Italy’s under-22 men’s team qualified for the semi-finals of the European Category Championships, winning 3-1 against Portugal. After the defeat against France, Vincenzo Fanizza’s Azzurrini beat the Lusitani in four sets, holding well in reception and showing high-level volleyball. In the sextet that relaunched the group’s ambitions there is also the Cisterna Volley setter Alessandro Fanizza, lined up in the control room diagonally with Barotto (best scorer with 28 points scored). The semi-final, scheduled for Saturday at 3pm, will see Italy face Poland. For the athlete native of Ostuni it was the second match as a starter in this group stage, after the positive debut match against the Czech Republic which ended with the Italians winning 3-1.
“Ours has been a very long summer so far, which began in May – says Fanizza, who will be in his first year in the Super League next season with the Cisterna Volley shirt – We have worked a lot but we are seeing the results, aware that the best is yet to come come. Now a beautiful semi-final awaits us to face and experience. Our group is united, we have known each other for years and we all strongly wanted to reach this goal. After the last World Cup there was a desire for revenge, with the latest results giving value to a group that saw three of our teammates take part in the next Olympics (Bovolenta, Laurenzano, Luca Porro)”. In a year in which Fanizza was the protagonist between A2 and the national team, now the first season in the Super League with Cisterna Volley is on the horizon: “Slowly I am growing – continues the 192cm tall setter – In recent months I have been playing high-level matches, the three matches in our group showed important values. The Italy shirt is a source of pride. Cisterna has an ambitious project, as a child I had two dreams: to be able to wear the blue shirt and reach the top flight. Over time I’m making them, always maintaining determination and humility, to try to give the fans and give myself new emotions in the future.”
