Club Italia (women's volleyball)
# Club Italia (women's volleyball)

Club Italia is an Italian women's volleyball club based in Rome, it is currently playing in the Serie A1; but it has played in the Serie A2 during season 2017/18.

## Previous names

Due to sponsorship, the club have competed under the following names:

* Club Italia (1998–2016)
* Club Italia Crai (2016–present)

## History

The team was founded in 1998 by then Italian federation sports director Julio Velasco, in order to develop the skills of younger players in a competitive league rather than in youth leagues. The team is directly controlled by the Italian Volleyball Federation, which is entitled to put the best younger scouted players in the team. After a lot of seasons in the lower leagues of Serie B1 and Serie B2, Club Italia was automatically promoted by the Italian Federation into Serie A2 (2nd tier) in 2014 and then into Serie A1 (first tier) in 2015, avoiding relegation in its first season. Over the next two seasons, Anna Danesi, Paola Egonu, Ofelia Malinov and Alessia Orro have been called up to the Italian national team while playing for Club Italia. At the conclusion of the 2016–17 season, the club was relegated to Serie A2. The club returned to the Serie A1 in the 2018–19 season.

## Squad

Season 2017–2018, as of September 2017.

| Number | Player | Position | Height (m) | Birth date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Terry Enweonwu | Outside hitter | 1.87 | (2000-05-12) 12 May 2000 (age 23) |
| 2 | Tatjana Fucka | Middle blocker | 1.87 | (1999-05-18) 18 May 1999 (age 24) |
| 3 | Adhuoljok John Majak Malual | Middle blocker | 1.90 | (2000-11-14) 14 November 2000 (age 22) |
| 4 | Rachele Morello | Setter | 1.82 | (2000-11-07) 7 November 2000 (age 22) |
| 5 | Marina Lubian | Middle blocker | 1.92 | (2000-04-11) 11 April 2000 (age 23) |
| 6 | Sara Cortella | Outside hitter | 1.85 | (2002-02-15) 15 February 2002 (age 21) |
| 7 | Elena Pietrini | Outside hitter | 1.86 | (2000-03-17) 17 March 2000 (age 23) |
| 9 | Loveth Omoruyi | Outside hitter | 1.82 | (2002-08-25) 25 August 2002 (age 20) |
| 10 | Chiara De Bortoli | Libero | 1.76 | (1997-07-28) 28 July 1997 (age 25) |
| 11 | Elisa Tonello | Outside hitter | 1.76 | (2000-04-22) 22 April 2000 (age 23) |
| 12 | Alice Turco | Setter | 1.78 | (2000-02-04) 4 February 2000 (age 23) |
| 13 | Sarah Fahr | Middle blocker | 1.92 | (2001-09-12) 12 September 2001 (age 21) |
| 15 | Sylvia Nwakalor | Outside hitter | 1.77 | (1999-08-12) 12 August 1999 (age 23) |
| 16 | Linda Mangani | Outside hitter | 1.84 | (2000-02-16) 16 February 2000 (age 23) |
| 17 | Katarina Bulović | Outside hitter | 1.84 | (2002-02-15) 15 February 2002 (age 21) |

2016–2017 Team :

| Number | Player | Position | Height (m) | Birth date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Terry Enweonwu | Outside hitter | 1.87 | (2000-05-12) 12 May 2000 (age 23) |
| 3 | Elena Perinelli | Opposite | 1.81 | (1995-06-27) 27 June 1995 (age 28) |
| 4 | Rachele Morello | Setter | 1.82 | (2000-11-07) 7 November 2000 (age 22) |
| 5 | Marina Lubian | Middle blocker | 1.92 | (2000-04-11) 11 April 2000 (age 23) |
| 7 | Martina Ferrara | Libero | 1.68 | (1999-01-28) 28 January 1999 (age 24) |
| 8 | Alessia Orro | Setter | 1.80 | (1998-07-18) 18 July 1998 (age 25) |
| 9 | Vittoria Piani | Opposite | 1.87 | (1998-02-12) 12 February 1998 (age 25) |
| 10 | Chiara De Bortoli | Libero | 1.76 | (1997-07-28) 28 July 1997 (age 25) |
| 11 | Giulia Mancini | Middle blocker | 1.83 | (1998-05-23) 23 May 1998 (age 25) |
| 12 | Alessia Arciprete | Outside hitter | 1.80 | (1997-09-06) 6 September 1997 (age 25) |
| 13 | Giulia Melli | Outside hitter | 1.84 | (1998-01-08) 8 January 1998 (age 25) |
| 14 | Alexandra Botezat | Middle blocker | 1.96 | (1998-08-03) 3 August 1998 (age 24) |
| 15 | Sara Cortella | Outside hitter | 1.85 | (2002-02-15) 15 February 2002 (age 21) |
| 17 | Katarina Bulović | Outside hitter | 1.84 | (2002-02-15) 15 February 2002 (age 21) |
| 18 | Paola Egonu | Outside hitter | 1.89 | (1998-12-18) 18 December 1998 (age 24) |

## Current coaching staff

| Italy | Massimo Bellano | | Head coach |
| - | - | - | - |
| Italy | Michele Fanni | (1983-01-11) 11 January 1983 (age 40) | Vice coach |
| Italy | Alessandro Parise | (1969-12-10) 10 December 1969 (age 53) | Coach assistant |
| Italy | Ugo Strada | (1954-02-03) 3 February 1954 (age 69) | Doctor |
| Italy | Maurizio Gardenghi | (1969-04-16) 16 April 1969 (age 54) | Athletic trainer |
| Italy | Moreno Mascheroni | (1984-07-30) 30 July 1984 (age 38) | Phytsiotherapist |
