Who will take on defending champions Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano in the big final of this year’s Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile in Italy? This question will find its answer on Wednesday evening when Savino Del Bene Scandicci host Vero Volley Milan in Florence for the deciding duel of their semifinal match-up. Also on Wednesday, Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore welcome Volley Bergamo 1991 for the direct battle over the spot against Il Bisonte Florence in the final match for the Italian vacancy in next season’s CEV Challenge Cup.

• Watch all Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 matches live or on demand on **VBTV**.

With their semifinal series tied at one win each, Savino Del Bene and Vero Volley will lock horns at 20:30 local time (18:30 UTC) at the Palazzo Wanny in Florence. The girls from Scandicci achieved a 3-1 (21-25, 25-12, 25-13, 25-23) home victory in the first match and those from Milan levelled the playoff with a 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21) home win in the second, to add to the parity between the two teams from the regular season, when each side managed a five-set away win at the opponents’ venue. The overall head-to-head record stands at 12-10 in favour of Savino Del Bene.

If Savino Del Bene win on Wednesday, they will advance to the first Serie A1 final in the club’s history. Should Vero Volley emerge victorious, they will make it to their second final and set up a remake of last year’s championship series with Imoco.

“It is the most important match of the season,” stated Savino Del Bene’s head coach Massimo Barbolini. “We are preparing for it with great calm and determination. The girls want to take this chance, knowing that there are things we can do better than in game two. We can't change much, but small details that make the difference. We are preparing well for this fixture which, as I mentioned, is currently the most important game of the season. To reach the championship final would be very rewarding, so we have to play this challenge to the end.”

“I've been repeating it before every game this post-season: it's a playoff and it starts all over again every time,” said Vero Volley’s head coach Marco Gaspari. “After game one we had to stay calm, after game two we'll have to do the same: every game can be the last and we just have to think about playing one ball at a time. Scandicci want this final as much as we do, and I think patience in the long actions will make the difference. I liked the dedication of the team in the second match. We were cohesive, we didn't give up, when we went down in the second set and then in the fourth, continuing to play with determination.”

The last matches in the pool stage of the race for the Challenge Cup quota will also be played on Wednesday. Starting at 20:30 local time (18:30 UTC) at the Pala Radi in Cremona, Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore and Volley Bergamo 1991 will face each other for the top of the final Pool B standings, which comes with a spot in Sunday’s deciding final for the European ticket against Il Bisonte, who have already secured the first place in Pool A.

“It will be very important for us to arrive at the match against Bergamo with the same mentality shown in the last few matches, because we want to earn the spot in the final against Florence and return to Europe,” commented Trasportipesanti’s opposite Adhuoljok Malual.

“The thought that at stake in this match is access to the final makes us even more energized. We have little energy left, we have to admit it, because it has been an intense season, but we want to give it all,” said Bergamo’s middle blocker Laura Bovo. “I think for us it would be yet another milestone in a year that has seen us play an important role in the regular season, in the Coppa Italia and in the playoffs. In short, going to play for a place in Europe could be the icing on the cake of a beautiful season.”

The last Pool A match is without competitive relevance, but as Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri welcome e-work Busto Arsizio at 20:00 local time (18:00 UTC), they will have the opportunity to finish the season on a high note and unveil their potential without the pressure of winning.

Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile’s Semifinals Leg 3 schedule:
May 3, 20:30 local (18:30 UTC): Savino Del Bene Scandicci v Vero Volley Milan

Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile’s Challenge Cup Pool Stage Leg 3 schedule:
May 3, 20:00 local (18:00 UTC): Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri v e-work Busto Arsizio
May 3, 20:30 local (18:30 UTC): Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore v Volley Bergamo 1991

Quick links:
Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A1
VBTV
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube