Currently in fifth place in the standings with 34 points (11 wins, five losses), Milano need a triumph in the Derby to try to get back in the league's top four, while also avoiding losing ground to the teams ranked above them. The team from Northern Italy comes into Saturday's match looking to rebound after being upset by Megabox Ondulati Del Savio Vallefoglia on Tuesday, a result that cost them a spot in the standings.
"We had too many ups and downs in the first three legs of the second round of the regular season, and that has cost us some important points, which created a little bit of a gap to the teams ahead of us," head coach Stefano Lavarini said. "Conegliano is a top opponent, and that will motivate us to recover from the defeat to Vallefoglia."
The only undefeated team in the Italian League, Conegliano are isolated at the top of the standings with 46 points (16 wins), six clear of second-placed Savino Del Bene Scandicci. The Panthers recently returned to action in the Italian League after competing at the FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship and have rested some of their starters against both Honda Cuneo Granda Volley and Omag-Mt San Giovanni In Marignano, preserving them for Saturday's big match.
