Styrian native Lukas Glatz, a promising 20-year-old outside hitter, is making a significant leap in his international volleyball career. His journey takes him from TSV Raiffeisen HARTBERG to the prestigious Italian club, Rana VERONA, securing a spot in the Italian SuperLega – widely regarded as the world`s premier volleyball league.
Lukas Glatz joins Rana VERONA as he takes a major step in his career – thereby joining the elite SuperLega.
“It has always been a dream of mine to compete in this championship,” expressed Lukas Glatz. “The `Volleyball Senza Confini` project provided me with invaluable early insights into the demands of international volleyball. Now, I am eager to prove my readiness. Verona represents an immense opportunity.”
The two clubs have fostered a robust collaboration since 2023 through the innovative “Volleyball Senza Confini” cross-border project. This partnership has allowed Rana VERONA to become well-acquainted with the exceptional talent pool at TSV Raiffeisen HARTBERG. Young prospects like Lukas Glatz are identified early and developed collaboratively. This is achieved through close cooperation among coaches, who, as in Glatz`s case, are involved throughout the entire process, including trial trainings. Performance data and video material are also exchanged bilaterally, with the aim that international players of interest to Rana VERONA could also be trained and developed in Hartberg. Verona`s partners are highly impressed by Glatz`s superior technical and athletic abilities, which were meticulously honed in Hartberg.
Most recently, Lukas Glatz competed for Austria in the European Silver League.
Gottfried Rath-Zobernig, the initiator of Volleyball Senza Confini, commented, “With Lukas Glatz, we are witnessing a vision come to fruition: the potential for Austrian players to ascend to absolute world-class levels through targeted support and international cooperation. I am thrilled to pave innovative pathways for Austria`s clubs and talents through this project in the future.”
The SuperLega, comprising 12 formidable teams, holds a status in volleyball akin to the NBA in basketball or the NHL in ice hockey. It attracts elite athletes from across the globe, offering lucrative contracts and enjoying worldwide broadcasts. From Olympic champions to world champions, all major stars grace this league. Notably, US setter Micah Christenson, a three-time medalist at World Championships and Olympic Games, is set to become Lukas Glatz`s teammate this fall.
Stefano Fanini, President of Verona Volley, stated, “We are delighted to welcome Lukas into the Rana Verona family. This agreement is a testament to our fruitful collaboration with TSV Raiffeisen HARTBERG, a club that shares our commitment to developing young athletes. Lukas is a player with immense potential, and he will find himself in a highly competitive environment conducive to his continued growth. His decision to embark on his first international experience with us fills us with pride and reinforces the appeal of our project. We extend a warm welcome to Lukas.”
TSV Raiffeisen HARTBERG also expressed immense pride in this groundbreaking transfer and the successful efforts of the “Volleyball Senza Confini” project. “Lukas`s transfer marks a significant milestone for Austrian volleyball. The fact that a player from our training program is now competing in the world`s strongest league not only validates the quality of our work but also serves as a tremendous source of motivation,” affirmed Markus Gaugl, Managing Director of TSV Raiffeisen HARTBERG.
