The LOVB Madison volleyball staff is complete!
League One Volleyball announced Tuesday that Giuliano RIbas and Annemarie Hickey will join the LOVB Madison staff. Giuliano will serve as assistant coach, and Annemarie will be the team’s Director of Volleyball Operations/Technical Director.
The two join head coach Matt Fuerbringer in leading LOVB Madison during the inaugural LOVB Pro season.
Giuliano, known as Juba, brings a wealth of coaching experience to LOVB. He’s been on staff with the Brazilian Men’s National Team since 2010 and led the squad to two Olympic medals, including gold in front of a hometown crowd at Rio 2016. Under his tutelage, Brazil claimed gold in the 2021 Volleyball Nations League and 2013 World Cup and silver at the 2014 and 2018 World Championships. Typically an assistant, he served as head coach at the 2023 Pan American Games and led the team to gold.
Juba also coaches for Brazil’s beach volleyball program and helped Brazilian duo Ricardo and Emanual win Olympic gold in Athens 2004 and bronze in Beijing 2008.
"To be part of LOVB is special for me because the world was waiting for this moment, and now it has arrived,” Juba said. “I'm proud to have been chosen and will give my 100% to collaborate for the success of LOVB."
“I am so excited that we were able to bring Coach Juba to Madison to share his knowledge and passion for the game with our athletes,” Matt said about his new assistant. “Juba has coached at the highest levels for the Brazilian national team and in the professional leagues in Brazil. He is an amazing trainer in practice and really knows how to prepare teams tactically to perform their best in matches. I can't wait to work with him and learn from him and am grateful he took a chance to come and start something great with us here at LOVB Madison.”
As Director of Volleyball Operations (DOVO), Annemarie will work directly with LOVB Madison’s coaches, athletes and support staff to ensure the best experience for all. She will also work closely with Chi-City Volleyball, FC Elite, Inferno, Madtown Juniors, One Wisconsin, Platform Elite and VC United – LOVB Madison’s junior club affiliates – to facilitate clinics, instruction and other interactions between the pro and junior athletes.
Annemarie is no stranger to Madison and its volleyball community. During a four-year playing career at the University of Wisconsin, Annemarie tallied 1,849 digs – third-most in Badger history – and helped guide the squad to the NCAA championship match in 2013. She returned as a staff member in 2017 and has worked her way up, starting as the volunteer assistant and moving to technical coordinator, director of scouting and player development, and eventually assistant coach in 2022. During her tenure, the Badgers have claimed five conference titles, eight NCAA tournament appearances and a national championship in 2021. Annemarie has also assisted with the U.S. Women’s National Team and Collegiate National Team, and in 2022, she was recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as a member of the organization’s Thirty Under 30 class for her efforts teaching and growing the game.
"I’m thrilled to be part of LOVB Madison’s inaugural season as we strive to make history as the first LOVB Pro champions,” Annemarie said. “Joining an organization dedicated to growing volleyball in the USA, from the club level through LOVB NCAA student-athletes to the professional ranks, was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I’m excited to see the Madison area embrace this team and bring high-quality volleyball to our fans!"
“It is special to bring Madison and Wisconsin volleyball royalty to LOVB Madison,” Kelley Kish, LOVB’s Head of Pro Volleyball Operations said. “Annemarie’s playing, coaching and professional experience brings all parts of this role to life at a very high level. The contributions to our team, staff and volleyball ecosystem from Annemarie will be fun to watch and really make an impression on the trajectory of LOVB Madison.”
LOVB Madison will begin its inaugural season January 10, 2025, with a neutral site contest in Houston, Texas. They’ll face LOVB Austin as part of the first Weekend with LOVB, where four teams meet in one host city for a trio of matches. All six LOVB Pro squads begin training camp in November 2024.
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