Azzurra Volley Firenze

Il Bisonte Firenze

Full name	Azzurra Volley Firenze
Founded	1975
Ground	Palazzo Wanny, Florence, Italy (Capacity: 3,500)
Chairman	Elio Sità
Head coach	Federico Chiavegatti
League	FIPAV Women's Serie A1
Website	Club home page
Uniforms
Home Away

Azzurra Volley Firenze is an Italian women's volleyball club based in Florence and currently playing in the Serie A1.

Previous names

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

• Volleyball Arci San Casciano (1975–1986)
• Azzurra Volley San Casciano (1986–2004)
• Il Bisonte Azzurra Volley San Casciano (2004–2013)
• Il Bisonte San Casciano (2013–2014)
• Il Bisonte Firenze (2014–present)

History

Founded in 1975 as Volleyball Arci San Casciano, the club originally focused on youth teams. After becoming Azzurra Volley in 1986, the club start making progress in the lower Italian leagues arriving at Serie B2 and eventually reaching the Serie B1 in 2002. With the team showing good potential, the club search for sponsorship in order to fulfil it. In 2004 with main sponsor found, the club change its name to Il Bisonte Azzurra. In the following years, strong campaigns allow the club to compete for promotion to Serie A2 which was reached in 2012. Two seasons later the club was promoted to Serie A1, as a result, the home venue is changed to the Nelson Mandela Forum in Florence. ^[1] In February 2022, the club changed its home venue again to the newly built Palazzo Wanny arena. ^[2]

Team

2025–2026 Team [3]
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	Nausica Acciarri	Middle Blocker	1.86	(2004-09-25) 25 September 2004 (age 21)
4	Rachele Morello	Setter	1.82	(2000-11-07) 7 November 2000 (age 25)
5	Sofia Valoppi	Libero	1.67	(2003-07-25) 25 July 2003 (age 22)
6	Bianca Bertolino	Outside Hitter	1.85	(2002-07-04) 4 July 2002 (age 23)
7	Agata Zuccarelli	Opposite	1.80	(1995-02-27) 27 February 1995 (age 30)
8	Alessandra Colzi	Middle Blocker	1.80	(1997-05-01) 1 May 1997 (age 28)
9	Francesca Villani	Outside Hitter	1.87	(1995-05-30) 30 May 1995 (age 30)
10	Jolien Knollema	Outside Hitter	1.89	(2003-01-05) 5 January 2003 (age 23)
12	Ana Malešević	Middle Blocker	1.94	(2002-03-30) 30 March 2002 (age 23)
13	Vanja Bukilić	Opposite	1.98	(1999-06-13) 13 June 1999 (age 26)
14	Alice Tanase	Outside Hitter	1.83	(2000-05-25) 25 May 2000 (age 25)
15	Begüm Kaçmaz	Middle Blocker	1.88	(2007-04-26) 26 April 2007 (age 18)
17	Bianca Lapini	Libero	1.83	(2002-07-13) 13 July 2002 (age 23)
19	Beatrice Agrifoglio (c)	Setter	1.78	(1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 (age 32)

2024–2025 Team [4]
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	Nausica Acciarri	Middle Blocker	1.86	(2004-09-25) 25 September 2004 (age 21)
3	Adhuoljok Malual	Opposite	1.90	(2000-11-14) 14 November 2000 (age 25)
4	Božana Butigan	Middle Blocker	1.92	(2000-08-19) 19 August 2000 (age 25)
6	Giulia Leonardi (c)	Libero	1.65	(1987-12-01) 1 December 1987 (age 38)
7	Ilaria Battistoni	Setter	1.74	(1996-04-22) 22 April 1996 (age 29)
9	Marina Giacomello	Opposite	1.90	(2004-04-01) 1 April 2004 (age 21)
10	Stella Nervini	Outside Hitter	1.84	(2003-09-10) 10 September 2003 (age 22)
11	Giulia Mancini [A]	Middle Blocker	1.83	(1998-05-23) 23 May 1998 (age 27)
13	Manuela Ribechi [B]	Libero	1.72	(2004-02-15) 15 February 2004 (age 21)
16	Indy Baijens [C]	Middle Blocker	1.93	(2001-02-04) 4 February 2001 (age 24)
17	Bianca Lapini	Outside Hitter	1.83	(2002-07-13) 13 July 2002 (age 23)
18	Emma Cagnin	Outside Hitter	1.86	(2002-06-26) 26 June 2002 (age 23)
19	Beatrice Agrifoglio	Setter	1.78	(1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 (age 32)
21	Anna Davyskiba	Outside Hitter	1.88	(2000-02-08) 8 February 2000 (age 25)
33	Marta Bechis [D]	Setter	1.80	(1989-09-04) 4 September 1989 (age 36)

2023–2024 Team [6]
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	Nausica Acciarri	Middle Blocker	1.86	(2004-09-25) 25 September 2004 (age 21)
3	Manuela Ribechi	Libero	1.72	(2004-02-15) 15 February 2004 (age 21)
4	Mayu Ishikawa	Outside Hitter	1.74	(2000-05-14) 14 May 2000 (age 25)
6	Giulia Leonardi (c)	Libero	1.65	(1987-12-01) 1 December 1987 (age 38)
7	Ilaria Battistoni	Setter	1.74	(1996-04-22) 22 April 1996 (age 29)
8	Lina Alsmeier	Outside Hitter	1.89	(2000-08-29) 29 August 2000 (age 25)
9	Ailama Cesé	Outside Hitter	1.90	(2000-10-29) 29 October 2000 (age 25)
10	Kendall Kipp [E]	Opposite	1.96	(2000-12-12) 12 December 2000 (age 25)
11	Alexandra Lazić	Outside Hitter	1.88	(1994-09-24) 24 September 1994 (age 31)
12	Alessia Mazzaro	Middle Blocker	1.85	(1998-09-19) 19 September 1998 (age 27)
13	Emma Graziani	Middle Blocker	1.93	(2002-08-16) 16 August 2002 (age 23)
19	Beatrice Agrifoglio	Setter	1.78	(1994-01-01) 1 January 1994 (age 32)
24	Anastasiia Kraiduba	Opposite	1.94	(1995-04-15) 15 April 1995 (age 30)
26	Lauren Stivrins [F]	Middle Blocker	1.93	(1998-05-26) 26 May 1998 (age 27)

2022–2023 Team [8]
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	Rhamat Alhassan	Middle Blocker	1.95	(1996-09-07) 7 September 1996 (age 29)
2	Amandha Sylves	Middle Blocker	1.96	(2000-12-29) 29 December 2000 (age 25)
3	Carlotta Cambi [G]	Setter	1.76	(1996-05-28) 28 May 1996 (age 29)
4	Britt Herbots (c)	Outside Hitter	1.82	(1999-09-24) 24 September 1999 (age 26)
5	Silvia Lotti	Outside Hitter	1.88	(1992-06-17) 17 June 1992 (age 33)
6	Gaia Guiducci	Setter	1.78	(2002-03-09) 9 March 2002 (age 23)
7	Celine Van Gestel	Outside Hitter	1.83	(1997-11-07) 7 November 1997 (age 28)
9	Sara Panetoni	Libero	1.74	(2000-05-06) 6 May 2000 (age 25)
10	Jolien Knollema	Outside Hitter	1.89	(2003-01-05) 5 January 2003 (age 23)
11	Anna Adelusi	Outside Hitter	1.86	(2003-06-10) 10 June 2003 (age 22)
12	Terry Ruth Enweonwu	Outside Hitter	1.85	(2000-05-12) 12 May 2000 (age 25)
13	Emma Graziani	Middle Blocker	1.93	(2002-08-16) 16 August 2002 (age 23)
15	Sylvia Nwakalor	Opposite	1.76	(1999-08-12) 12 August 1999 (age 26)
17	Bianca Lapini	Libero	1.83	(2002-07-13) 13 July 2002 (age 23)
18	Dayana Kosareva	Outside Hitter	1.86	(1999-08-24) 24 August 1999 (age 26)
23	Ofelia Malinov [H]	Setter	1.85	(1996-02-29) 29 February 1996 (age 29)

2021–2022 Team [10]
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	Indre Sorokaite [I]	Outside Hitter	1.88	(1988-07-02) 2 July 1988 (age 37)
2	Amandha Sylves	Middle Blocker	1.96	(2000-12-29) 29 December 2000 (age 25)
3	Carlotta Cambi (c)	Setter	1.76	(1996-05-28) 28 May 1996 (age 29)
5	Francesca Bonciani	Setter	1.78	(1992-05-25) 25 May 1992 (age 33)
7	Celine Van Gestel	Outside Hitter	1.83	(1997-11-07) 7 November 1997 (age 28)
9	Sara Panetoni	Libero	1.74	(2000-05-06) 6 May 2000 (age 25)
10	Jolien Knollema	Outside Hitter	1.89	(2003-01-05) 5 January 2003 (age 23)
11	Yvon Belien	Middle Blocker	1.88	(1993-12-28) 28 December 1993 (age 32)
12	Terry Ruth Enweonwu	Outside Hitter	1.85	(2000-05-12) 12 May 2000 (age 25)
13	Emma Graziani	Middle Blocker	1.93	(2002-08-16) 16 August 2002 (age 23)
14	Maddalena Golfieri	Libero	1.65	(2004-05-09) 9 May 2004 (age 21)
15	Sylvia Nwakalor	Opposite	1.76	(1999-08-12) 12 August 1999 (age 26)
17	Bianca Lapini	Libero	1.83	(2002-07-13) 13 July 2002 (age 23)
19	Astou Diagne	Middle Blocker	1.87	(2001-04-02) 2 April 2001 (age 24)

2020–2021 Team [11]
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	Terry Ruth Enweonwu	Outside Hitter	1.85	(2000-05-12) 12 May 2000 (age 25)
2	Arianna Vittorini	Outside Hitter	1.81	(2002-09-05) 5 September 2002 (age 23)
3	Carlotta Cambi (c)	Setter	1.76	(1996-05-28) 28 May 1996 (age 29)
4	Rebecka Lazić	Outside Hitter	1.87	(1994-09-24) 24 September 1994 (age 31)
7	Celine Van Gestel	Outside Hitter	1.83	(1997-11-07) 7 November 1997 (age 28)
8	Sara Alberti	Middle Blocker	1.85	(1993-01-03) 3 January 1993 (age 33)
9	Sara Panetoni	Libero	1.74	(2000-05-06) 6 May 2000 (age 25)
10	Naoko Hashimoto	Setter	1.72	(1984-07-11) 11 July 1984 (age 41)
11	Yvon Belien	Middle Blocker	1.88	(1993-12-28) 28 December 1993 (age 32)
12	Anastasia Guerra	Outside Hitter	1.86	(1996-10-15) 15 October 1996 (age 29)
14	Fatim Kone	Middle Blocker	1.82	(2000-10-25) 25 October 2000 (age 25)
15	Sylvia Nwakalor	Opposite	1.76	(1999-08-12) 12 August 1999 (age 26)
16	Nausica Acciarri	Middle Blocker	1.86	(2004-09-25) 25 September 2004 (age 21)
17	Maila Venturi	Libero	1.62	(1996-10-23) 23 October 1996 (age 29)
18	Alicia Ogoms [J]	Middle Blocker	1.94	(1994-04-02) 2 April 1994 (age 31)

2019–2020 Team [13]
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	Daly Santana	Outside Hitter	1.85	(1995-02-19) 19 February 1995 (age 30)
2	Sara Alberti	Middle Blocker	1.85	(1993-01-03) 3 January 1993 (age 33)
4	Jana Franziska Poll [K]	Outside Hitter	1.85	(1988-05-07) 7 May 1988 (age 37)
5	Denise Meli	Middle Blocker	1.83	(2001-04-09) 9 April 2001 (age 24)
6	Mikaela Foecke	Outside Hitter	1.91	(1997-02-22) 22 February 1997 (age 28)
7	Alice Degradi [L]	Outside Hitter	1.81	(1996-04-10) 10 April 1996 (age 29)
9	Nika Daalderop	Outside Hitter	1.90	(1998-11-29) 29 November 1998 (age 27)
10	Giulia De Nardi	Libero	1.71	(1994-04-23) 23 April 1994 (age 31)
12	Alice Turco	Setter	1.78	(2000-02-04) 4 February 2000 (age 25)
13	Sarah Fahr	Middle Blocker	1.92	(2001-09-12) 12 September 2001 (age 24)
14	Laura Dijkema (c)	Setter	1.84	(1990-02-18) 18 February 1990 (age 35)
15	Sylvia Nwakalor	Opposite	1.76	(1999-08-12) 12 August 1999 (age 26)
17	Maila Venturi	Libero	1.62	(1996-10-23) 23 October 1996 (age 29)
19	Emily Maglio	Middle Blocker	1.89	(1996-11-13) 13 November 1996 (age 29)

2018–2019 Team [15]
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	Indre Sorokaite	Outside Hitter	1.88	(1988-07-02) 2 July 1988 (age 37)
2	Sara Alberti	Middle Blocker	1.85	(1993-01-03) 3 January 1993 (age 33)
3	Louisa Lippmann	Opposite	1.91	(1994-09-23) 23 September 1994 (age 31)
5	Francesca Bonciani	Setter	1.78	(1992-05-25) 25 May 1992 (age 33)
6	Tijana Malešević [M]	Outside Hitter	1.85	(1991-03-18) 18 March 1991 (age 34)
7	Alice Degradi	Outside Hitter	1.81	(1996-04-10) 10 April 1996 (age 29)
8	Daly Santana	Outside Hitter	1.85	(1995-02-19) 19 February 1995 (age 30)
9	Nika Daalderop	Outside Hitter	1.90	(1998-11-29) 29 November 1998 (age 27)
10	Beatrice Parrocchiale	Libero	1.67	(1995-12-26) 26 December 1995 (age 30)
11	Sonia Candi	Middle Blocker	1.87	(1993-11-08) 8 November 1993 (age 32)
14	Laura Dijkema (c)	Setter	1.84	(1990-02-18) 18 February 1990 (age 35)
15	Mina Popović	Middle Blocker	1.87	(1994-09-16) 16 September 1994 (age 31)
17	Maila Venturi	Libero	1.62	(1996-10-23) 23 October 1996 (age 29)

2017–2018 Team [17]
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	Indre Sorokaite	Outside Hitter	1.88	(1988-07-02) 2 July 1988 (age 37)
2	Sara Alberti	Middle Blocker	1.85	(1993-01-03) 3 January 1993 (age 33)
3	Marta Bechis [N]	Setter	1.80	(1989-09-04) 4 September 1989 (age 36)
5	Francesca Bonciani	Setter	1.78	(1992-05-25) 25 May 1992 (age 33)
7	Hannah Tapp	Middle Blocker	1.88	(1995-06-21) 21 June 1995 (age 30)
8	Daly Santana	Outside Hitter	1.85	(1995-02-19) 19 February 1995 (age 30)
9	Chiara Di Iulio	Outside Hitter	1.85	(1985-05-05) 5 May 1985 (age 40)
10	Beatrice Parrocchiale	Libero	1.67	(1995-12-26) 26 December 1995 (age 30)
11	Chiaka Ogbogu [O]	Middle Blocker	1.89	(1995-04-15) 15 April 1995 (age 30)
12	Giulia Pietrelli	Outside Hitter	1.77	(1988-08-27) 27 August 1988 (age 37)
14	Ivana Miloš Prokopić	Middle Blocker	1.87	(1986-03-07) 7 March 1986 (age 39)
15	Mina Popović	Middle Blocker	1.87	(1994-09-16) 16 September 1994 (age 31)
16	Valentina Tirozzi (c)	Outside Hitter	1.82	(1986-03-26) 26 March 1986 (age 39)
18	Laura Dijkema [P]	Setter	1.84	(1990-02-18) 18 February 1990 (age 35)

2016–2017 Team [20]
Number	Player	Position	Height (m)	Birth date
1	Indre Sorokaite	Opposite	1.88	(1988-07-02) 2 July 1988 (age 37)
2	Natalia Brussa	Opposite	1.88	(1985-02-13) 13 February 1985 (age 40)
3	Marta Bechis	Setter	1.80	(1989-09-04) 4 September 1989 (age 36)
4	Odina Bayramova	Outside Hitter	1.86	(1990-05-25) 25 May 1990 (age 35)
5	Maria Chiara Norgini	Libero	1.70	(1998-09-11) 11 September 1998 (age 27)
6	Valeria Rosso [Q]	Outside Hitter	1.82	(1981-10-24) 24 October 1981 (age 44)
7	Stephanie Enright	Outside Hitter	1.79	(1990-12-15) 15 December 1990 (age 35)
8	Francesca Bonciani	Setter	1.78	(1992-05-25) 25 May 1992 (age 33)
9	Laura Melandri	Middle Blocker	1.86	(1995-01-31) 31 January 1995 (age 30)
10	Beatrice Parrocchiale	Libero	1.67	(1995-12-26) 26 December 1995 (age 30)
11	Vittoria Repice	Middle Blocker	1.85	(1986-06-01) 1 June 1986 (age 39)
12	Giulia Pietrelli	Outside Hitter	1.77	(1988-08-27) 27 August 1988 (age 37)
13	Raffaella Calloni	Middle Blocker	1.87	(1983-05-04) 4 May 1983 (age 42)

Head coaches

Period	Head coach
2012–2016	Francesca Vannini [21]
2016–2018	Marco Bracci [22]
2018–2020	Giovanni Caprara [23]
2020–2021	Marco Mencarelli [24]
2021–2022	Massimo Bellano [25]
2023–2024	Carlo Parisi [26]
2024–2025	Simone Bendandi [27]
2025–	Federico Chiavegatti [28]

Notes

1. Giulia Mancini left the team on 17 December 2024. ^[4]
2. Manuela Ribechi left the team on 17 December 2024. ^[4]
3. Indy Baijens joined the team on 17 December 2024. ^[5]
4. Marta Bechis left the team on 1 November 2024. ^[4]
5. Kendall Kipp joined the team on 8 January 2024. ^[7]
6. Lauren Stivrins left the team on 23 February 2024. ^[6]
7. Carlotta Cambi left the team on 31 December 2022. ^[8]
8. Ofelia Malinov joined the team on 12 January 2023. ^[9]
9. Indre Sorokaite left the team on 17 January 2022. ^[10]
10. Alicia Ogoms joined the team on 15 January 2021. ^[12]
11. Jana Franziska Poll joined the team at the end of January 2020. ^[14]
12. Alice Degradi left the team on 7 January 2020. ^[13]
13. Tijana Malešević joined the team at the end of January 2019. ^[16]
14. Marta Bechis left the team on 26 January 2018. ^[17]
15. Chiaka Ogbogu joined the team in January 2018. ^[18]
16. Laura Dijkema joined the team in January 2018. ^[19]
17. Valeria Rosso left the team on 19 January 2017. ^[20]

References

1. "Storia". Azzurra Volley San Casciano (in Italian). Retrieved 14 February 2017.
2. "A Firenze apre Palazzo Wanny". sporteimpianti.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
3. "Il Bisonte Firenze Team 2025–26". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 28 July 2025.
4. "Il Bisonte Firenze Team 2024–25". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 9 August 2024.
5. "Benvenuta a Firenze Indy Baijens". azzurravolleyfirenze.it (in Italian). 17 December 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
6. "Il Bisonte Firenze Team 2023–24". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 14 March 2024.
7. "Il Bisonte si rinforza con un grande colpo, dagli USA ecco l'opposto Kendall Kipp". azzurravolleyfirenze.it (in Italian). 8 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
8. "Il Bisonte Firenze Team 2022–23". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 16 November 2022.
9. "Colpaccio in regia, arriva Ofelia Malinov". azzurravolleyfirenze.it (in Italian). 12 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
10. "Il Bisonte Firenze Team 2021–22". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
11. "Il Bisonte Firenze Team 2020–21". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
12. "Alicia Ogoms a Firenze". dallarivolley.com (in Italian). 15 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
13. "Il Bisonte Firenze Team 2019–20". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
14. "Ufficiale: Jana Franziska Poll al Bisonte Firenze, sarà in campo già stasera in Coppa Italia". volleynews.it (in Italian). 29 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
15. "Il Bisonte Firenze Team 2018–19". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
16. "Volley, Il Bisonte ha un'arma in più. Dal mercato ecco la schiacciatrice Malesevic". lanazione.it (in Italian). 26 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
17. "Il Bisonte Firenze Team 2017–18". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
18. "Il Bisonte ingaggia la centrale statunitense Chiaka Ogbogu". fipavfirenze.it (in Italian). 15 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
19. "Dijkema ufficiale a Firenze". dal15al25.gazzetta.it (in Italian). 17 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
20. "Il Bisonte Firenze Team 2016–17". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). Retrieved 28 June 2025.
21. "Il Bisonte e Francesca Vannini, le strade si separano". legavolleyfemminile.it (in Italian). 14 April 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
22. "Bracci nuovo coach a Firenze. Skowronska a Bergamo". tuttosport.com (in Italian). 17 May 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
23. "Volley: A1 Femminile, Giovanni Caprara è il nuovo tecnico di Firenze". tuttosport.com (in Italian). 10 January 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
24. "Marco Mencarelli è il nuovo allenatore Il Bisonte Firenze". gonews.it (in Italian). 25 February 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
25. "Massimo Bellano nuovo coach del Bisonte Firenze". volleynews.it (in Italian). 12 April 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
26. "Firenze chiama Carlo Parisi in panchina". tuttosport.com (in Italian). 4 January 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
27. "Volley Mercato: Firenze mette in panchina Simone Bendandi". tuttosport.com (in Italian). 14 May 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
28. "Un giovane coach ravennate in Serie A1: Federico Chiavegatti nuovo coach di Firenze". ravennatoday.it (in Italian). 27 January 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.

External links

• Official website (in Italian)