At the same time in Verona, at the Pala Agsm AIM, Rana Verona will entertain the team that eliminated them in last season’s playoffs, Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza. Verona, who finished in seventh place, will once again rely on Slovenia’s Rok Mozic and Mali’s Noumory Keita to deliver the points, but now they will be fed by magical American setter Micah Christenson. Fourth-placed Gas Sales have parted ways with some of the club’s stars from last season, but with world champion Gianluca Galassi and mighty Cuban Robertlandy Simon among those who stayed on the squad, they should still be a team to watch.
One more game will be played at 20:30 (18:30) on Monday and it will feature the debut of SuperLega rookies MA Acqua San Bernardo Cuneo, starring non other than legendary Italian opposite Ivan Zaytsev. They will visit Sonepar Padova Padua at the Kioene Arena. Padova finished the previous season in eighth place. They have now strengthened their squad with Bulgarian World Championship silver medalist Boris Nachev, among others.
Itas Trentino Trento will start the defense of their 2025 title on Tuesday at 20:30 (18:30) with an away match at Cisterna Volley. Along with established stars like Alessandro Michieletto, Daniele Lavia, Riccardo Sbertoli and USA’s Gabriel Garcia, the champions have also attracted French opposite Theo Faure to shine on the squad. Faure’s previous team, Cisterna, who finished ninth last season, has signed in another international standout, Dutch middle blocker Fabian Plak.
