Vallefoglia try to keep good form against Pinerolo

The strong start of Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia has been one of the surprises of the 2023-2024 season of the Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A so far. With seven points in three matches, the team from the Eastern region of Italy is currently in fifth place in the standings.

This weekend, Vallefoglia will have a great opportunity to keep their good form as they host Wash4Green Pinerolo on Sunday, at 17:00 local time (19:00 UTC), in one of the five matches of the weekend in the country.

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

One of just five teams to earn points in each of the first three matches of the season, Vallefoglia currently have seven points, ranking just behind the country’s ‘Big Four’ formed by Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano (nine points), Igor Gorgonzola Novara (nine), Allianz Vero Volley Milano (eight) and Savino Del Bene Scandicci (seven).

With Imoco and Milano both not having Italian League matches this weekend, as they clash in the Italian Supercoppa on Saturday, Vallefoglia have a good opportunity to move up at least two spots if they can top Pinerolo in front of their home fans – they have won six of the nine encounters between the teams so far.

Vallefoglia started the season with a dramatic 3-2 loss to Roma Volley Club in front of their home fans, their only upset in the season so far, but reacted with four-set road wins over Volley Bergamo 1991 and Honda Olivero S. Bernardo Cuneo.

“We worked very hard in the gym in order to be ready for the next two matches,” middle blocker Agnese Cecconello said. “We have two strong opponents ahead of us and have studied Pinerolo’s game so we can get a good result.”

One of the team’s new signings for the season, opposite Camilla Mingardi, has been playing a big role in Vallefoglia’s success – she leads the team in points with 57 and was the team’s top scorer in each of their three matches.

Lega Femminile - Match Schedule and Results

Their opponents Pinerolo have one win in three matches, but have also displayed progress this season, beating Il Bisonte Firenze 3-2 and falling to Cuneo in five sets and to Novara in four. With three points, they are ninth in the League.

“Sunday’s match will be a very difficult one,” head coach Michele Marchiaro reflected. “Vallefoglia have numerous qualities, but right now they’ve been very good at getting out of difficult situations. They’re a very strong team offensively and we’re the same way, so it should be an exciting match.”

Pinerolo have the fifth-best Lega Femminile scorer, Swiss opposite Maja Storck, with 61 points, two players tied at the top of the serving charts with six aces in outside hitters Indre Sorokaite and Adelina Budăi-Ungureanu and another two tied for third in passes – Sorokaite and libero Ilenia Moro, with 30 each.

Other matches of the weekend

With Milano’s duel against Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri and Imoco’s encounter with Roma postponed to November due to their Supercoppa matchup, the Italian League will have just four matches this weekend in addition to the battle between Vallefoglia and Pinerolo.

Bergamo and Cuneo will start the action on Saturday at 20:30 local time (22:30 UTC), with two other encounters taking place on Sunday at 17:00 local time (19:00 UTC) – Savino Del Bene vs. Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore and Itas Trentino vs. Firenze – and one at 18:30 local time (20:30 UTC) – Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio vs. Novara.

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