Francesco Sani, a 2020 graduate of Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, just made headlines on the world stage by helping Italy clinch the Men’s World Volleyball Championship. Italy defeated Bulgaria 3-1 for the crown.
Sani grew up between the U.S. and Italy, and athletics were in his blood. According to a Washington Post profile from 2019, his mother, Amy Sani, had played professional volleyball in France and also earned an athletic scholarship to Duke. She was the one who first encouraged him to give the sport a try in middle school.
By the time he reached Walter Johnson, Sani had fully committed to volleyball. In a 2019 feature by The Pitch, WJ’s student newspaper, Sani stood 6’8” in his senior year and was known for combining high school play with competitive club training. That same article noted his intense work ethic, balancing classes with strength training and travel for tournaments.
After graduating from Walter Johnson in 2020, Sani continued his career at UC Irvine, where he played NCAA Division I volleyball from 2020 to 2023. According to UC Irvine’s athletics program, he developed into one of their most dynamic outside hitters and was named to the Second All-America Team during his college career.
In 2023, Sani signed his first professional contract with Verona in Italy’s SuperLega. As reported by Italian sports media at the time, he was registered as an Italian player, paving the way for him to eventually represent Italy internationally.
Sani’s international career began in the United States system. He played with the U.S. under-19 national team in 2019 and later debuted with the senior American squad in 2021, earning a bronze medal at the NORCECA Final Six. He went on to collect additional medals in 2022 at the Pan American Cup and other NORCECA tournaments, according to USA Volleyball’s official records.
In 2025, Sani officially switched his sporting nationality to Italy. The Italian Wikipedia entry for Sani notes that he was called up to Italy’s national team and became part of the squad that captured the World Championship gold medal that year. VolleyballWorld, the international governing body’s official site, also lists him on the Italian roster for the Men’s World Championship.
