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Modena Volley

Italian professional volleyball team

Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

Modena Volley is a professional volleyball team based in Modena, Italy. It has played in the highest level of the Italian Volleyball League without interruption since 1968. It is the most successful Italian club, having won both the national league and the national cup twelve times each. The club is one of the most prominent and prestigious in Europe too, having won thirteen European trophies including four CEV Champions League.

01Achievements

Pallavolo Modena logo (2005-2013).
Pallavolo Modena logo (2005-2013).

02History

The club was founded in 1966 by Benito and Giuseppe Panini, owners of Edizioni Panini publishing house, and was named Gruppo Sportivo Panini (or simply G.S. Panini). The club, trained by Franco Anderlini, started from Serie C (the third level of the Italian League) and achieved the Serie A in 1968, taking only two seasons. Since then it has never been relegated to lower divisions.

It took only another season to achieve the first Italian League, in 1969/70: the victory was led by the Czechoslovak superstar Josef Musil. With Anderlini as head coach Modena won three championships, but in 1975/76 he resigned and was replaced by Polish Edward Skorek who acted as player-coach, leading Panini to another national title. By the end of the 1970s Modena clinched four Italian leagues, two Italian cups and its first European trophy, the 1979/80 CEV Cup Winners' Cup, with the Brazilian Bernard Rajzman and the Italian Francesco Dall'Olio as leaders of the team.

In the 1980s Modena had even greater successes: managed by Julio Velasco the team gained four consecutive Italian leagues and many national and international cups. In 1989 Velasco was appointed head of the Italian national team, leaving Modena where he was replaced by Vladimir Jankovic. Even without Velasco, Modena became European champion winning the 1989/90 CEV Champions League.

The team entered the 1990s with financial difficulties and its best players (Vullo, Bernardi, Bertoli, Cantagalli, Lucchetta) left Modena moving to better funded clubs. The Panini era was coming to an end and in 1993 the club changed ownership for the first time, being taken over by Giovanni Vandelli, a ceramic industrialist who renamed the club as Daytona Volley. Vandelli signed Daniele Bagnoli as head coach and brought back Bertoli, Cantagalli and Vullo. Modena soon regained its competitiveness and in five seasons it won twelve trophies, including two Italian Leagues and two CEV Champions Leagues. The 1996/97 season could be regarded as one of the most successful in the club's long history, having achieved the Italian League, the Italian Cup and the Champions League in the same year. The line-up of this legendary season was structured by the setter Fabio Vullo, the opposite hitter Juan Cuminetti, the middle-blockers Bas van de Goor and Andrea Giani, the outside hitters Marco Bracci and Luca Cantagalli: one of the best European teams ever.

1996 was also the year of Giuseppe Panini's death, co-founder and for many years the highly respected president of the club. The municipal administration of Modena entitled the local arena, home of the volleyball team, to his memory as Palazzo dello Sport Giuseppe Panini, commonly referred to as PalaPanini by supporters. In 1997/98, trained by Francesco Dall'Olio, Modena won his third consecutive CEV Champions League. After an unsuccessful comeback of Daniele Bagnoli, Vandelli's club won its last Italian league in 2001/02 with Angelo Lorenzetti as coach.

Vandelli's last trophy was the 2003/04 CEV Cup (now Challenge Cup), then in 2005 he sold the club to a consortium composed of Antonio Barone (a coal industry businessman and former volleyball player, who won two Italian leagues with the Panini team), Catia Pedrini (Barone's wife) and Giuliano Grani (a merchandising businessman). The name was changed to Pallavolo Modena and Barone became the new president.

During 2008 Barone e Pedrini left the club leaving it in the hands of Grani and new partner Pietro Peia (a long-standing manager of the club). In 2012 even Grani took a step back, leaving Peia as the sole owner. Under the Barone-Grani-Peia ownership Modena won only one trophy with the 2007/08 CEV Challenge Cup, despite great investments to sign notable players like Ángel Dennis, Murilo Endres and Matthew Anderson, and many successive famous coaches like Julio Velasco, Andrea Giani, Silvano Prandi, Daniele Bagnoli (at his third experience at Modena) and Angelo Lorenzetti.

In May 2013 a new consortium composed of Gino Gibertini (dealer of oil products), Antonio Panini (son of Giuseppe Panini), Catia Pedrini, Dino Piacentini (building contractor) and Peter Zehentleitner (CEO of Trenkwalder Italia) acquired the club. Both Gibertini and Piacentini were Panini's players in the seventies. The club's name was changed to Modena Volley Punto Zero with Gibertini as president and Lorenzetti being confirmed as head coach.

The team's entire identity was created by Italian-Argentine graphic designer Hernán Pesce (https://hpesce.myportfolio.com/), who at the time was working as a designer for Trenkwalder Italia, the team's main sponsor. The logo and visual identity were the result of an exhaustive analysis and coincided with a highly successful period for the team.

The coexistence between many partners proved to be difficult and after few months Gibertini, Panini and Zehentleitner left the consortium. Catia Pedrini was then appointed president of the club with Piacentini in the role of vice-president.

For the 2014-15 season the club's name has been modified to Modena Volley with a new logo. On 11 January 2015, the team won its first title in 7 years (the last victory was the CEV Challenge Cup in 2008), by defeating Trentino Volley in the final of Italian Volleyball Cup.

For the 2015-2016 season Modena decides to strengthen the team by adding the Brazilian middle-blocker Lucas Saatkamp, and replacing Uroš Kovačević with his Serbian compatriot Miloš Nikić. Since October 2015, the club sets a major sponsorship deal with DHL. During the season, the club enlarged his honours with the victories of Italian Supercup in October and the Italian Volleyball Cup in February, by defeating Trentino Volley in both matches. Above all, the main success of the season has been the Italian national title after 14 years, by defeating SIR Safety Perugia in the final by 3-0.

For the 2016-2017 season, there are many changes: the main sponsor DHL and coach Angelo Lorenzetti leave the club, moreover the Brazilians "magic duo" Bruno Rezende and Lucas Saatkamp return to their home country. Nevertheless, Modena reinforces the roster by hiring two of the best middle blockers in the world: Maxwell Holt and Kevin Le Roux. The expert Argentinian setter Santiago Orduna takes place of Bruninho and the Serbian spiker Nemanja Petric is promoted as team Captain. Since September 2016, the new main sponsor of the club is the Italian asset management company Azimut Holding.

03Former names

1968-1989Panini Modena
1989-1991Philips Modena
1991-1992Carimonte Modena
1992-1993Panini Modena
1993-1994Daytona Modena
1994-1995Daytona Las Modena
1995-1996Las Daytona Modena
1996-1997Las Daytona Modena; Las Valtur Modena[a]
1997-2000Casa Modena Unibon
2000-2002Casa Modena Salumi
2002-2003Kerakoll Modena; Meta Daytona Modena[b]
2003-2004Kerakoll Modena
2004-2005Daytona Modena
2005-2008Cimone Modena
2008-2010Trenkwalder Modena
2010-2014Casa Modena
2014-2015Modena Volley; Parmareggio Modena[c]
2015-2016DHL Modena
2016-2018Azimut Modena
2018-2019Azimut Leo Shoes Modena
2019-2021Leo Shoes Modena
2021-2022Leo Shoes PerkinElmer Modena
2022-PresentValsa Group Modena

04Team

Team roster, season 2022/2023

No. Name Date of birth Position
1 Bruno Rezende (C) (1986-07-02) July 2, 1986setter
3 Lorenzo Pope (2001-12-06) December 6, 2001outside hitter
4 Nicolas Maréchal (1987-03-04) March 4, 1987outside hitter
5 Riccardo Gollini (2000-07-05) July 5, 2000libero
6 Giovanni Sanguinetti (2000-04-14) April 14, 2000middle blocker
7 Dragan Stanković (1985-10-18) October 18, 1985middle blocker
9 Earvin N'Gapeth (1991-02-12) February 12, 1991outside hitter
10 Lorenzo Sala (2002-01-01) January 1, 2002opposite
11 Tobias Krick (1998-10-22) October 22, 1998middle blocker
12 Adis Lagumdzija (1999-03-29) March 29, 1999opposite
15 Elia Bossi (1994-08-15) August 15, 1994middle blocker
16 Nicola Salsi (1997-09-13) September 13, 1997setter
21 Salvatore Rossini (1986-07-13) July 13, 1986libero
24 Andrea Malvasi (2005-06-23) June 23, 2005outside hitter
90 Tommaso Rinaldi (2001-11-09) November 9, 2001outside hitter
Head coach: Alberto Giuliani
Assistant: Sebastian Carotti
Team roster, season 2021/2022
No. Name Date of birth Position
1 Bruno Rezende (C) (1986-07-02) July 2, 1986setter
3 Maarten van Garderen (1990-01-24) January 24, 1990outside hitter
5 Riccardo Gollini (2000-07-05) July 5, 2000libero
6 Giovanni Sanguinetti (2000-04-14) April 14, 2000middle blocker
7 Dragan Stanković (1985-10-18) October 18, 1985middle blocker
8 Swan N'Gapeth (1992-01-09) January 9, 1992outside hitter
9 Earvin N'Gapeth (1991-02-12) February 12, 1991outside hitter
10 Lorenzo Sala (2002-01-01) January 1, 2002opposite
14 Nimir Abdel-Aziz (1992-02-05) February 5, 1992opposite
16 Nicola Salsi (1997-09-13) September 13, 1997setter
17 Yoandy Leal (1988-08-31) August 31, 1988outside hitter
18 Daniele Mazzone (1992-06-04) June 4, 1992middle blocker
21 Salvatore Rossini (1986-07-13) July 13, 1986libero
Head coach: Andrea Giani
Team roster, season 2020/2021
Leo Shoes Modena
No. Name Date of birth Position
1 Tommaso Rinaldi(2001-11-09)November 9, 2001outside hitter
2 Luis Estrada Mazorra(2000-03-10)March 10, 2000outside hitter
3 Nicola Iannelli(1999-03-03)March 3, 1999libero
4 Nemanja Petric(1987-07-28)July 28, 1987outside hitter
5 Paolo Porro(2001-10-27)October 27, 2001setter
6 Giovanni Sanguinetti(2000-04-14)April 14, 2000middle blocker
7 Dragan Stanković(1985-10-18)October 18, 1985middle blocker
10 Jenia Grebennikov(1990-08-13)August 13, 1990libero
11 Micah Christenson (C)(1993-05-08)May 8, 1993setter
13 Moritz Karlitzek(1996-08-12)August 12, 1996outside hitter
14 Luca Vettori(1991-04-26)April 26, 1991opposite
15 Elia Bossi(1994-08-15)August 15, 1994middle blocker
17 Paul Buchegger(1996-03-04)March 4, 1996opposite
18 Daniele Mazzone(1992-06-04)June 4, 1992middle blocker
19 Daniele Lavia(1999-11-04)November 4, 1999outside hitter
Head coach: Andrea Giani
Assistant: Sebastian Carotti
Team roster, season 2019/2020
Leo Shoes Modena
No. Name Date of birth Position
1 Matthew Anderson(1987-04-18)April 18, 1987outside hitter
2 Luis Estrada Mazorra(2000-03-10)March 10, 2000outside hitter
3 Nicola Iannelli(1999-03-03)March 3, 1999libero
5 Andrea Truocchio(2000-02-10)February 10, 2000middle blocker
6 Giovanni Sanguinetti(2000-04-14)April 14, 2000middle blocker
7 Salvatore Rossini(1986-07-13)July 13, 1986libero
8 Giulio Pinali(1997-04-02)April 2, 1997outside hitter
9 Ivan Zaytsev(1988-10-02)October 2, 1988opposite
10 Bartosz Bednorz(1994-07-25)July 25, 1994outside hitter
11 Micah Christenson(1993-05-08)May 8, 1993setter
12 Maxwell Holt(1987-03-12)March 12, 1987middle blocker
15 Elia Bossi(1994-08-15)August 15, 1994middle blocker
16 Nicola Salsi(1997-09-13)September 13, 1997setter
18 Daniele Mazzone(1992-06-04)June 4, 1992middle blocker
20 Matteo Lusetti(2002-08-06)August 6, 2002setter
23 Tommaso Rinaldi(2001-11-09)November 9, 2001outside hitter
90 Denis Kaliberda(1990-06-24)June 24, 1990outside hitter
Head coach: Andrea Giani
Assistant: Luca Cantagalli
Team roster, season 2018/2019
Azimut Leo Shoes Modena
No. Name Date of birth Position
1 Bartosz Bednorz(1994-07-25)July 25, 1994outside hitter
2 Kevin Tillie(1990-11-02)November 2, 1990outside hitter
3 Lorenzo Benvenuti(1994-07-08)July 8, 1994libero
4 Marco Pierotti(1996-06-19)June 19, 1996outside hitter
5 Luuc Van der Ent(1997-07-27)July 27, 1997middle blocker
7 Salvatore Rossini(1986-07-13)July 13, 1986libero
8 Giulio Pinali(1997-04-02)April 2, 1997outside hitter
9 Ivan Zaytsev(1988-10-02)October 2, 1988opposite
10 Jennings Franciskovic(1995-05-10)May 10, 1995setter
11 Micah Christenson(1993-05-08)May 8, 1993setter
12 Maxwell Holt(1987-03-12)March 12, 1987middle blocker
13 Simone Anzani(1992-02-24)February 24, 1992middle blocker
14 Andrea Truocchio(2000-02-10)February 10, 2000middle blocker
16 Matteo Lusetti(2002-08-06)August 6, 2002setter
17 Tine Urnaut(1988-09-03)September 3, 1988outside hitter
18 Daniele Mazzone(1992-06-04)June 4, 1992middle blocker
24 Denys Kaliberda(1990-06-24)June 24, 1990outside hitter
25 Wessel Keemink(1993-05-29)May 29, 1993setter
Head coach: Julio Velasco
Assistant: Luca Cantagalli
Team roster, season 2017/2018
Azimut Modena
No. Name Date of birth Position
1 Bruno Rezende(1986-07-02)July 2, 1986setter
2 Jennings Franciskovic(1995-05-10)May 10, 1995setter
3 Andrea Argenta(1996-06-01)June 1, 1996outside hitter
4 Maarten Van Garderen(1990-01-24)January 24, 1990outside hitter
6 Federico Tosi(1991-09-18)September 18, 1991libero
7 Salvatore Rossini(1986-07-13)July 13, 1986libero
8 Swan N'Gapeth(1992-01-09)January 9, 1992outside hitter
9 Earvin N'Gapeth(1991-02-12)February 12, 1991outside hitter
10 Giulio Sabbi(1989-08-10)August 10, 1989opposite
11 Elia Bossi(1994-08-15)August 15, 1994middle blocker
12 Maxwell Holt(1987-03-12)March 12, 1987middle blocker
14 Alberto Marra(1998-11-18)November 18, 1998middle blocker
15 Giulio Pinali(1997-04-02)April 2, 1997outside hitter
16 Chono Penchev(1994-12-11)December 11, 1994setter
17 Tine Urnaut(1988-09-03)September 3, 1988outside hitter
18 Daniele Mazzone(1992-06-04)June 4, 1992middle blocker
Head coach: Radostin Stoytchev
Assistant: Dario Simoni
Team roster, season 2016/2017
Azimut Modena
No. Name Date of birth Position
4 Nemanja Petrić (C)(1987-07-28)July 28, 1987outside hitter
5 Santiago Orduna(1983-08-31)August 31, 1983setter
6 Jacopo Massari(1988-06-02)June 2, 1988outside hitter
7 Salvatore Rossini(1986-07-13)July 13, 1986libero
8 Swan N'Gapeth(1992-01-09)January 9, 1992outside hitter
9 Earvin N'Gapeth(1991-02-12)February 12, 1991outside hitter
10 Kevin Le Roux(1989-05-11)May 11, 1989 middle blocker
11 Matteo Piano(1990-10-24)October 24, 1990middle blocker
12 Maxwell Holt(1987-03-12)March 12, 1987middle blocker
13 Dragan Travica(1986-08-28)August 28, 1986setter
14 Samuel Onwelo(1997-04-18)April 18, 1997opposite
16 Nicola Salsi(1997-09-13)September 13, 1997setter
17 Luca Vettori(1991-04-26)April 26, 1991opposite
Head coach: Lorenzo Tubertini
Team roster, season 2015/2016
DHL Modena
No. Name Date of birth Position
1 Bruno Rezende (C)(1986-07-02)July 2, 1986setter
2 Fabio Donadio(1988-04-30)April 30, 1988libero
4 Nemanja Petrić(1987-07-28)July 28, 1987outside hitter
5 Pietro Soli(1994-09-15)September 15, 1994setter
6 Alberto Casadei(1984-02-06)February 6, 1984opposite
7 Salvatore Rossini(1986-07-13)July 13, 1986libero
8 Luca Sartoretti(1995-11-20)November 20, 1995outside hitter
9 Earvin N'Gapeth(1991-02-12)February 12, 1991outside hitter
10 Miloš Nikić(1986-03-31)March 31, 1986outside hitter
11 Matteo Piano(1990-10-24)October 24, 1990middle blocker
12 Elia Bossi(1994-08-15)August 15, 1994middle blocker
14 Samuel Onwelo(1997-04-18)April 18, 1997opposite
15 Thiago Sens(1985-07-02)July 2, 1985outside hitter
16 Lucas Saatkamp(1986-03-06)March 6, 1986middle blocker
17 Luca Vettori(1991-04-26)April 26, 1991opposite
18 Nicholas Sighinolfi(1994-08-11)August 11, 1994middle blocker
Head coach: Angelo Lorenzetti
Assistant: Lorenzo Tubertini

05Notable players

The stars indicate Volleyball Hall of Fame inductees.

1980-1983 Andrea Anastasi
2012-2013 Michele Baranowicz
1969-1973 Antonio Barone
1985-1989
2005-2007
Davide Bellini
1985-1990 Lorenzo Bernardi
1983-1990
1993-1994
Franco Bertoli
2000-2003 Vigor Bovolenta
1994-1998 Marco Bracci
1980-1990
1993-1998
2000-2004
Luca Cantagalli
1971-1981
1984-1986
1994-1995
Francesco Dall'Olio
1986-1987 Ferdinando De Giorgi
2001-2003 Andrea Gardini
1996-2008 Andrea Giani
1968-1978 Rodolfo Giovenzana
1981-1990
1998-2000
Andrea Lucchetta
2005-2006 Luigi Mastrangelo
1968-1980 Paolo Montorsi
1968-1975 Andrea Nannini
1990-1994
2000-2006
Damiano Pippi
1980-1984 Stefano Recine
1996-1997
2005-2009
Andrea Sartoretti
1968-1981 Stefano Sibani
2003-2005
2008-2009
2017
Dragan Travica
1986-1990
1994-2000
Fabio Vullo
2018-2020 Ivan Zaytsev
2017-2022 Daniele Mazzone
2007-2012/ Ángel Dennis
1982-1986 Esteban Martinez
1990-1993 Hugo Conte
1993-2000 Juan Cuminetti
1990-1993 Waldo Kantor
1984-1986
1987-1988
Raúl Quiroga
2010-2012 Yury Berezhko
1998-2002 Aleksey Kazakov
1997-1998 Evgeni Mitkov
1993-1995 Ruslan Olikhver
2000-2004 Roman Yakovlev
1994-2000 Bas van de Goor
2000-2002 Guido Görtzen
2008-2011 Wytze Kooistra
2009-2012 Dick Kooy
2021-2022 Maarten van Garderen
2021-2022 Nimir Abdel-Aziz
2013-2014 Zbigniew Bartman
1975-1977 Edward Skorek
2013-2014 Lukas Kampa
1968-1970 Josef Musil
2004-2005 Jan Štokr
1978-1980 Bernard Rajzman
2003-2007 Luiz Felipe Fonteles
1992-1994 Maurício Lima
2002-2003
2004-2005
Dante Amaral
2005-2008 Ricardo Garcia
2006-2007 Nalbert Bitencourt
2006-2009 Murilo Endres
2006-2009 Sidão
2007-2008 André Heller
2007-2008 André Nascimento
2021-2022 Yoandy Leal
2011
2014-2016
2017-2018
2021,
Bruno Rezende
2015-2018
2021,
Earvin N'Gapeth
2020-2021 Jenia Grebennikov
2011-2012 Viktor Yosifov
2011-2012
2019-2020
Matt Anderson
2000-2004 Lloy Ball
2008-2009 David Lee
2016-2020 Maxwell Holt
2018-2021 Micah Christenson
1988-1990 Doug Partie
2012-2015 Uroš Kovačević
2014-2017
2020-2021
Nemanja Petrić
Modena Volley logo (2013-2014).
Modena Volley logo (2013-2014).

06Presidents

1966-1993Giuseppe Panini
1993-2005Giovanni Vandelli
2005-2007Antonio Barone
2007-2012Giuliano Grani
2012-2013Pietro Peia
2013Gino Gibertini
2013-2022Catia Pedrini
2022-PresentGiulia Gabana

07Head coaches

Name Nationality Years
Franco Anderlini 1966-1975
Edward Skorek 1975-1978
Gian Paolo Guidetti 1978-1983
Andrea Nannini 1983-1985
Julio Velasco 1985-1989
Vladimir Janković 1989-1990
Massimo Barbolini 1990-1992
Bernardo Rezende 1992-1993
Daniele Bagnoli 1993-1997[a]
Franco Bertoli 1996-1997[a]
Francesco Dall'Olio 1997-1998
Bruno Bagnoli 1998-2000[b]
Franco Bertoli 2000[b]
Daniele Bagnoli 2000-2001
Angelo Lorenzetti 2001-2004[c]
Maurizio Menarini 2004[c]
Julio Velasco 2004-2006
Bruno Bagnoli 2006-2007
Andrea Giani 2007-2008[d]
Emanuele Zanini 2008-2009[d]
Silvano Prandi 2009-2011[e]
Daniele Bagnoli 2011-2012[e]
Angelo Lorenzetti 2012-2016
Roberto Piazza 2016-2017[f]
Lorenzo Tubertini 2017[f]
Radostin Stoychev 2017-2018
Julio Velasco 2018-2019
Andrea Giani 2019-2023
Francesco Petrella 2023-Present

08Kit manufacturer

The table below shows the history of kit providers for the Modena team.

Period Kit provider
1985-1989 Best Company
1989-2003 Asics
2003-2005 A-Line
2005-2017 Macron
2017-2021 Erreà
2021-current Ninesquared
Watch videos about Modena VolleyExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article Modena Volley, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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