Vigor Bovolenta

Middle blocker Vigor Bovolenta was a highly successful volleyball player at both the club and national level. Bovolenta started to play professionally with Porto Ravenna in 1990 and was with them until 1997, an era now referred to as the golden years for Porto Ravenna. With Ravenna, Bovolenta won the Italian League in 1991, an Italian Cup in 1991, the FIVB Club World Championships in 1991, the CEV Champions League in 1992-94, the CEV Challenge CUP in 1997, and the CEV Super Cup in 1992 and 1993.

After leaving Porto Ravenna, Bovolenta played for three clubs in three seasons – 4Torri Ferrara, Roma Volley, and Palermo Volley – before playing with Pallavolo Modena from 2000-2003. With Modena. Bovolenta won the Italian League in 2002 and was runner-up at the 2003 CEV Champions League and 2001 CEV Challenge Cup. From 2003-2008 Bovolenta played with Pallavolo Piacenza, winning the CEV Cup in 2006 and was a runner-up at the 2008 CEV Champions League and at the 2004 and 2007 CEV Challenge Cup. He later played with Perugia Volley from 2008-2010 and Volley Forli from 2010-2012.

Bovolenta was capped 197 times with the Italian national team between 1995-2008. He won an Olympic silver in 1996, was European champion in 1995 and 1997, and took silver at the 2001 European Championships and bronze at the 1997 Europeans. Bovolenta also won the World League in 1995, 1997, 1999 and 2000 and World Cup in 1995. He tragically died rather young when he collapsed with a heart attack while playing in a league match for his Volley Forli team against Lube Macerata.