Cucine Lube (Civitanova) officially presented its squad for the new season in the Italian SuperLega. Over 700 fans filled the "Eurosuole Forum" on the evening of October 12 to welcome the volleyball players, among whom are Bulgarian internationals Aleksandar and Simeon Nikolov.
The event took place just a day after Lube's triumph in the Jesi Volley Cup, where the team defeated Allianz (Milan) with a score of 3:1 (25:23, 29:31, 25:21, 25:14), and Simeon Nikolov was chosen as the most valuable player in the final.
The ceremony was hosted by Marco Moscatelli and former Italian international Giulia Pisani.
In addition to presenting the squad and coaching staff, the club also showcased its new Zeus kits.
The main message from the management was clear – Lube must fight for the highest honors.
Club owner Fabio Giulianelli emphasized the winning mentality and the necessity for every detail to be subordinated to the ultimate goal.
"Lube is not afraid to state that it only wants the maximum. To achieve it, you have to believe in it. Every action must be directed towards the goal. Only those who pay attention to every detail and are obsessed with victory achieve great results. No excuses. Losing is not an option – this is Lube," said Giulianelli. He expressed hope that the volleyball team would contribute to the festive year of 2027, when the Lube company will celebrate its 60th anniversary.
Marco Podraščanin, who is starting his first season as the club's sports director after the end of his competitive career, received a particularly warm welcome. The former Serbian international did not hide his high expectations for the current squad. "This team has the potential to take the final step that we are missing," Podraščanin stated to the applause of the fans.
Head coach Giampaolo Medei also highlighted the qualities of the selection but warned that they must be proven on the court.
"We must succeed in transforming the qualities of the group into a high level of play. The club has done an excellent job both technically and humanly. One of our first goals is to have a very strong regular season," commented Medei.
Aleksandar and Simeon Nikolov also had the opportunity to address the fans. The two Bulgarian internationals expressed their desire to delight the supporters with the team's performance in the upcoming campaign.
Captain Fabio Balaso called on the public to support Lube, while Mattia Bottolo spoke about the national team and the importance of the right mindset. Giovanni Gargiulo brought cheer by promising to cook for the fans in the hall if the season turns out to be unforgettable.
During the ceremony, attention was also paid to the club's academy. The youth teams, led by Federico Belardinelli and Alessandro Paparoni, were presented.
President Simona Sileoni emphasized that in its 37th season, the club continues to invest in both the representative squad and the development of young volleyball players.
After the successful performance in Jesi, Lube is set to begin its official matches. On October 17, Giampaolo Medei's team will visit Rana (Verona) in the first round of the Italian SuperLega.
photos:lubevolley
