The preparation of the newcomer in the Italian Serie A2, Joy Volley Gioia del Colle, is entering its final stage, and Bulgarian internationals Vladimir Garkov and Boris Nachev continue to accumulate playing minutes before the start of the championship. Yesterday, the team from Gioia del Colle played its second friendly match during this preparation against Union Napoli in Naples. Garkov and Nachev were once again on the court, with the test being another step in Joy Volley's preparation for the club's debut season in Serie A2.
A few days earlier, Joy Volley recorded its first victory in the pre-season matches – 4:0 (25:22, 25:13, 25:20, 25:19) over BCC Tecbus Castellana Grotte, which is preparing for its participation in Serie A3.
The two Bulgarians started as regulars. Garkov was among the top scorers for the winners with 10 points, and Nachev finished with 4. The Bulgarian middle blocker also excelled from the serve in the second set, when Joy Volley quickly built an 8:2 lead and subsequently won the set with a decisive 25:13. The match with Castellana Grotte was Joy Volley's fifth test since the start of their preparation. Coach Francesco Denora Caporusso started with Pedron and Sabi on the setter-opposite diagonal, Garkov and Sete as outside hitters, Frumusel and Nachev in the middle, and Rafa as libero.
Yesterday's match with Union Napoli was the second between the two teams during this preparation. In the first match, played on September 23 in Gioia del Colle, the Neapolitans won 3:1 (22:25, 25:21, 25:22, 25:16), with Garkov and Nachev also starting as regulars.
In addition to his new team, Vladimir Garkov is entering the season in Italy with a changed look. After being clean-shaven last season in Saint-Nazaire, the outside hitter has now grown a beard and mustache – a change that is immediately noticeable in the latest photos from Joy Volley's preparation.

Less than two weeks remain until the start of the official matches, and the very first round of Serie A2 offers a significant Bulgarian accent. On October 18, Joy Volley, with Vladimir Garkov and Boris Nachev, will visit Essence Hotels Fano, where two other Bulgarian internationals play – setter Stoil Palev and outside hitter Denis Karyagin. Thus, the Serie A2 season will begin with a Bulgarian derby featuring four internationals on both sides of the net.

photos: Joy Volley