The challenge of catching Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano at the top of the 2025-2026 Lega Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà standings just got harder after the tenth leg of the regular season, which saw the defending champions claim their 11th victory while all three of their closest pursuers dropped points.

Conegliano's 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25-16) win over second-placed Savino Del Bene Scandicci on Sunday was a critical result for the Panthers, which now are at least seven points ahead of the rest of the field in the Italian League.

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Undefeated in their first 11 Lega Femminile matches, the reigning world champions ended the weekend with 32 points in the standings. By losing the direct duel, Scandicci continued with 25 (nine wins, two losses), and saw the difference to the leaders increase from four to seven points. After playing a five-setter on Saturday, third-placed Numia Vero Volley Milano, which now have 23 points (seven wins, four losses), and fifth-placed Igor Gorgonzola Novara, which have 20 (seven wins, three losses), the same total as fourth-placed Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri '76, both lost ground to the defending champions as well.

Swedish star opposite Isabelle Haak was huge in Conegliano's victory, topping all scorers with 22 points in a solid all-around performance that saw her produce 16 kills, three blocks and three aces. Slovenian outside hitter Fatoumatta Sillah was their top offensive player, registering 18 points, all in kills.

"The team played a great match and I'm very happy about it," Polish setter Joanna Wołosz, who earned the match's MVP award, reacted. "Scandicci are a great team, and they have been showing it during the season. It wasn't our best game, but we were aggressive and our serving and our blocking worked very well."

Scandicci and Italian national team star opposite Ekaterina Antropova was limited to only 14 points (12 kills, one block, one ace), having her least productive match in the season so far. American outside hitter Avery Skinner got to 12, all earned on offense.

Novara beat Milano in five

The duel between Conegliano and Scandicci was actually the second Derby of the weekend in Italy, as on Saturday, Novara went on the road and downed Milano 3-2 (25-20, 27-25, 17-25, 17-25, 15-11). The match was played in front of 12,667 fans at the Unipol Forum, setting a new attendance record for women's volleyball matches in the country.

It was a great team win for Novara, which saw their five starting hitters have very similar production, with opposite Britt Herbots, outside hitter Mayu Ishikawa and middle blocker Indy Baijens registering 13 points each, while outside hitter Lina Aslmeier and middle blocker Sar Bonifcacio contributed 12. The Japanese national team captain was the match's MVP.

"I'm so proud of the team," said Olympic and world champion setter Carlotta Cambi. "We just won a very important match, against a super strong opponent in an amazing atmosphere. We started very well, but then they came back. In the tie-breaker, we played with our hearts because we really wanted to win."

Milano, on the other hand, concentrated their offense on star opposite Paola Egonu, who alone scored 31 points (25 kills, four aces, two blocks), topping all scorers. American outside hitter Khalia Lanier came next, with 15, all in kills.

On Sunday, Chieri took advantage of the point dropped by Novara to catch them in the standings with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-22) road win over Honda Cuneo Granda Volley. Hungarian opposite Anett Németh was their leading scorer with 17 points (15 kills, one block, one ace).

The four remaining matches were all played on Sunday and had Eurotek Laica UYBA Busto Arsizio beating Il Bisonte Firenze 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-21) on the road, Bergamo sweeping (25-23, 25-15, 25-16) Wash4Green Monviso Volley also as visitors, Megabox Ondulati Del Savio Vallefoglia topping CBF Balducci HR Macerata 3-1 (25-21, 25-27, 25-22, 25-19) at home and Omag-Mt San Giovanni In Marignano surprisingly earning their second positive result of the season with a 3-1 (25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 25-21) road win over Bartoccini-MC Restauri Perugia.

Lega Volley Femminile - Match Schedule & Results

Two anticipated matches of the first leg of the second round of the regular season will be held on Wednesday, with Conegliano facing Busto Arsizio at 20:00 local time (19:00 UTC) and Scandicci hosting Monviso 30 minutes later.

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