Fatoumatta Sillah poised to make her mark in #CLVolleyW with star-studded Conegliano
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Only hours remain until the curtain rises on Round 4 of the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley 2026 | Women. Among the players drawing attention is rising star Fatoumatta “Neneh” Sillah, who continues her remarkable ascent in European volleyball with defending champions A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO. Fresh off a breakthrough summer with the Slovenia national team, the 23-year-old outside hitter now looks to leave her mark in club volleyball’s top competition.
On November 25, Sillah and A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO will open their Champions League campaign in Pool D against ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü. The pool also features DRESDNER SC and ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ.
Ahead of the competition, Sillah reflected on her first season with the Slovenia national team, her early impressions of joining Conegliano, and the remarkable journey that brought her to the highest level of European volleyball.
At 23 years old, Fatoumata Sillah is among the new additions A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO brought in before the 2025/2026 season. The promising 186-cm outside hitter contributes not only explosive athleticism and refined skills, but also her positive energy. Born in Gambia, she took an unusual path to volleyball stardom - discovering the sport almost by accident.
“Nobody in my family actually plays any kind of sports. Some of my cousins played football, and I also played football at school,” Sillah recalled. “I went to a multi-sport facility where there were basketball courts, a football field, and a volleyball court. I was there to watch football when I saw people playing volleyball, something I had never seen before. I thought it was interesting. I went closer to watch, and the coach said I should try because I was tall. I thought, why not? I didn’t take it seriously at first - it was just for fun - but then I really liked it. I switched to volleyball and started training seriously when I was 14.”
Fatoumatta SillahFor me, it’s a huge honor that they really wanted me to come and play for them.
In 2017, her extraordinary talent earned her the Talent of the Year award in Gambia. Shortly after, her coach recorded a video and sent it to an agent - who remains her agent today. “That’s how everything started and how I moved to Slovenia. I traveled with my mom to Turkey while waiting for the Slovenian visa, and then I went on to Slovenia alone,” she said.
Before turning 17, Sillah joined GEN-I Volley in Slovenia to begin her professional career. Her potential was quickly recognized, leading to a transfer to Calcit Volley, and later to Vasas Óbuda in Hungary, where she spent two seasons. With Vasas, she earned multiple domestic medals and finished third in the 2024/25 CEV Cup. Her rise continued and ahead of the 2025/2026 campaign, she joined one of the strongest clubs in the world - back-to-back Champions League winners and one of the volleyball's giants, A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO.
“For me, it’s a huge honor that they really wanted me to come and play for them. I was very excited when I got the call from my agent. Most players dream of playing for the best clubs in the world, and Conegliano is one of them. I’m just very happy. It’s my first time playing in Italy. Surprisingly, I have an aunt who lives here in Conegliano. It’s a new experience, a really good one, but also different. The Italian league is one of the best in the world, so it’s always hard in the beginning. But I have great teammates and coaches who are patient and help me in every situation. I think I’m adjusting really well.”
Joining Conegliano means sharing the court with some of the greatest players in world volleyball - a privilege Sillah deeply values.
“Gabi and Zhu Ting are among the best players in the world. But when I am with them, I don’t feel it because they welcomed me so well. They teach me a lot, especially in passing, and when I’m not doing well, I go to them for advice - especially Gabi, since I’m a bit closer to her. They are all such great players, and I’m glad to play with them.”
Asked about her role models, she did not hesitate: “I would say Gabi. I like her playing style and how confident she is. Even when her team isn’t winning or she isn’t playing well, she’s always smiling and pushing hard.”
Sillah made her long-awaited debut for the Slovenia national team in June 2025 during the European Golden League. A few weeks later, she and her teammates made history by competing for the first time at the Women’s World Championship in Thailand, reaching the Round of 16 before falling to Türkiye. Despite the team’s early exit, she was ranked the 12th best scorer of the tournament, with 80 points to her name.
Fatoumatta Sillah“Every time we entered the court, we just tried to have fun and give our best. We are not a big team - we are very young - so we knew we had nothing to lose. We tried to enjoy every moment in Thailand, play our best volleyball, and have fun.”
This week, Sillah and Conegliano begin their Champions League journey. It will not be her debut in the competition, and she remains grounded - even amid Conegliano’s exceptional domestic start, where they have recorded 13 straight wins. Sillah herself has already contributed 121 points with a 42% attack success rate.
Fatoumatta Sillah“My goals are to help the team every moment I get the chance. I try to enjoy it, because that’s very important. I know it’s not always easy, but I try to stay positive and help my team, especially since it’s not easy to play any team in the Champions League.”
A. Carraro Prosecco DOC CONEGLIANO will be among the first teams to kick off Round 4 of the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley 2026 | Women, facing ANKARA Zeren Spor Kulübü on Tuesday, November 25th. Their remaining Pool D opponents are DRESDNER SC and ŁKS Commercecon ŁÓDŹ.
For more information about Pool D, check the full PREVIEW.