017 FIVB World U18 Girls’ Championships

• August 18th-27th, 2017
• Rosario and Santa Fe, Argentina
• Tournament Central
• Schedule/Results
• Results/Ranking

The defending champions of Italy have called 12 players to their roster for the 2017 FIVB Girls’ U18 World Championships that begin this week in Argentina.

The team has taken a preparatory tour against many of their chief competitors at the upcoming tournament, and has staked their claim to repeat as champions. That’s because their three wins, against youth sides from Brazil, Japan, and the United States, have all been 3-0 sweeps in favor of the Italians.

In 2015, the last edition of these championships, Italy swept the United States to win their first-ever U18 world title. That tournament awarded then-16 year old Paola Egonu the MVP – before she became the breakout star of this year’s World Grand Prix.

With Egonu aged out and moved on to bigger things the focus will be pushed on to the next generation, including captain Alessia Populini, who plays for the B1 youth side of the same club as Egonu.

Outside hitter Elena Pietrini has been the offensive force of the team, including scoring 15 points against Japan.

Italy will play in Pool C in Rosario along with Serbia, Poland, Colombia, and Thailand.

Roster:

• Valeria Battista, outside hitter
• Terry Enweonwu, opposite
• Sarah Fahr, middle blocker
• Marina Lubian, middle blocker
• Fatime Kone, middle blocker
• Rachele Morello, setter
• Sara Panetoni, libero
• Virginia Peruzzo, outside hitter
• Elena Pietrini, outside hitter
• Alessia Populini (Captain), outside hitter
• Francesca Scola, setter
• Alice Tanase, outside hitter

Coaching Staff:

• Marco Mencarelli – head coach
• Michele Fanni – assistant coach
• Federico Di Toma – assistant coach
• Sandro Gennari – physiotherapist
• Alessandra Favoriti – medical
• Lorenzo Librio – scout
• Gateano Gagliardi – scout
• Alessio Trombetta – team manage