21/05/2019 10:00
San Marino announce rosters for GSSE
News from the National Federations
San Marino, May 21, 2019. Six days to the start of the 2019 Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) and San Marino have confirmed the names of their players due to contest the Volleyball and Beach Volleyball competitions that will get underway on May 28 in Montenegro.
Men’s Volleyball: Marco Rondelli and Matteo Lombardi (setters); Giuliano Vanucci, Elia Lazzarini, Matteo Bernardi and Matteo Zamagni (middle blockers); Andrea Lazzarini, Lorenzo Benvenuti, Nicolas Farinelli, Yan Kiva, Francesco De Luigi (spikers); Davide Bacciocchi (libero).
Women’s Volleyball: Valeria Benvenuti, Allegra Piscaglia (setters); Elisa Vanucci, Rachele Stimac, Giulia Tomassucci, Federica Tura (middle blockers); Cristina Bacciocchi, Chiara Parenti, Anita Magalotti, Elena Para (spikers); Elisa Ridolfi and Alice Petre-Paoloni (liberi).
Beach Volleyball: Matteo Zonzini/Paolo Paganelli.
The men’s Volleyball competition will run as a single round robin tournament featuring six teams – Montenegro, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Monaco, Iceland and San Marino. “Everything is pretty clear, at least on paper. Montenegro are definitely playing at a much higher level than all other teams,” said San Marino coach Stefano Mascetti (pictured). “We have to focus on ourselves and improve our game, knowing that we have a young team and we are working for the years to come. We will be playing opponents that are stronger than us - both physically and technically. We will take it one match at a time.” San Marino will play Cyprus on May 28 – with the programme including matches against Iceland, Monaco, Montenegro and Luxembourg in the following days.
The women’s Volleyball tournament is a single round robin featuring six teams as well – Montenegro, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Iceland, Liechtenstein and San Marino. San Marino will play Luxembourg on May 28 before taking on Iceland, Montenegro, Cyprus and Liechtenstein in the following days. “Montenegro are the clear favourites of our competition as well,” said San Marino head coach Loris Polo. “We know a little bit about Luxembourg since we saw them playing in another tournament. We have asked all teams to send us some videos but the only ones to respond have been Montenegro this far. As I said previously, much depends on the eventual rosters and how many naturalised players the other countries will take to the Games.”
The Volleyball competition will be taking place in Budva in an arena hosting up to 1,850 fans.
As for Beach Volleyball, the Sammarinese men’s team will start their campaign in Pool B along with Andorra, Monaco and Malta. Teams from Montenegro, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Cyprus compete in Pool A. The top two teams from each pool will play crossed semis and the eventual medal matches. Teams finishing third and fourth in the pool phase will play for places 5-6 and 7-8, respectively. “Montenegro are the obvious favourites together with Andorra and Liechtenstein that finished on the podium two years ago,” said San Marino head coach Matteo Galli. “We do not know that much about Monaco and Cyprus, but they seem to be strong too. We will see.”
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