# Spike Team

Spike Team is an Italian animated series created by Andrea Lucchetta, and produced by Rai Fiction, Lucky Dreams and Graphilm. It revolves around a volleyball team of six girls and their coach, Lucky.
The first season aired in Italy from November 2010 to May 2011, while the second season debuted on July 17, 2014; the third one, along with a live-action, is in production.
A special 40-minute-long episode, Il sogno di Brent (Brent's Dream), was presented in September 2012 during the Paralympic Games and opened, on December 3, the European Day of People with Disabilities. It then aired in Italy on December 1, 2013.

## Plot

Madame A, an unscrupulous businesswoman, controls Evertown, a city without green in which sport is no longer practiced. The only land yet to be conquered is the one on which stands the Spikersfield College, but, as it isn't for sale, she attempts to kill the owner Armand Alea. The will of the man, however, states that, in order to take possession not only of the land and the school, but also of the Torch of Olympia, preserved in the museum of the institute, the potential buyers must participate in a volleyball tournament, the Alea Cup. Against Madame A's team, the Black Roses, there's the Spike Team, formed by Jo, Victoria, Beth, Patty, Susan, and Ann Mary, coached by Lucky, a former volleyball champion. Thanks to the tournament, the six girls not only discover their strengths and weaknesses, but also the special virtues that, represented by six gems, are able to re-ignite the Olympic flame.

## Characters
### Main characters

* Johanna "Jo" Robertson Charismatic and bold, she never gives up and doesn't hesitate to help others, but is very proud. Due to the difficult life she had, she thinks that nothing is free and disappointments are always ambush. After the death of her parents Eric and Isabel Arriaga, she grew up in the ghetto of Evertown with her grandmother Rina, her twin brother Julio and the eight-year-old brother Ramon: to help her family she dropped out of college, despite her intention to continue to study, and began working in one of Madame A's beauty farms as a cleaner. In exchange for a scholarship, she agrees to enter the Spike Team, becoming the captain. She has a crush on Carlos and finds her gem, the ruby of Strength, in episode 23.
* Victoria "Vicky" Silvestri Disciplined, tidy, and obedient, her dream is winning at least once, but without tricks. In college, she sleeps in the same room as Susan and her family belongs to the upper class: her mother Nicole Sanders is a tennis player, and her father James is a former equestrian champion who had to give up the Olympics due to an injury that made him lame. For this reason, he wants his daughter to absolutely win horseriding races. She has a special bond with Phil and finds her gem, the turquoise of Loyalty, in episode 12.
* Elizabeth "Beth" Monroe Shy and sweet, she loves books, poetry, and comics. She is a sincere and discreet girl who always tells the truth. She lives with her father, Nathan, chief fireman, her mother Gwen, a quiet Irish woman, her older brother Adam, who attends the police academy, and her pet turtle Ruga. She dreams of becoming a writer and is good at playing piano. She is in love with Mark and finds her gem, the emerald of Courage, in episode 21.
* Patricia "Patty" Tan Denver A studious girl, she's always up to date with the latest technology and has a strong will. Born in Singapore, her mother Ai Linn Tan died when she was seven years old, and Patty has traveled all over the world because his father, Charles Fitzpatrick Denver, is a United Nations diplomat. Never being at home, Mr. Denver has left his daughter in the hands of foster parents who spoiled her with many gifts: so, Patty has never had to work to get something. She initially clashes with Jo, but then changes and shows a strong need to be accepted and have a family. She finds her gem, the amethyst of the spirit of Sacrifice, in episode 5.
* Susan Bredford Careless, lazy, and a little clumsy, she's always cheerful and positive, and her humor is contagious. She likes eating, sleeping, playing video games, and watching TV. She lives with her parents, Kevin and Laura Carter, and her eight-year-old sister Martha; she also has a maternal grandmother, Emma. She finds her gem, the topaz of Balance, in episode 8.
* Ann Mary Lewit Elegant and snob, she's the youngest daughter of a very important family of Evertown: her father Roger is a rich businessman, and her mother Stella Ardakis is a woman of class. She also has two older brothers, Hugh and Steven, who work in her father's companies. A smart girl who loves pink, she is very kind and always sees the best of everyone. She dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She finds her gem, the lapis lazuli of Perseverance, in episode 17.
* Lucky A former champion, after giving up volleyball he worked as a gardener at Villa Ruskin, but then his old coach Luther convinced him to return to the world of sport to train the Spike Team. Determined, generous, and ironic, he has faith in the values of sport and doesn't tolerate foul play. He's in love with Grace. He is based on Italian former volleyball player Andrea Lucchetta.

### Other characters

* Julio Robertson Jo's twin brother, he lives in the ghetto. He dropped school and likes basketball and motorbikes: his dream is breaking into the world of racing. He has a crush on Ann Mary.
* Carlos Montero He's a tough boy who lives with his mother, Francisca Gracia. He spends a lot of time in the ghetto with his best friend Julio and likes skateboards. He works at a car wash to earn money to cure his mother. He has a crush on Jo.
* Mark McGowan Kind and sophisticated, he lives in uptown Evertown, although he spent most of his life on the boat of his parents, owners of a sail yard. He likes poetry and is very popular among girls.
* Philip "Phil" Berger Funny and ironic, he has a perfect pitch for music. He has a crush on Victoria, and his sister Nadia lives in Tel Aviv.
* Justin Clarke He is the leader of a gang of bullies of the Norton College, a school for rich kids, and has a crush on Irina. He has a sister, Kate, who plays in the Black Roses.
* Irina Skinner The captain of the Black Roses, she's a loyal girl who doesn't like foul play. She starts dating Justin.
* Armand Alea The owner and president of Spikersfield College, he's an archaeologist and researcher of ancient sports memorabilia. He's thrown off a cliff by the men of Madame A, but manages to escape and, with a fake will, announces the volleyball tournament that will decide the fate of the school. He hides in a secret room of the museum, under the hall of the Torch: the only person who knows he's still alive is Luther, and then Grace.
* Luther Guardian of the sports facilities of the Spikersfield College, he's Lucky's former coach and manages to convince him to return to the world of sport and train the Spike Team.
* Grace Loton Professor of Archaeology at the Spikersfield College, she was a cheerleader. She is the daughter of Ralph, a mechanic, and Jenny Kowalsky, a teacher. Following Armand Alea's death, she becomes the executor, the new director of the college, and the promoter of the tournament.
* Vito Revelli He's the owner of Vito's, a kiosk on the beach, where Lucky often goes along with the Spike Team.
* Amalia Grabhall "Madame A" A businesswoman without scruples, she wants to take possession of the whole Evertown. In order to participate in the tournament, she buys the best women's volleyball team in the market, the Black Roses, and takes an unconventional coach, Max Coachrane. She has a cat named Veleno and is allergic to flowers; she's always looking for ways to stay young and fight belly, baldness, and wrinkles.
* Max Coachrane "Coach Match" The coach of the Black Roses, he wants to win at any cost.
* Pereira
* Pinkett
* Mimicrì and Linxy

## Episodes
### First season (2010–2011)

| # | "Italian title" (translation) "English dub title" | Italian air date (Rai 2) |
| 1 | "La lunga mano di Madame A" (The long arm of Madame A) | November 21, 2010 (2010-11-21) |
| 2 | "La sfida impossibile" (The impossible challenge) | November 28, 2010 (2010-11-28) |
| 3 | "Si comincia da zero" (Starting from zero) | December 5, 2010 (2010-12-05) |
| 4 | "Le sei dita di una mano" (The six fingers of one hand) | December 12, 2010 (2010-12-12) |
| 5 | "Il valore del sacrificio" (The value of sacrifice) | December 19, 2010 (2010-12-19) |
| 6 | "Dovere o piacere" (Duty or pleasure) | January 2, 2011 (2011-01-02) |
| 7 | "Sfida sleale" (Unfair challenge) | January 9, 2011 (2011-01-09) |
| 8 | "Una sporca trappola" (A dirty trap) | January 16, 2011 (2011-01-16) |
| 9 | "Il trionfo di Madame" (The triumph of Madame) | January 23, 2011 (2011-01-23) |
| 10 | "Cercando una strada" (Searching for a way) | January 30, 2011 (2011-01-30) |
| 11 | "La scelta" (The choice) | February 6, 2011 (2011-02-06) |
| 12 | "La capitana" (The captain) | February 13, 2011 (2011-02-13) |
| 13 | "Una torcia fantasma" (A ghost torch) | February 20, 2011 (2011-02-20) |
| 14 | "L'abbraccio dello squalo" (The embrace of the shark) | February 27, 2011 (2011-02-27) |
| 15 | "Musica e complotti" (Music and plots) | March 6, 2011 (2011-03-06) |
| 16 | "Salvando un college" (Saving a college) | March 13, 2011 (2011-03-13) |
| 17 | "Un terribile dilemma" (A terrible dilemma) | March 20, 2011 (2011-03-20) |
| 18 | "Attacco frontale" (Frontal attack) | March 27, 2011 (2011-03-27) |
| 19 | "Confida nel tuo nemico" (Trust in your enemy) | April 3, 2011 (2011-04-03) |
| 20 | "Fiesta" (Fiesta) | April 10, 2011 (2011-04-10) |
| 21 | "Arbitro venduto" (Sold referee) | April 17, 2011 (2011-04-17) |
| 22 | "Ritorno in pista" (Back on track) | April 24, 2011 (2011-04-24) |
| 23 | "La forza della tigre" (The strength of the tiger) | May 1, 2011 (2011-05-01) |
| 24 | "La conferma di una squadra" (The confirmation of a team) | May 8, 2011 (2011-05-08) |
| 25 | "I conti del passato" (The accounts of the past) | May 15, 2011 (2011-05-15) |
| 26 | "Il sapore della vittoria" (The taste of victory) | May 22, 2011 (2011-05-22) |

### Second season (2014)

| # | "Italian title" (translation) "English dub title" | Italian air date (Rai Gulp) |
| 1 | "Un nuovo inizio" (A new beginning) | July 17, 2014 (2014-07-17) |
| 2 | "In trappola" (In a trap) | July 17, 2014 (2014-07-17) |
| 3 | "Il Braciere di Olimpia" (The Cauldron of Olympia) | July 18, 2014 (2014-07-18) |
| 4 | "Spike Camp" | July 18, 2014 (2014-07-18) |
| 5 | "Lo spirito di una squadra" (The spirit of a team) | July 19, 2014 (2014-07-19) |
| 6 | "Un amore virtuale" (A virtual love) | July 19, 2014 (2014-07-19) |
| 7 | "Orgoglio e pregiudizio" (Pride and prejudice) | July 20, 2014 (2014-07-20) |
| 8 | "Spike oui" | July 20, 2014 (2014-07-20) |
| 9 | "Il segreto della Torcia" (The secret of the Torch) | July 21, 2014 (2014-07-21) |
| 10 | "Vita da college" (College life) | July 21, 2014 (2014-07-21) |
| 11 | "Una spia tra noi" (A spy among us) | July 22, 2014 (2014-07-22) |
| 12 | "Segni dal passato" (Signs from the past) | July 22, 2014 (2014-07-22) |
| 13 | "La bussola vichinga" (The Viking compass) | July 23, 2014 (2014-07-23) |
| 14 | "Sconfitte e amori" (Losses and loves) | July 23, 2014 (2014-07-23) |
| 15 | "Tensioni" (Tensions) | July 24, 2014 (2014-07-24) |
| 16 | "Dentro o fuori" (In or out) | July 24, 2014 (2014-07-24) |
| 17 | "Ironman" | July 25, 2014 (2014-07-25) |
| 18 | "La storia di Brent" (Brent's story) | July 25, 2014 (2014-07-25) |
| 19 | "Fuori squadra" (Out of the team) | July 26, 2014 (2014-07-26) |
| 20 | "Doppio gioco" (Double game) | July 26, 2014 (2014-07-26) |
| 21 | "Solleva, rotea, colpisci" (Lift, spin, hit) | July 27, 2014 (2014-07-27) |
| 22 | "Tradimenti" (Betrayals) | July 27, 2014 (2014-07-27) |
| 23 | "Caerleon" | July 28, 2014 (2014-07-28) |
| 24 | "Dodici cavalieri e un re" (Twelve knights and a king) | July 28, 2014 (2014-07-28) |
| 25 | "Esse di spada, esse di squadra" (S of sword, s of squad) | July 29, 2014 (2014-07-29) |
| 26 | "Six for fight" | July 29, 2014 (2014-07-29) |

### Third season

| # | "Italian title" (translation) "English dub title" | Italian air date |
| 1 | "Sette" (Seven) | TBA |
| 2 | "Susan" | TBA |
| 3 | "Ann Mary" | TBA |
| 4 | "Patty" | TBA |
| 5 | "Vicky" | TBA |
| 6 | "Beth" | TBA |
| 7 | "Franci" | TBA |
| 8 | "Jo" | TBA |
| 9 | "Lucky" | TBA |
| 10 | "Terra" (Earth) | TBA |
| 11 | "Legami" (Bound) | TBA |
| 12 | "L'olimpiade ha inizio" (The Olympics begin) | TBA |
| 13 | "Una vera squadra" (A true team) | TBA |
| 14 | "Thai Indigestio" (Indigestible Thai) | TBA |
| 15 | "Il girone si chiude" (The round closes) | TBA |
| 16 | "Zodiaco" (Zodiac) | TBA |
| 17 | "Buon divertimento Spike!" " (Have fun, Spike!)" | TBA |
| 18 | "Divise" (Divided) | TBA |
| 19 | "La scelta di Jo" (Jo's choice) | TBA |
| 20 | "Fantasmi" (Ghosts) | TBA |
| 21 | "Un altro pianeta" (Another planet) | TBA |
| 22 | "Alchimie di squadra" " (Team alchemies)" | TBA |
| 23 | "Davide vs Golia" (David vs Goliath) | TBA |
| 24 | "Le vestali" (7 vestals) | TBA |
| 25 | "Le leonesse scendono in campo" (The lionesses take the field) | TBA |
| 26 | "Spike Team" | TBA |

## Broadcast

Spike Team has been acquired by Foothill Entertainment for English-language countries, by Rose Entertainment for South America and by Ypsilon Entertainment for Spain-language countries. The series debuted on Duronto TV in Bangladesh on 15 April 2018.

## Books

* Lo Bianco, Fabrizio (23 March 2011). Spike Team - Il grande sogno. Fabbri Editori. p. 192. ISBN 978-88-451-6220-6.
* Lo Bianco, Fabrizio (23 March 2011). Spike Team - La partita del secolo. Fabbri Editori. p. 192. ISBN 978-88-451-6219-0.
* Lo Bianco, Fabrizio (20 April 2011). Spike Team - Il nostro diario. Fabbri Editori. p. 128. ISBN 978-88-451-6221-3.
* Lo Bianco, Fabrizio (24 August 2011). Spike Team - Fuori campo. Fabbri Editori. p. 192. ISBN 978-88-451-6444-6.
* Lo Bianco, Fabrizio (24 August 2011). Spike Team - Sabbia rovente. Fabbri Editori. p. 192. ISBN 978-88-451-6445-3.