THE COMPANY
They won the Under 16 women’s beach volleyball championship, playing against more adult opponents than a year, a real revelation of the season, but they have no intention of stopping there. Asia Liotta and Linda Moretti, the tricolor stars of Beach Volley Oltrepo present themselves with extreme spontaneity without hiding thoughts, opinions, perspectives.
“I was born in Tortona on 28 September 2006 – says Asia – I live in Tortona, I attend the Peano scientific high school, 2nd B class, I play in the Play Asti ’76 in Under 16 Excellence and in Serie C”. «I was born in Alessandria on April 28, 2007 – says Linda – I live in Vho (Tortona), I attend the linguistic Peano di Tortona, 2nd class A, I play in the Rivanazzano Volley Club in Under 16 of Excellence and in Serie D.
When did you “stumble” into beach volleyball?
Asia: «Three years ago, before trying indoor Rivanazzano, I wanted to do a week of camp in Salice Terme and I immediately liked it very much». Linda: «In 2018 with the Beach Volley Oltrepo, participating for the first time in the Bibione stage».
You liked the beach right away.
Asia: «Because you could touch the ball much more than indoors and you were more protagonists in every action». Linda: «Because I could jump and do stunts much more than what happens indoors.
When did you realize that, in addition to having fun, you could have made your way into beach volleyball?
Asia: «I began to understand that I could do some progress last year, but especially at the beginning of this last season». Linda: «I began to understand that I could make my way from the first groups of last year with Bvo and then more and more».
The reality Beach Volley Oltrepo.
Asia: «It’s beautiful because I know everyone by now and I feel at home». Linda: «It’s like a second family, we are always in company in a nice atmosphere».
Coach Sam Fioretta. Virtues but also defects.
Asia: “Sam in the final phase, especially in the quarterfinals, helped us a lot, especially at the head level, but some of his exercises are really terrible.” Linda: «Sam is a tough head, let’s say, but he helped us a lot in the national finals, even if he is very heavy in training».
How did you feel at the first stage win?
Asia: «It happened in Bellaria, national championship, we didn’t expect to go so fast and it was wonderful». Linda: «The stage of Bellaria was the one that made us believe definitively in the path and in the possibility of reaching the national finals».
When did you realize that you could have gone all the way and won the Scudetto?
Asia: «Just after the Basiglio stage I was convinced that we would get there». Linda: «I too believed strongly after Basiglio».
What was the most difficult moment of this journey?
Asia: «When we lost the final in Cordenons it was very hard». Linda: «The lost stage in Cordenons was a blow to the heart».
And the most difficult one in the Scudetto finals?
Asia: «The most difficult moment of the Scudetto finals was the match in the quarterfinals which ended only at the 15-13 tie break of the third set». Linda: «Also for me.
How does it feel to win the championship and how long did it take to realize it?
Asia: «Even now I don’t fully realize it, even if some time has already passed. It was a wonderful experience, but I believe and hope that it will happen again many times ». Linda: “After the last point we asked ourselves if we were really like this, but on the other hand we had done a bunch of things to get there and it was right so”.
And now everyone expects you to keep winning.
Asia: «If it becomes just pressure, I wouldn’t like it. But I know, instead, that we will continue to have fun with the desire to win ». Linda: «We want to confirm ourselves, we know it will be difficult, but we will do it without changing the spirit that has brought us this far. –
Fabio Babetto