At just 15 years old, Micol Lafuenti, daughter of beach volleyball legend Lucilla Perrotta, has already begun her journey on the global stage, debuting at the U18 World Championship.
From the stands, the passionate shouts of “Forza!…Dai!…Ce la puoi fare!…Non mollare!” (Go! Come on! You can do it! Don`t give up!) clearly emanate from Lucilla Perrotta. This former Italian international beach volleyball player has been an unwavering supporter of “The Azzurre” at every match on the Al Gharafa courts in Doha during this year`s FIVB Beach Volleyball Under 18 World Championship.
Her intense support is entirely understandable, as her eldest daughter, Micol Lafuenti, has distinguished herself as a top performer at this year’s U18 World Championship, competing alongside her new partner, Sofia Bruzzone. Perrotta herself boasts an illustrious 14-year career in beach volleyball, including participation in five World Championships and two Olympic Games (Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004), as well as earning six European Championship medals, notably a gold in 2002.
Naturally, a profound sense of pride washes over her as she watches Micol, at the tender age of 15, embark on her first junior World Championship, echoing her mother`s athletic path.
“Cheering from the sidelines is truly challenging… I much prefer to be on the court myself, but I am incredibly proud of my daughter,” a beaming Perrotta remarked. “I understand the significance of competing at such a high level. It`s an unforgettable experience she`ll cherish throughout her life.”
Perrotta`s own debut medal, a bronze, came at the 1994 European Championship when she was 19. In contrast, Micol and Sofia did not secure a podium finish in Doha, as their campaign ended in the quarterfinals with a defeat by Belgium`s Lente Thant & Simone Vervloet, who eventually claimed the bronze.
“I earned my first medal at 19, but Micol has started competing at an elite level much younger. She`s only 15, and I sincerely hope she surpasses my achievements,” stated Perrotta, who retired from the sport in 2008, a year before Micol`s birth.
Italy advanced to the quarterfinals with an impressive 3-1 win-loss record, topping Pool D and securing a decisive straight-sets victory (21-11, 21-19) against Venezuela`s Valeria Valentina Moreno Figueredo & Aidana Alejandra Mejias Ramirez in the Round of 16. However, their journey concluded with a hard-fought 2-1 loss (21-18, 19-21, 09-15) to the Belgian duo Lente Thant & Simone Vervloet in the quarterfinals.
“We have extensive discussions about her matches – covering technical aspects and mental resilience. I`m genuinely delighted to share this journey with her and provide guidance,” Perrotta shared.
For Micol, her mother, Perrotta, embodies much more than just a parent; she is a coach, mentor, inspiring role model, dedicated cheerleader, and insightful critic, all harmoniously combined.
“She has been a constant presence from the very beginning, and she`s undeniably a significant force in my career development. She coached me when I began playing at 13 and always attends my games,” Micol, who trains with Green Volley`s junior squad in Italy, explained. “Although I never saw her play, she had an exceptional career, and I can only aspire to reach her caliber.”
Despite their failure to medal in Doha, Micol looks forward to a promising future with her new partner, Sofia, especially considering the U18 World Championship marked their inaugural competition as a team.
“This championship is our first time competing together; we both had different partners for the European Championship. We demonstrated excellent teamwork on the court and quickly developed good chemistry, so we are content with our performance. Achieving the quarterfinals after just one month of training together is encouraging, and we`re optimistic about improving in future competitions,” remarked Micol, a promising outside hitter.
Head coach Paolo Goria acknowledged the observation that Italy`s dominance in indoor volleyball hasn`t fully translated to the beach game. He firmly believes this current generation has the potential to establish a strong presence in beach volleyball.
“We, along with the entire federation, are extremely pleased with the girls` performance. They played exceptionally well throughout the tournament, and we are enthusiastic about what the future holds. We`ve initiated a program to recruit young talents into beach volleyball, and this group represents our first generation. We hope they will evolve into prominent beach volleyball players,” stated Goria, who also coached the boys` team of Riccardo Santomassimo & Marco Di Felice to a bronze medal in Doha.
Perrotta, who herself works as a beach volleyball coach in Rome, wholeheartedly agrees with this sentiment.
“The coaches are dedicated to promoting beach volleyball, and they have a genuine opportunity to succeed because they are investing in young athletes,” she affirmed.
Oliver Wrenwick