Volleyball without borders aces Caserma Ederle

By U.S. ArmyFebruary 26, 2015

Volleyball without borders aces Caserma Ederle
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Volleyball without borders aces Caserma Ederle
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Volleyball without borders aces Caserma Ederle
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A mixed American volleyball team hosted a local squad called Pallavolo Senza Frontiere (PSF) - which means Volleyball Without Borders - in a "friendly" game Feb. 6 at the Caserma Ederle gym.

The game came at the end of a weeklong volleyball officials' clinic being conducted in preparation for the unit/recreation team season.

For the Italian players this was the first occasion to meet with their American counterparts.

Mostly, the PSF team players are former players who played while in their 20s in different volleyball Italian leagues from lower to top divisions.

"Now we are a sort of over-50 volleyball team whose members have in common the passion for this great sport. We meet twice a week and we also participate in the First Division FIPAV Italian championship," said PSF team 'long-time member' Louis Rigovacca.

But not every member in the Italian team was speaking just Italian, since one of them is a former Army sergeant, then a Department of Army civilian, and now a retiree who stays active bringing Americans and Italians together in social settings.

"I was invited to play with this Italian team thanks to having friends who knew friends," explained Phil Tegtmeier, who has been playing with PSF team since September.

"Someone asked casually if it would be possible to play against an American team. I got with Ricky Jackson at the sports office. He helped me get the permissions to get on post and set up a match. It took a couple of weeks to work things out, but it was time well spent. I think we all had a blast," said Tegtmeier.

"We were warmly welcomed and we found a very well equipped facility; after a short warm up we started the match, which initially was balanced, but toward the end, thanks to some experience and technical skills, we were able to win," said Rigovacca.

"As teams, we both played with a healthy competitiveness but always pervaded by a friendly spirit.

So it has been a very positive experience, which may develop into other future opportunities to meet and share this wonderful sport," he said.

The American team had players from the Vicenza Health Center, Dental Clinic, and U. S. Army Africa (military and civilian).

"The game was a lot of fun for us and to play the local Italian team. A few of us have played together before, but not as a team, so it was challenging to create a line up and allow players playing time, but we managed and got everyone in the game," said Lt. Col. Ronald Aquino, USARAF MEDLOG Plans and Operations.

Aquino added that he became the "accidental" coach/manager for the event.

"They were a very good team and we enjoyed playing them. We hope to have another friendly game soon with them and maybe ask them to play the winners of the USAG Vicenza volleyball tournament as a tune-up for the IMCOM-Europe Championship tournament in May. All in all, it was fun to play and looking forward to the next one," he said.

In the meantime, for those interested in playing volleyball, the USAG Recreational Volleyball championship started Feb. 25. Registration is still ongoing at the Sports, Fitness and Aquatics office. Call 634-7009.

The next games are scheduled March 2 starting at 6 p.m. at the post gym.

At the end of the local championship, the top two teams will advance to the Army Europe level held in May in Germany.