05/02/2021 11:00
Italy’s standout Leo Shoes MODENA featured in latest episode of ‘Pass the Pod’ series
Pass the Pod
Luxembourg, February 5, 2021. You may remember that Micha Hancock, the USA setter of Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA, passed the pod to another Italian team in the last episode of our series we released during the holiday season. Therefore, Leo Shoes MODENA are those to feature in the latest such chat joined by German outside hitter Moritz Karlitzek and their Organising Director Enrico Bertoni.
The city of Modena is some sort of real ‘Volleyball Mecca’, since the introduction of the Volleyball game in that area dates back to the years before the outbreak of World War II. Modena Volley has existed as such since 1966 after a number of Volleyball clubs merged to establish an organisation whose success throughout the decades knows almost no equals. As Enrico rightfully recalled with much pride, the club has seized the national league title as many as 12 times – to go with 12 national cup crowns and as many as four titles from the former CEV Champions Cup.
The list of honours is almost endless; however, Modena Volley would like to live in the present as well and to achieve further success. “Since 2013 the club has been under the ownership of Ms Catia Pedrini and has returned to be one of the top teams in Italy. What is most important for us off the Volleyball court is that we try to professionalise our structure and the management runs the club as a business,” Bertoni said. “We do not rely as much on the financial contribution of the actual owners, but rather on sponsorship, marketing, merchandising, etc.”
Modena Volley has a huge, passionate fan base and the players obviously miss the unique atmosphere one can feel at the iconic PalaPanini. “It is a difficult season for everyone, but especially for us, since we heavily rely on the income from tickets. However, we must remain confident that things will eventually improve with the pandemic and continue to fight as we have done this far,” Bertoni stressed.
Karlitzek is spending his first year in Modena, after a previous stint at another Italian club in Latina. Moritz joined in Modena his coach at the German national team, Italian Volleyball legend Andrea Giani. “It is obviously an honour to play for such a decorated club – with such a long history,” he says. “Moreover, by working with Giani, I know I can learn a lot from him and improve, since I have had this same experience on the national team as well.”
Leo Shoes MODENA had a perfect start to their #CLVolleyM campaign this past December when they claimed three wins in as many matches they contested in Roeselare, Belgium. “We have had to adjust to a different format of the competition but we are obviously happy that, under the current difficult circumstances, we can still play Champions League,” Karlitzek said. “We will play the next batch of matches here in Modena and we have a home advantage, even though we cannot play before our fans. We play three teams, each one with their own style, and we have to perform as best as we can to make it to the quarterfinals.”
Despite winning the now defunct Champions Cup as many as four times (1990, 1996, 1997 and 1998), Modena Volley are yet to claim top honours from the Champions League. “For now, we just take it one match at a time and we will see how far this approach will be taking us,” Karlitzek said. He and his teammates will play their next #CLVolleyM match on Tuesday, February 9 when they take on Russia’s Kuzbass KEMEROVO.
As for the next episode of our ‘Pass the Pod’ series, Moritz decided to involve a team from his home country, SSC Palmberg SCHWERIN. Stay tuned for the next chat to follow soon!
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