Lausanne, Switzerland, November 13, 2018 – Italy’s women’s volleyball team are on course to be recognised for their run to the Japan 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship gold medal match after they were picked as one of eight teams nominated for the team of the year award at the Gazzetta Sport Awards 2018.
Davide Mazzanti’s side lost 3-2 (21-25, 25-14, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12) to Serbia, but their run to the final captured the imagination of the country and soon after their return home they were granted an official reception with President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace in Rome.
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Four of the squad made the official team of the tournament - opposite Paola Egonu, outside hitter Miryam Sylla, setter Ofelia Malinov and libero Monica De Gennaro.
Egonu was also nominated in the Gazzetta Awards, as one of eight nominees for the Woman of the Year Award, following a tournament in which she finished as leading scorer with 324 points.
Mazzanti has been nominated for the Coach of the Year Award, and will be up against Lorenzo Bernardi, who led Sir Safety Conad Perugia to a treble of Serie A, Coppa Italia and Super Coppa Italia.
In 2016 Italy’s men won the team award after they won silver at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games.
The Gazzetta Sports Awards are organised by Italy’s leading sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport and are one of the highlights of the end of year sports awards. The Awards ceremony takes place on December 4 at a grand gala event in Milan.