Winners crowned at Italian Tour stop in Lorica following dominant displays

The Snow Volleyball National Tour organised by the Italian Volleyball Federation (FIPAV) started this past weekend for the second straight year in idyllic Lorica, in the southern region of Calabria, where the event promoters did set up two courts at an altitude above 2,000 m and the players could perform under ideal sunny weather conditions. 

The women’s competition ended with the triumph of the trio Ilaria Lucia Turano, Federica Tonon, and Cristiana Parenzan. Tonon and Parenzan, who have a wealth of experience in international and domestic competitions, and their partner Turano completed their march with a perfect record of five wins in as many matches that they played in Lorica, without dropping a single set. Their opponents in the grand finale were Ivana Fazzari, Chiara Gentile, and Milena Ruggia. Two closely fought sets were played, with the more experienced Tonon, Parenzan, and Turano ultimately securing a 15-13, 15-12 win. Tonon claimed the prize for the Most Valuable Player of the competition. Giorgia Grandi, Anna Perri, and Nicole Di Fino claimed the last step of the podium following their 2-1 (15-9, 12-15, 15-6) victory in the bronze medal match vs Claudia Arpaia, Alba Adamo, Federica Coppola, and Giada Iannazzo. 

Enrico Lupatelli, Riccardo Moro, and Gaetano Vespero claimed top honours in the men’s tournament. They emulated the winners of the women’s tournament since they did not lose a single set either on the way to their triumph – even in the final where they played Massimo Di Risio, Filippo Galante, and Francesco Pignatelli, all from the Abruzzo region. These three players had triumphed in Lorica last year, but this time they ended up losing in straight sets (15-7, 15-13). Riccardo Moro was named MVP of the tournament. The team formed by Marco Oscar Zucco, Luigi Vasta, Gabriele Panetta, and Rocco Panetta finished in third place, as they won the ‘small final’ 2-1 (16-14, 6-15, 15-11), thus leaving Alessandro Santacroce, Andrea Baggetta, and Domenico Belcastro in fourth. 

Many high-profile officials attended the closing medal ceremony, thereby representing local and regional authorities, the Calabrian Volleyball family, sponsors, and partners. The next stop of the Italian Snow Volleyball Tour is scheduled for February 25 in Linguaglossa against the iconic backdrop of Mount Etna.