The Next Big Thing in Volleyball: Paolo Porro
Feature
20-year-old, Italy’s Paolo Porro is one of the most promising setters not only on the Apennine peninsula, but on the inernational Volleyball stage as well. Porro, who is a player of Allianz Powervolley Milano, has just won the title at the maiden CEV U22 Volleyball European Championship Men. Furthermore, he was chosen for MVP of the tournament.
Paolo didn’t disappoint last year either - when Italy co-hosted the Worlds U21 together with Bulgaria, the Italians were crowned champions, and Paolo finished as Best Setter (with success rate of 29.07%).
Playing in the underage national teams of Italy, contributing with this generation of players, Paolo has proven himself as a pivotal player on the court, leading his teammates towards these two important titles.
Watch out for Porro as he might very well be The Next Big Thing in Volleyball!
The Beginning
A native of Genoa Voltri, Paolo remembers having Volleyball in his life since he was very young. Both his parents used to play the game, and, to no surprise, their son used to go watching their matches. Porro takes up on the sport, and there is no looking back, as the young boy basically falls in love with Volleyball, spending each free minute on the court.
Paolo Porro“I started playing in the club of my village and I liked it so much, that I used to spend whole days, playing. Volleyball - all day long!”
Going Pro
For the young setter, there wasn’t a single moment when he decided Volleyball can become his professional future. Rather, it was “a set of events”, as he recalls, that led him on the path of a professional Volleyball player.
“ Let's say it was not a decision, but a set of events, including the national team, that allowed me to have opportunities in this world. I always liked the idea of being part of it,” Paolo says.
The National Team
Paolo is part of the young generation of Italian of players, born between 2000 and 2002, already includes the names of promising players as Tommaso Rinaldi, Tommaso Stefani, Damiano Catania, Nicola Cianciotta and big star Alessandro Michieletto among others. As they have always pointed out, in this national team, the feeling is more of a family than just teammates. It surely worked out good for them, as they are now the reigning World and European champions. In both cases, Porro stood out with his skills on the court. In Tarnów, Poland, where the #EuroVolleyU22M took place, he was rewarded for his efforts, being named MVP of the tournament.”
Paolo Porro“Winning this European championship was a great satisfaction and a great sense of continuity that this group has always had, even with all the difficulties we have had this year between Covid and injuries ... Of course, winning the MVP award was an important milestone for me”.
The club - Allianz Powervolley Milano
In his career on a club level, Paolo has been part of Fipav Veneto U19Italy, Volley Treviso, Leo Shoes Modena, and since 2021, he is on the roster of Allianz Powervolley Milano. Competing at this young age in one of the strongest leagues - the Italian one, for gives Paolo a lot in terms of experience.
Paolo Porro“In the next year, I will continue to play in Allianz Milano - a club that I thank very much for the trust they have placed in me. I feel very well there! One of our goals for the next season will be to reach the Final 4 of the Italian Cup.”
The Inspiration & The Goal
To Paolo, there is a connection between inspiration and goals.
“My goal is to have fun and try finding the right inspiration year after year. I want to achieve my goals with the club, and to have the right alchemy with teammates.”