The Panthers will play their first match in the Italian League after their victory in China
Published 05:00, 25 Dec 2024
Conegliano will try to continue in great form in the Italian League after their victory at the Club World Championship
Four days after securing their third FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship title, Italian giants Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano are set to return to action in the 2024-2025 Lega Volley Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà.
The now three-time world champions will resume their quest for a seventh straight and eighth overall national title on Thursday, when they host Cda Volley Talmassons Fvg at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT) in the second leg of the second round of the regular season.
The world title was another sign of strength from Conegliano in the 2024-2025 season. Since September, the team has already lifted three trophies – they also won the Courmayeur Cup and the Italian Supercup – and won each of the 25 matches played – 13 in the Italian League, six in the Club Word Championship, three in the CEV Champions League, two in the Courmayeur Cup and one in the Italian Supercup.
Their victory in China last week will be celebrated before and during Thursday’s match, with the sold-out crown enjoying the team’s celebration lap and reuniting with the players.
“We are happy, but also tired after our victory in China,” head coach Daniele Santarelli said. “The schedule is calling us back to the court already, but we’re excited about the possibility of bringing the Club World Championship trophy to the Palaverde and feeling the warmth of our fans, who were deeply missed in China. We’ll see which players are fit after a demanding week in China and will put together the best possible lineup. It won’t be easy, but we’re used to matches like this and I’m sure that the excitement for our victory and the energy coming from the stands will be the fuel that we need to secure another win.”
While Conegliano are clear at the top of the standings with 39 points, Talmassons are fighting on the other end of it, currently appearing in 13th placed with nine points (two wins, 12 losses). The team has lost its last three matches, two of them to direct opponents in the race to avoid relegation, and desperately need points to move up in the standings.
This season’s first-round match, which was won by Conegliano 3-0 back in October, was the only encounter between the teams so far.
The bronze medalists of the Club World Championship, Numia Vero Volley Milano will also return to action in the Italian League. The team has some ground to recover after missing the last two legs of the season as, after departing to China in second place, they returned in fourth, with 28 points (ten wins, three losses) – they were passed by Savino Del Bene Scandicci, who have 33 points, and Igor Gorgonzola Novara, who have 30.
Milano can make their first move upwards in the standings on Thursday, when they play on the road against SMI Roma Volley, at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
“We return to the Italian League with the nice experience acquired in the Club World Championship, but also without much time to rest,” head coach Stefano Lavarini reflected. “We have no other option than embracing the challenge and trying to approach this match against Roma with the right mindset. We’ll do our best to capitalize on the positing things we showed in China.”
Their direct rivals will also be on the court on Thursday, with Scandicci hosting Il Bisonte Firenze at 18:00 local time (17:00 GMT) and Novara visiting Wash4Green Pinerolo two hours earlier.
Lega Volley Femmnilie – Match Schedule & Results
The busy day of action in the Italian League will also have Bergamo playing Eurotek Uyba Busto Arsizio at 15:30 local time (14:30 GMT) and Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 meeting Honda Olivero Cuneo and Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia facing Bartoccini-MC Restauri Perugia at 17:00 (16:00).
Quick links:
Lega Volley Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà
VBTV
Volleyball World Facebook
Volleyball World X
Volleyball World Instagram
Volleyball World YouTube
Subscribe to Volleyball World's Newsletter
