Italian giant Cucine Lube Civitanova continues to follow a clearly defined strategy for rejuvenating its squad, and is on the verge of signing one of the most intriguing young opposites in Europe.
According tovolleyball.itand the columnIl volley mercato, the "red-and-whites" are close to signing Ukrainian international Maksym Tonkonoh, who played last season for second-division Essence Hotels Fano, and is already attracting attention with physique and potential characteristic of top-level players.

Player Profile

• Nationality: Ukraine

• Position: Opposite

• Born: October 22, 2007 (18 years old)

• Place of Birth: Dnipro

• Height: 214 cm

• Attack Reach: 370 cm

• Block Reach: 355 cm

• Dominant Hand: Right

With these parameters, Tonkonoh falls into the elite category of physically dominant opposites – a profile that Lube traditionally uses as a key element in its offensive system.

National Profile and Development

Maksym Tonkonoh is already making a serious impression with his performances for Ukraine's national teams. The youth team's opposite hitter was among the team's top scorers during the U21 World Championship in 2025, solidifying his role as a key scorer.
At club level, the 18-year-old player is in his second year of competing in Italy, where he plays for a Serie A2 team – the second tier of the local championship. Although his team finished the season in 12th place, just above the relegation zone, Tonkonoh managed to establish himself as one of the most effective players in the squad.
In 2024, he was among the leaders of Ukraine's junior national team, but is currently in a significantly more competitive environment – the extended roster of the men's national team, where he must fight for playing time and a spot in the rotation.
An interesting detail about his physical parameters is that, with his 214 centimeters, Tonkonoh has the potential to become the tallest player not only in the Ukrainian national team, surpassing captain Yuriy Semeniuk (210 cm), but also one of the tallest players in the Nations League, where currently the leading heights are around 211 cm.

Part of the new wave

The recruitment of an 18-year-old player with such characteristics clearly shows the direction in which the club is developing. Lube is betting on players who are yet to reach the peak of their potential.
The Bulgarian setter Simeon Nikolov (born on November 24, 2006), who at 19 has already made the transition to the men's elite, also fits into this new generation. Although in different positions, similar profiles outline the trend – an increasingly early entry of young talents into top-tier volleyball.

The market in motion

The transfer market in Italy remains active:

• Verona is close to a new contract with Francesco Sani

• Uroš Planišić is targeted by ACH Volley Ljubljana

• Modena is tracking young Mattia Orioli

Against this backdrop, Lube continues to invest in prospects, not just established names. If the deal is finalized, Civitanova will add a player with exceptional physical attributes and serious development potential to its squad – further proof of the club's long-term vision.

photo:volleyballworld.com