Four-time European University Champions.
CUS Bologna begins its pursuit of a medal tomorrow in Budapest. The women’s volleyball team, coached by Leonardo Palladino, will face Yasar University—a very dangerous Turkish side—tomorrow at 2:05 p.m.
The red-and-whites know they’ll have to dig deep once again. But they have prepared carefully and thoroughly. And, above all, they’ve managed to build a united and tight-knit group that will try, tomorrow, to bring another success to the Alma Mater Studiorum by reaching the semifinals.
The team: Federica Piacentini, Sofia Taiani, Federica Ghiberti, Sofia Ceroni, Sofia Fusaroli, Rebecca Laporta, Sofia Migliorini, Stefania Bernabè, Sara Fontemaggi, Erika Bendoni, Arianna Gambini, Giulia Galletti, Irene Carnevali. Coach: Leonardo Palladino. Assistant coach: Ilaria Gaiani. Staff: Matteo Galli, Alessandro Vitti, Agostino Briatico.
Group stage matches:
CUS Bologna–Tartu 3–0 (25–16, 25–19, 25–18)
CUS Bologna–Wageningen 3–0 (25–16, 25–15, 25–13)
CUS Bologna–Corvinus University of Budapest 3–0 (25–17, 25–17, 25–20)
There’s one thing that all four of CUS Bologna’s victories at the EUSA European University Volleyball Championships have in common. As the team prepares to play Yasar University—a Turkish side—tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. in Budapest, with a semifinal spot on the line, it’s worth noting that Leonardo Palladino has always been on the bench in recent seasons.
Together with the CUS Bologna management, Leo has not only built winning teams—thanks also to earlier, careful player selections—but also groups of friends. And speaking of friends, we can’t overlook the staff that has always supported Palladino: assistant coach Ilaria Gaiani (a clear example of team spirit—she was once a player for CUS Bologna herself, before starting a new path after reaching her… academic age limit), along with Matteo Galli, Agostino Briatico, and Alessandro Vitti.
