Chieri 0103

Led by setter Ofelia Malinov, Chieri are positioned to become the fifth team qualified for the quaterfinals (Photo: LVF)

Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri are close to becoming the fifth team guaranteed in the playoffs of the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A Tigotà and confirmation could come as early as this weekend, during the ninth leg of the second round of the regular season.

Chieri will be at home, at the Palafenera, against Savino Del Bene Scandicci, on Sunday, at 15:00 local time (14:00 GMT), and need to collect just one point in the match to end the weekend out of the reach of the teams currently sitting outside the qualification zone.

  • Watch Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A1 matches live on VBTV.

With 39 points (12 wins) earned during the season, Chieri are currently in fifth place in the standings. They have a 15-point lead over ninth-placed Il Bisonte Firenze, who have 24 points (nine wins), and earning another one will put them out of reach for their chasers in the regular season.

Chieri could, in fact, book their spot in the postseason even with a 3-0 or 3-1 home loss to Scandicci. That will happen if Firenze drop their home match against Igor Gorgonzola Novara, set to take place also on Sunday, at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).

Chieri enter Sunday’s match coming from three consecutive victories, having triumphed in both encounters of their CEV Cup semifinal series against Paris and in an Italian League duel with Itas Trentino.

“Scandicci are an excellent team and will be very tough opponents,” said Chieri’s opposite Martha Anthouli. “Against a team that good, we need to serve well and keep our passing and our offense consistent – in short, we’ll need to be efficient in every fundamental. We’ll stick to the coach’s game plan and give our 100%.”

Scandicci, on the other hand, are fresh from a massive frustration, as they saw their CEV Champions League campaign come to an end with a pair of five-set defeats to Türkiye’s Eczacibasi in the quarterfinals.

The team from Firenze is currently in fourth place in the Italian League with 49 points (17 wins) and have a playoff spot in their pocket, but could move to as high as second if they win and their rivals drop their matches this weekend.

Scandicci won their last five matches against Chieri, but were pushed to five sets on two of those occasions, including their most recent encounter, which took place in November 2023.

Milano host Roma

The only other duel reuniting two teams that sit inside the qualification zone will have second-placed Allianz Vero Volley Milano (51 points, 18 wins) hosting seventh-placed Roma Volley Club (30 points, 10 wins), on Sunday, at 12:00 local time (11:00 GMT).

Lega Femminile - Match Schedule and Results

The ninth leg of the second round of the regular season will begin on Saturday, with two matches – Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore vs. Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano, at 20:30 local time (19:30 GMT), and Volley Bergamo vs. Wash4Green Pinerolo, beginning 30 minutes later.

Sunday’s schedule also includes an encounter between Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia and Trentino at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT) and a duel reuniting Honda Olivero S. Bernardo Cuneo and Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio at 19:30 local time (18:30 GMT).

Quick links:
Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà
VBTV
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
Subscribe to Volleyball World's Newsletter