Volleyball Canada has announced that Marcello Abbondanza will become the new head coach of the indoor women’s team. He is set to take over the team starting on May 1, 2017.
Canada will compete in the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Group 2 this year, where the Preliminary Round is set to begin on July 7.
Abbondanza currently is the head coach of the Fenerbahce Sports Club in Istanbul, Turkey, who earned the bronze medal in the 2016 CEV Champions League. Along with the top team, he is responsible for the development of the youth teams in the club.
“I’m very happy to join the Canadian women’s program. It will be very exciting to help build on the women’s team’s development and begin a new phase,” said Abbondanza.
Abbondanza has worked with a national team before, as a trainer and coach with the Italian national team from 2000 to 2006, where he also served as the head coach for the National B team in 2005. More recently, Abbondanza took the helm of the Bulgarian national team until 2014, where he oversaw the team at major international tournaments. He also has more than 20 years of international beach volleyball experience.
“Marcello will being his extensive background from the professional system in Europe and his national team experience in both Italy and Bulgaria to his new role,” said Volleyball Canada’s indoor high performance director, Julien Boucher.
The new women’s training centre at the Richmond Oval in the Canadian province of British Columbia is set to open this month.
Abbondanza takes over the team, replacing Arnd “Lupo” Ludwig, who guided the team since 2009. The Canadian women’s team is currently ranked 19th in the FIVB Senior World Ranking, with their last Olympic appearance coming in 1996.
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