AGIL Volley

AGIL Volley is an Italian professional women's volleyball club based in Novara and currently playing in the Serie A1.

Previous names

Due to sponsorship, the club have competed under the following names:

AGIL Trecate (1984–1999)
AGIL Volley Trecate (1999–2001)
Asystel Novara (2001–2003)
AGIL Volley Trecate (2003–2012)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara (2012–present)

History

The club was founded in 1984 as AGIL Volley and was based in Trecate. The club name is an acronym for Amicizia, Gioia, Impegno, Lealtà (friendship, joy, commitment, loyalty) and originally it started as a youth centre designed to help youngsters develop together through sport. The project grew over the years and investment was made to a build sports complex with a beach volleyball field and a multi-purpose sports facility for volleyball, futsal and basketball.

After spending its first years competing in regional tournaments, in 1989 the club started moving through the Italian lower leagues. By the end of the 1990s it was making good progress playing in the Serie A2 until it struggled in the 1998–99 season and was relegated to Serie B1. As four teams renounced to play the Serie A2 in the 1999–2000 season, the club avoided relegation. During that season a new approach was made, with head coach Luciano Pedullà opting to prepare a team of young players with professionalism and commitment to secure investment for the future. The club was promoted to the Serie A1 (highest level) at the end of the 2000–01 season.

Ahead of the 2001–02 season, the club moved its base from Trecate to Novara and Asystel became its main sponsor with club being renamed Asystel Novara. In its first season at the Serie A1, the club was runner up after reaching the playoff finals. In the following season it again reached the playoff finals, finishing second. The club made its debut in European competitions by winning the 2002–03 CEV Cup. At the conclusion of the season despite the two consecutive second places in the league, the European title and a guaranteed spot to play the CEV Champions League in the 2003–04 season, the club decided to focus on youth teams. It relocated to Trecate, revived its old name AGIL Volley and conceded its Serie A1 licence and the professional volleyball department to Asystel who established a new team called Asystel Volley. The licence concession meant AGIL was back to the Serie C of the Italian league.

Ten seasons later, in 2013 the club gained promotion back to the Serie A1 and relocated to Novara. In 2014–15 the club won the Italian Cup for the first time. The first Serie A1 title came in 2016–17 and two years later, AGIL won the 2018–19 CEV Champions League.

Team

2025–2026 Team
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
2	Belgium Silke Van Avermaet	Middle Blocker	1.92	(1999-06-02)2 June 1999(age 26)
3	Italy Carlotta Cambi	Setter	1.76	(1996-05-28)28 May 1996(age 29)
4	Belgium Britt Herbots	Outside Hitter	1.82	(1999-09-24)24 September 1999(age 26)
5	Italy Federica Squarcini	Middle Blocker	1.83	(2000-09-24)24 September 2000(age 25)
6	Italy Giulia De Nardi	Libero	1.71	(1994-04-23)23 April 1994(age 31)
8	Italy Giulia Leonardi	Libero	1.65	(1987-12-01)1 December 1987(age 38)
9	Germany Lina Alsmeier	Outside Hitter	1.89	(2000-06-29)29 June 2000(age 25)
10	Japan Mayu Ishikawa	Outside Hitter	1.74	(2000-05-14)14 May 2000(age 25)
11	United States Taylor Mims	Opposite	1.93	(1997-08-08)8 August 1997(age 28)
13	Italy Sara Bonifacio (c)	Middle Blocker	1.86	(1996-07-03)3 July 1996(age 29)
14	Italy Giulia Carraro	Setter	1.75	(1994-07-25)25 July 1994(age 31)
16	Netherlands Indy Baijens	Middle Blocker	1.93	(2001-02-04)4 February 2001(age 25)
17	Russia Tatiana Tolok	Outside Hitter	1.92	(2003-03-21)21 March 2003(age 23)
18	Italy Veronica Costantini	Middle Blocker	1.91	(2003-03-23)23 March 2003(age 23)
54	United States Amber Igiede	Middle Blocker	1.99	(2001-01-08)8 January 2001(age 25)
98	Italy Giulia Melli	Outside Hitter	1.85	(1998-01-08)8 January 1998(age 28)

2024–2025 Team
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
3	Italy Francesca Villani	Outside Hitter	1.87	(1995-05-30)30 May 1995(age 30)
4	Italy Fransesca Bosio (c)	Setter	1.80	(1997-08-07)7 August 1997(age 28)
5	Italy Valentina Bartolucci	Setter	1.81	(2003-05-20)20 May 2003(age 22)
6	Italy Giulia De Nardi	Libero	1.71	(1994-04-23)23 April 1994(age 31)
8	Italy Eleonora Fersino	Libero	1.69	(2000-01-24)24 January 2000(age 26)
9	Germany Lina Alsmeier	Outside Hitter	1.89	(2000-06-29)29 June 2000(age 25)
10	Japan Mayu Ishikawa	Outside Hitter	1.74	(2000-05-14)14 May 2000(age 25)
11	United States Taylor Mims	Opposite	1.93	(1997-08-08)8 August 1997(age 28)
12	Germany Hanna Orthmann	Outside Hitter	1.88	(1998-10-03)3 October 1998(age 27)
13	Italy Sara Bonifacio	Middle Blocker	1.86	(1996-07-03)3 July 1996(age 29)
14	Serbia Maja Aleksić	Middle Blocker	1.88	(1997-06-06)6 June 1997(age 28)
15	Slovenia Anja Mazej	Libero	1.70	(2000-01-04)4 January 2000(age 26)
16	Italy Alessia Mazzaro	Middle Blocker	1.85	(1998-09-19)19 September 1998(age 27)
17	Russia Tatiana Tolok	Outside Hitter	1.92	(2003-03-21)21 March 2003(age 23)
19	Russia Vita Akimova	Opposite	1.97	(2002-07-16)16 July 2002(age 23)
24	Italy Federica Squarcini	Middle Blocker	1.83	(2000-09-24)24 September 2000(age 25)

2023–2024 Team
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	Hungary Gréta Szakmáry	Outside Hitter	1.86	(1991-12-31)31 December 1991(age 34)
3	Italy Ludovica Guidi	Middle Blocker	1.86	(1992-12-17)17 December 1992(age 33)
4	Italy Fransesca Bosio	Setter	1.80	(1997-08-07)7 August 1997(age 28)
5	Italy Valentina Bartolucci	Setter	1.81	(2003-05-20)20 May 2003(age 22)
6	Italy Giulia De Nardi	Libero	1.71	(1994-04-23)23 April 1994(age 31)
7	Netherlands Anne Buijs	Outside Hitter	1.91	(1991-12-02)2 December 1991(age 34)
8	Italy Eleonora Fersino	Libero	1.69	(2000-01-24)24 January 2000(age 26)
9	Italy Caterina Bosetti	Outside Hitter	1.80	(1994-02-02)2 February 1994(age 32)
10	Italy Cristina Chirichella (c)	Middle Blocker	1.95	(1994-02-10)10 February 1994(age 32)
11	Italy Anna Danesi	Middle Blocker	1.96	(1996-04-20)20 April 1996(age 29)
12	Germany Hanna Orthmann	Outside Hitter	1.88	(1998-10-03)3 October 1998(age 27)
13	Italy Sara Bonifacio	Middle Blocker	1.86	(1996-07-03)3 July 1996(age 29)
14	Turkey Melis Durul	Opposite	1.86	(1993-10-21)21 October 1993(age 32)
21	Russia Vita Akimova	Opposite	1.97	(2002-07-16)16 July 2002(age 23)
23	Russia Marina Markova	Outside Hitter	1.99	(2001-01-27)27 January 2001(age 25)
24	Russia Anastasiia Kapralova	Outside Hitter	1.84	(2004-04-24)24 April 2004(age 21)

2022–2023 Team
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	United States Jordyn Poulter	Setter	1.88	(1997-07-31)31 July 1997(age 28)
2	Italy Carlotta Cambi	Setter	1.76	(1996-05-28)28 May 1996(age 29)
3	United States McKenzie Adams	Outside Hitter	1.92	(1992-02-13)13 February 1992(age 34)
5	Italy Giulia Bresciani	Libero	1.65	(1992-09-27)27 September 1992(age 33)
6	Italy Gaia Giovannini	Outside Hitter	1.82	(2001-12-17)17 December 2001(age 24)
7	Italy Ilaria Battistoni	Setter	1.74	(1996-04-22)22 April 1996(age 29)
8	Italy Eleonora Fersino	Libero	1.69	(2000-01-24)24 January 2000(age 26)
9	Italy Caterina Bosetti	Outside Hitter	1.80	(1994-02-02)2 February 1994(age 32)
10	Italy Cristina Chirichella (c)	Middle Blocker	1.95	(1994-02-10)10 February 1994(age 32)
11	Italy Anna Danesi	Middle Blocker	1.96	(1996-04-20)20 April 1996(age 29)
12	Spain Lucía Varela	Middle Blocker	1.97	(2003-08-10)10 August 2003(age 22)
13	Italy Sara Bonifacio	Middle Blocker	1.86	(1996-07-03)3 July 1996(age 29)
14	Cuba Kenia Carcaces	Outside Hitter	1.89	(1986-01-23)23 January 1986(age 40)
15	Italy Julia Ituma	Opposite	1.92	(2004-10-08)8 October 2004(age 21)
99	Turkey Ebrar Karakurt	Opposite	1.96	(2000-01-17)17 January 2000(age 26)

2021–2022 Team
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
2	Italy Lucia Imperiali	Libero	1.62	(1999-05-05)5 May 1999(age 26)
4	Belgium Britt Herbots	Outside Hitter	1.82	(1999-09-24)24 September 1999(age 26)
5	Brazil Rosamaria Montibeller	Opposite	1.86	(1994-04-09)9 April 1994(age 32)
7	Italy Ilaria Battistoni	Setter	1.74	(1996-04-22)22 April 1996(age 29)
8	Italy Eleonora Fersino	Libero	1.69	(2000-01-24)24 January 2000(age 26)
9	Italy Caterina Bosetti	Outside Hitter	1.80	(1994-02-02)2 February 1994(age 32)
10	Italy Cristina Chirichella (c)	Middle Blocker	1.95	(1994-02-10)10 February 1994(age 32)
12	United States Micha Hancock	Setter	1.80	(1992-11-10)10 November 1992(age 33)
13	Italy Sara Bonifacio	Middle Blocker	1.86	(1996-07-03)3 July 1996(age 29)
15	United States Haleigh Washington	Middle Blocker	1.92	(1995-09-22)22 September 1995(age 30)
17	Italy Veronica Costantini	Middle Blocker	1.91	(2003-03-23)23 March 2003(age 23)
18	Italy Sofia D'Odorico	Outside Hitter	1.86	(1997-01-06)6 January 1997(age 29)
19	Netherlands Nika Daalderop	Outside Hitter	1.90	(1998-11-29)29 November 1998(age 27)
99	Turkey Ebrar Karakurt	Opposite	1.96	(2000-01-17)17 January 2000(age 26)

2020–2021 Team
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
3	Italy Alessia Populini	Outside Hitter	1.79	(2000-09-10)10 September 2000(age 25)
4	Belgium Britt Herbots	Outside Hitter	1.82	(1999-09-24)24 September 1999(age 26)
5	Italy Francesca Napodano	Libero	1.75	(1999-01-17)17 January 1999(age 27)
6	Italy Elisa Zanette	Opposite	1.93	(1996-02-17)17 February 1996(age 30)
7	Italy Ilaria Battistoni	Setter	1.74	(1996-04-22)22 April 1996(age 29)
9	Italy Caterina Bosetti	Outside Hitter	1.80	(1994-02-02)2 February 1994(age 32)
10	Italy Cristina Chirichella (c)	Middle Blocker	1.95	(1994-02-10)10 February 1994(age 32)
11	Italy Stefania Sansonna	Libero	1.75	(1982-11-01)1 November 1982(age 43)
12	United States Micha Hancock	Setter	1.80	(1992-11-10)10 November 1992(age 33)
13	Italy Sara Bonifacio	Middle Blocker	1.86	(1996-07-03)3 July 1996(age 29)
14	Italy Sara Tajè	Middle Blocker	1.87	(1998-12-03)3 December 1998(age 27)
15	United States Haleigh Washington	Middle Blocker	1.92	(1995-09-22)22 September 1995(age 30)
17	Poland Malwina Smarzek	Opposite	1.91	(1996-06-03)3 June 1996(age 29)
19	Netherlands Nika Daalderop	Outside Hitter	1.90	(1998-11-29)29 November 1998(age 27)

2019–2020 Team
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Weight (kg)	Birth date
1	Slovenia Iza Mlakar	Opposite	1.83	72	(1995-11-14)14 November 1995(age 30)
2	Serbia Jovana Brakočević	Opposite	1.96	82	(1988-05-05)5 May 1988(age 37)
4	Netherlands Rachele Morello	Setter	1.92	78	(2000-11-07)7 November 2000(age 25)
5	Italy Francesca Napodano	Libero	1.74	63	(1999-01-17)17 January 1999(age 27)
6	United States Megan Courtney	Outside Hitter	1.85	61	(1993-10-27)27 October 1993(age 32)
7	Italy Federica Piacentini	Middle Blocker	1.92	83	(2001-05-07)7 May 2001(age 24)
8	Poland Zuzanna Gorecka	Outside Hitter	1.81	63	(2000-10-04)4 October 2000(age 25)
9	Italy Chiara Di Iulio	Outside Hitter	1.84	64	(1985-04-05)5 April 1985(age 41)
10	Italy Cristina Chirichella (c)	Middle Blocker	1.95	73	(1994-02-10)10 February 1994(age 32)
11	Italy Stefania Sansonna	Libero	1.75	67	(1982-11-01)1 November 1982(age 43)
12	United States Micha Hancock	Setter	1.80	68	(1992-11-10)10 November 1992(age 33)
13	Italy Valentina Arrighetti	Middle Blocker	1.85	72	(1985-01-26)26 January 1985(age 41)
16	Bulgaria Elitsa Vasileva	Outside Hitter	1.92	73	(1990-04-13)13 April 1990(age 36)
17	Serbia Stefana Veljković	Middle Blocker	1.91	76	(1990-01-09)9 January 1990(age 36)

2018–2019 Team
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Weight (kg)	Birth date
1	United States Lauren Carlini	Setter	1.85	77	(1995-02-28)28 February 1995(age 31)
2	Italy Federica Stufi	Middle Blocker	1.85	67	(1988-03-22)22 March 1988(age 38)
3	Italy Letizia Camera	Setter	1.75	61	(1992-10-01)1 October 1992(age 33)
4	Netherlands Celeste Plak	Outside Hitter	1.90	87	(1995-10-26)26 October 1995(age 30)
5	Argentina Yamila Nizetich	Outside Hitter	1.83	75	(1989-01-27)27 January 1989(age 37)
10	Italy Cristina Chirichella	Middle Blocker	1.95	73	(1994-02-10)10 February 1994(age 32)
11	Italy Stefania Sansonna	Libero	1.75	67	(1982-11-01)1 November 1982(age 43)
12	Italy Francesca Piccinini	Outside Hitter	1.85	62	(1979-01-10)10 January 1979(age 47)
13	Albania Erblira Bici	Outside Hitter	1.85	70	(1995-06-27)27 June 1995(age 30)
14	United States Michelle Bartsch	Outside Hitter	1.92	74	(1990-02-12)12 February 1990(age 36)
15	Italy Giorgia Zannoni	Libero	1.71		(1998-02-11)11 February 1998(age 28)
17	Serbia Stefana Veljković	Middle Blocker	1.91	76	(1990-01-09)9 January 1990(age 36)
18	Italy Paola Egonu	Opposite	1.94	70	(1998-12-18)18 December 1998(age 27)

2017–2018 Team
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Weight (kg)	Birth date
1	Greece Anthí Vasilantonáki	Opposite	1.95	80	(1996-04-09)9 April 1996(age 30)
2	Italy Letizia Camera	Setter	1.75	61	(1992-10-01)1 October 1992(age 33)
4	Netherlands Celeste Plak	Opposite	1.90	87	(1995-10-26)26 October 1995(age 30)
5	United States Lauren Gibbemeyer	Middle Blocker	1.88	71	(1988-09-08)8 September 1988(age 37)
7	Puerto Rico Stephanie Enright	Outside Hitter	1.79	56	(1990-12-15)15 December 1990(age 35)
8	Poland Katarzyna Skorupa	Setter	1.84	73	(1984-09-16)16 September 1984(age 41)
9	Italy Sara Bonifacio	Middle Blocker	1.85	76	(1996-07-03)3 July 1996(age 29)
10	Italy Cristina Chirichella	Middle Blocker	1.95	73	(1994-02-10)10 February 1994(age 32)
11	Italy Stefania Sansonna	Libero	1.75	67	(1982-11-01)1 November 1982(age 43)
12	Italy Francesca Piccinini	Outside Hitter	1.85	62	(1979-01-10)10 January 1979(age 47)
15	Italy Giorgia Zannoni	Libero	1.71		(1998-02-11)11 February 1998(age 28)
18	Italy Paola Egonu	Opposite	1.89	70	(1998-12-18)18 December 1998(age 27)

2016–2017 Team
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Weight (kg)	Birth date
1	Italy Sara Alberti	Middle Blocker	1.85		(1993-01-03)3 January 1993(age 33)
3	Italy Carlotta Cambi	Setter	1.76		(1996-05-28)28 May 1996(age 29)
4	Netherlands Celeste Plak	Outside Hitter	1.90		(1995-10-26)26 October 1995(age 30)
6	Italy Sofia D'Odorico	Outside Hitter	1.86		(1997-01-06)6 January 1997(age 29)
7	Italy Melissa Donà	Outside Hitter	1.80		(1982-04-11)11 April 1982(age 44)
8	Netherlands Judith Pietersen	Outside Hitter	1.88		(1989-07-03)3 July 1989(age 36)
9	Italy Sara Bonifacio	Middle Blocker	1.85		(1996-07-03)3 July 1996(age 29)
10	Italy Cristina Chirichella	Middle Blocker	1.95		(1994-02-10)10 February 1994(age 32)
11	Italy Stefania Sansonna	Libero	1.75		(1982-11-01)1 November 1982(age 43)
12	Italy Francesca Piccinini	Outside Hitter	1.85		(1979-01-10)10 January 1979(age 47)
14	Netherlands Laura Dijkema	Setter	1.84		(1990-02-18)18 February 1990(age 36)
15	Italy Giorgia Zannoni	Libero	1.71		(1998-02-11)11 February 1998(age 28)
16	Italy Cristina Barcellini	Outside Hitter	1.83		(1986-11-20)20 November 1986(age 39)
17	Croatia Katarina Barun	Opposite	1.94		(1983-12-01)1 December 1983(age 42)

Head coaches

Period	Head coach
2012–2013	Italy Stefano Colombo
2013–2015	Italy Luciano Pedullà
2015–2017	Italy Marco Fenoglio
2017–2020	Italy Massimo Barbolini
2020–2023	Italy Stefano Lavarini
2023–	Italy Lorenzo Bernardi

Honours

National competitions

National League: 1

2016–17

Coppa Italia: 3

2014–15, 2017–18, 2018–19

Italian Super Cup: 1

2017

International competitions

CEV Champions League: 1

2018–19

CEV Cup: 1

2024–25

CEV Challenge Cup: 2

2002–03, 2023–24

Notes

External links

(in Italian)