Marlon Yant leads Cubans moving to European Clubs

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, May 26, 2020 – Several members of the Cuban men’s national team will be playing for new clubs next season. At least five of the players who represented the country at the NORCECA Olympic Qualifier last January will play in Europe after transfers were recently announced.

Up-and-coming outside hitter Marlon Yant Herrera is one of them. The 19 year old has left France’s Chaumont Volley to join reigning FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship winners Cucine Lube Civitanova in Italy.

At the Italian club, Yant will share the courts with three other Cuban-born players in middle blocker Robertlandy Simon and outside hitters Osmany Juantorena and Yoandy Leal.

“I’m really excited to play with guys like Simon, Juantorena and Leal, they are my idols and references,” he said in an interview to the Italian club’s website. “To play for Lube is a great opportunity and I want to make the most of it and show I’m ready any time I’m needed.”

There will be no shortage of Cubans on Chaumont’s roster in the 2020-2021 season, however, as the French club made up for Yant’s departure by signing three new players from the Caribbean country.

Two of them come from Argentina’s Club Bolivar, including 25-year-old opposite Jesus Herrera and 22-year-old outside hitter Osniel Melgarejo. Herrera was the best sever, third-best scorer and fourth-best attacker of the 2019-2020 Argentinean League, while Melgarejo ranked third in the attacking ranking.

Middle blocker Roamy Alonso will be the third Cuban member of Chaumont’s roster next season. The 22-year-old blocker joined the French club after playing for Italy’s Consar Ravenna in 2019-2020.

Another member of the Cuban national team to join the French league in 2020-2021 will be outside hitter Julio Cesar Cardenas. The 22-year-old spiker signed with Tourcoing Lille Metropole after playing for Argentina’s Obras San Juan Voley last season.