US international and Paris 2024 Olympian Taylor Averill is another highlight of the solid line-up of incoming transfers for Italy’s Mint Vero Volley Monza, announced by the SuperLega Credem Banca 2024 silver medallists this off-season. Following the stellar acquisitions of outside hitter Osmany Juantorena and middle blocker Leandro Mosca Volleyball World wrote about in early June, Vero Volley has added several new names to its roster for the 2024-2025 season. In addition to the American middle blocker, head coach Massimo Eccheli will also rely on the services of Luka Marttila of Finland, Ibrahim Lawani of France, Woojin Lee of Korea and Italians Matteo Picchio and Filippo Mancini.

32-year-old Averill arrives at Monza from Poland’s Projekt Warsaw, the team that defeated Vero Volley in this year’s CEV Challenge Cup final.

“I am extremely happy to come to Vero Volley next season. I really wanted to return to Italy and Monza gave me this great opportunity. I can’t wait to get to work and meet my new teammates, as well as the warm crowd at the Opiquad Arena,” Averill told verovolley.com.

This will be the third Italian club the 2.01m-tall middle blocker has played for in his career so far. After his period with the University of Hawaii team in American college volleyball, Averill joined Kioene Padua in 2015 for two seasons and then spent a season with Revivre Milan. Following a few years of experience with clubs from France and Poland, Averill will return to the southern European country to rejoin the SuperLega this fall.

As a member of USA’s national team, Taylor Averill has collected three Volleyball Nations League medals in addition to a 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship bronze, a 2023 NORCECA Championship gold and a 2014 Pan American Cup silver, and now he is about to enjoy his first Olympic experience having been selected on coach John Speraw’s final 13-man roster for Paris 2024.

This way, as many as three Vero Volley athletes will chase their Olympic dreams at the men’s volleyball event in the French capital, as Brazilian setter Fernando Kreling and Canadian opposite Arthur Szwarc will also defend their national team colours in Paris.

21-year-old Finnish international Luka Marttila returns to Vero Volley from France’s Montpellier Herault Volley where he spent the most part of last season. The outside hitter competed for the Monza club in 2022-2023.

“I'm very happy to wear the Monza jersey again, after having played a season full of satisfaction in France’s Montpellier. I can't wait to get to work, meet my new teammates and take to the court trying to achieve all the objectives,” Marttila said.

French opposite Ibrahim Lawani was also announced by Vero Volley as another returning player, although the 22-year-old athlete never really left for another club. He was part of the team roster last season until he dropped out prematurely in November due to a shoulder injury.

“I can't wait to return to performing at the highest level,” Lawani said.

19-year-old Woojin Lee is not completely new to the Vero Volley club either. Last season the Dream Team outside hitter of the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U19 World Championship, joined the team straight out of high school as an intern, but now he will be an official part of Massimo Eccheli’s squad.

Another 19-year-old talent, Italian setter Filippo Mancini, will also enjoy his first SuperLega experience after transferring to Vero Volley from Consar Ravenna, while 24-year-old libero Matteo Picchio will return to Italy’s top division after competing for Pool Libertas Cantu in Serie A2 for a couple of seasons.

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