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Vero Volley Monza have been dealt an unexpected setback just two days before the start of the new SuperLega season.
Jan Zimmermann, brought back to the club as temporary cover for injured American setter Andrew Rowan, has left after only three training sessions with the team and is heading to Poland to join ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle, according to our local sources.
The development leaves head coach Massimo Eccheli with a difficult selection problem. With Rowan unavailable, Leonardo Bonacchi is currently Monza’s only fit setter listed in the squad, creating a shortage in one of the most crucial positions on the court.
Zimmermann’s return to Monza had appeared to offer a straightforward solution.
The 33-year-old German international already knew the club from his previous spells there, making him a natural option to provide cover during Rowan’s recovery. However, after just three training sessions, his brief return has come to an end.
The move to ZAKSA comes as the Polish club seeks cover for Quinn Isaacson, who is dealing with health problems. Zimmermann has been registered for the Polish championship, opening a new chapter just as the Italian season gets underway.
Monza’s difficulties began when Rowan fractured the thumb on his right hand while representing the United States at the NORCECA Men’s Continental Championship. The setter underwent surgery in the US on 22 September, and the club has estimated his return for the end of November.
That timeline means Monza could face several weeks of competition without Rowan, while Zimmermann’s departure leaves Bonacchi carrying the responsibility in the setting position. For a team preparing to compete in one of Europe’s strongest domestic leagues, the situation is far from ideal.
The timing could hardly be more challenging.
Monza are scheduled to open their SuperLega campaign away against newly promoted Tinet Prata di Pordenone on Sunday, 18 October 2026.
With the season just around the corner, the club must now assess how best to manage the position until Rowan is ready to return.
For Monza, the immediate priority is clear: find a way to navigate the opening weeks without compromising the team’s ability to compete. Zimmermann’s unexpected departure has turned what looked like a temporary injury solution into a fresh problem at the worst possible moment.
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