AGIL Volley is an Italian professional women's volleyball club based in Novara and currently playing in the Serie A1.

Igor Gorgonzola Novara
Full nameSocietà Sportiva Dilettantistica Agil Volley ssd a r.l.
Short nameIgor, AGIL
Founded1984; 40 years ago (1984)
GroundPalaIgor, Novara, Italy
(Capacity: 5,000)
ChairmanGiovanna Saporiti
Head coachItaly Lorenzo Bernardi
CaptainItaly Fransesca Bosio
LeagueFIPAV Women's Serie A1
WebsiteClub home page
Uniforms
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Previous names

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Due to sponsorship, the club have competed under the following names:

  • AGIL Trecate (1984–1999)
  • AGIL Volley Trecate (1999–2001)
  • Asystel Novara (2001–2003)
  • AGIL Volley Trecate (2003–2012)
  • Igor Gorgonzola Novara (2012–present)

History

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The club was founded in 1984 as AGIL Volley and was based in Trecate. The club name is an acronym for Amicizia, Gioia, Impegno, Lealtà (friendship, joy, commitment, loyalty) and originally it started as a youth centre designed to help youngsters develop together through sport. The project grew over the years and investment was made to a build sports complex with a beach volleyball field and a multi-purpose sports facility for volleyball, futsal and basketball.[1]

After spending its first years competing in regional tournaments, in 1989 the club started moving through the Italian lower leagues. By the end of the 1990s it was making good progress playing in the Serie A2 until it struggled in the 1998–99 season and was relegated to Serie B1. As four teams renounced to play the Serie A2 in the 1999–2000 season, the club avoided relegation. During that season a new approach was made, with head coach Luciano Pedullà opting to prepare a team of young players with professionalism and commitment to secure investment for the future. The club was promoted to the Serie A1 (highest level) at the end of the 2000–01 season.[1]

Ahead of the 2001–02 season, the club moved its base from Trecate to Novara and Asystel became its main sponsor with club being renamed Asystel Novara. In its first season at the Serie A1, the club was runner up after reaching the playoff finals. In the following season it again reached the playoff finals, finishing second. The club made its debut in European competitions by winning the 2002–03 CEV Cup.[1] At the conclusion of the season despite the two consecutive second places in the league, the European title and a guaranteed spot to play the CEV Champions League in the 2003–04 season, the club decided to focus on youth teams. It relocated to Trecate, revived its old name AGIL Volley and conceded its Serie A1 licence and the professional volleyball department to Asystel who established a new team called Asystel Volley. The licence concession meant AGIL was back to the Serie C of the Italian league.[1][2]

Ten seasons later, in 2013 the club gain promotion back to the Serie A1 and relocated to Novara.[2] In 2014–15 the club won the Italian Cup for the first time.[3] The first Serie A1 title came in 2016–17.[4]

Team

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The following is the roster for the 2024–2025 season.[5]

Number Player Position Height (m) Birth date
3   Francesca Villani Outside Hitter 1.87 (1995-05-30) 30 May 1995 (age 29)
4   Fransesca Bosio (c) Setter 1.80 (1997-08-07) 7 August 1997 (age 27)
5   Valentina Bartolucci Setter 1.81 (2003-05-20) 20 May 2003 (age 21)
6   Giulia De Nardi Libero 1.71 (1994-04-23) 23 April 1994 (age 30)
8   Eleonora Fersino Libero 1.69 (2000-01-24) 24 January 2000 (age 24)
9   Lina Alsmeier Outside Hitter 1.89 (2000-06-29) 29 June 2000 (age 24)
10   Mayu Ishikawa Outside Hitter 1.74 (2000-05-14) 14 May 2000 (age 24)
11   Taylor Mims Opposite 1.93 (1997-08-08) 8 August 1997 (age 27)
12   Hanna Orthmann Outside Hitter 1.88 (1998-10-03) 3 October 1998 (age 26)
13   Sara Bonifacio Middle Blocker 1.86 (1996-07-03) 3 July 1996 (age 28)
14   Maja Aleksić Middle Blocker 1.88 (1997-06-06) 6 June 1997 (age 27)
15   Anja Mazej Libero 1.70 (2000-01-04) 4 January 2000 (age 24)
16   Alessia Mazzaro Middle Blocker 1.85 (1998-09-19) 19 September 1998 (age 26)
17   Tatiana Tolok Outside Hitter 1.92 (2003-03-21) 21 March 2003 (age 21)
19   Vita Akimova Opposite 1.97 (2002-07-16) 16 July 2002 (age 22)
24   Federica Squarcini Middle Blocker 1.83 (2000-09-24) 24 September 2000 (age 24)

Honours

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National competitions

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2014–15, 2017–18, 2018–19
2016–17
2017–18

International competitions

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2018–19
2002–03, 2023–24

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Storia e scopi". AGIL Volley (in Italian). Archived from the original on 13 December 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b Tolotti, Marco (21 April 2013). "La favola di suor Giò che riporta Novara in serie A1 di pallavolo". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  3. ^ "37^ Coppa Italia Serie A1: Novara scoppia di gioia, il trofeo è suo. Una grande Modena cade 3-1 dopo 2 ore di emozioni. Sold out al 105 Stadium di Rimini". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). 1 March 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Play Off Samsung Gear Volley Cup: la Igor Gorgonzola è Campione d'Italia!". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). 11 May 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Igor Gorgonzola Novara Team 2024–25". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Igor Gorgonzola Novara Team 2023–24". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Igor Gorgonzola Novara Team 2022–23". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Igor Gorgonzola Novara Team 2021–22". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Igor Gorgonzola Novara Team 2020–21". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Igor Gorgonzola Novara Team 2019–20". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  11. ^ "Igor Gorgonzola Novara Team 2018–19". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  12. ^ "Igor Gorgonzola Novara Team 2017–18". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Igor Gorgonzola Novara Team 2016–17". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 17 July 2024.
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