This is the story Alessia Gennari, a woman who has nurtured with equal passion the explosiveness of a volleyball spike and the calm of the written page, the intense rhythms of training and the suspended time of reading. Now, these two worlds will follow her to Austin, where on November 24th, she will begin writing a new chapter of her life, bringing Italian volleyball to the newly formed League One Volleyball in the United States.
But there is another passion that rivals volleyball in Alessia’s heart: books. “Did you know that my friend and I have an Instagram page dedicated to books?” she confides with enthusiasm. It’s more than just a hobby: “When I’m older, I’d like to open a bookstore or work in the literary field.” A dream she has built with determination, earning a degree in Cultural Heritage Studies while continuing her professional athletic career. “I have to think about the future, and I want it to be in that field.”
When I ask her to show me the places she holds most dear in San Martino, she takes me to two symbolic spots in her life. First, the town library, housed in the village’s castle. “I love the smell of books; this place is magical to me,” she whispers, her eyes sparkling. Then, the historic Bombonera gymnasium, the sanctum sanctorum of Reggio Emilia volleyball, where the walls narrate stories of past seasons through memorabilia and photographs.
It’s here that I watch her during one of her final training sessions before her departure, practicing with the local team. She, a nationally renowned athlete, shares the court with young volleyball players who gaze at her with admiration. Her parents are there, following her every move with that attentive and proud look that only parents can have. The next time they see her train, it will be much farther away, in Austin, where the LOVB Austin awaits her.
“This choice came from my desire not to settle, to keep pushing myself and explore new opportunities, despite my age,” she says, speaking about her upcoming adventure in League One Volleyball. Then she adds with a smile that reveals her deep love for books: “And bookstores in the United States are amazing—I can’t wait to explore them.”
As I watch her play with the young athletes at the Bombonera, I think about how her journey is much more than a simple move overseas. It’s the story of a woman who has balanced the power of the spike with the serenity of the written word, the rigorous schedules of training with the timeless pause of reading. Now, these two worlds will follow her to Austin, where on November 24th, she will begin writing a new chapter in her life, bringing Italian volleyball to the nascent League One Volleyball in America. And who knows, maybe between matches, she’ll find herself lost among the shelves of some incredible bookstore.
UPDATE April 15, 2025: “LOVB Austin has made history by winning the first-ever League One Volleyball championship, defeating Omaha 3-0 in straight sets. The victory holds special significance for Brera Holdings (NASDAQ: BREA), as three former players from their subsidiary UYBA Volley Busto Arsizio were instrumental in Austin’s success.
The championship team featured Olympic medalist Carli Lloyd, former UYBA captain, alongside fellow UYBA alumni Julianne Faucette and Alessia Gennari. In a notable development, Gennari will return to UYBA for the 2025/26 season.
This milestone represents the successful launch of LOVB as the first professional women’s volleyball league in the United States. The achievement highlights Brera Holdings’ strategic position in creating international talent pipelines through its multi-club ownership model, connecting European volleyball excellence with the growing U.S. market.” (Source: Stocktitan.net)
