Mantova face Brugherio in round 1

Brugherio will be the first opponent of Gabbiano Mantova in the next Credem Banca A3 series championship. At the end of the three-day volleyball market that just ended in Bologna, the calendars were officially presented and Gola and his teammates could find out their fate.

After the debut against the Milanese team, scheduled for Sunday 20 October in the cozy PalaSguaitzer, the boys of coach Serafini will take on Monge Gerbaudo Savigliano, The Begin Volley Ancona, ErmGroup Altotevere San Giustino, Negrini CTE Acqui Terme, Cus Cagliari, Personal Time San Dona di Piave, Belluno Volley and Sarroch Polisportiva in succession (click here for the full calendar).

The top eight teams from each group will qualify for the play-offs. They will first play each other, before the matches between the two groups. The two teams that finish bottom of the play-offs will be promoted to A2. The last two teams from the white group and the last three teams from the blue group will instead play an Italian group, with the latter two being relegated to Serie B. The first round of the Del Monte Coppa Italia will be played on 8 January 2025, with the Final Four on 22-23 February. The A3 Del Monte Super Cup will be played in late March. Gabbiano plays its home games on Sundays at 17:00.

President Paolo Fattori is quite happy with the calendar: “We are starting with an affordable start, which together with the friendly matches will be very useful to give the right balance to a partially renewed sextet and a rejuvenated team. Then come the first more challenging races, which can already tell us if we can also be protagonists in the second adventure in the Credem Banca A3 series championship.

Sporting director Nicola Artoni is on the same wavelength: “The start of the championship seems within reach and will serve to approach the tournament on the right foot. The best way to try to be protagonists next season too.”

The pride of the first season of A3 is the prize for best coach for coach Simone Serafini: “A prize that should be shared equally between the staff, the players and the club. An added value because I was chosen by the other clubs: for me it is an incentive to start again.”

The team will meet on August 21st.