Determined to continue chasing league leaders Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano for the top spot in the 2025-2026 Lega Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà standings, Igor Gorgonzola Novara and Savino Del Bene Scandicci are set to meet on Sunday, in what should be the most exciting match of the seventh leg of the first round of the Italian League.

Even though the regular season in Italy is yet to reach its halfway point, Sunday's match, which is set to start at 16:00 local time (15:00 GMT), at the Pala Igor, in Novara, could have major implications in the battle in the upper quarter of the table.

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The duel can be pivotal for both teams. Scandicci are second in the standings with the same 17 points as Conegliano and don't want to lose ground to their rivals, who will be on the court on Saturday, in the only match of the day, facing Bergamo on the road at 20:30 (19:30 GMT). For Novara, who are third with 14, the consequences could be even more impactful, as a loss could get them as many as six points behind both their rivals, while also opening the door for potentially three teams to pass them over the weekend.

The hosts of Sunday's match, Novara recovered well from their first upset of the season, against Conegliano last weekend, and came back to beat Wash4Green Monviso Volley on the road on Wednesday, claiming their fifth victory in six matches.

A new signing for the team this season, American middle blocker Amber Igiede has been on fire, leading Novara with 70 points. Outside hitters Mayu Ishikawa (60), Lina Alsmeier (59) and Britt Herbots (58) are other pillars of the team.

Scandicci, one of just two teams to have already completed seven matches in the 2025-2026 Lega Femminile, have secured four consecutive victories after going down to Honda Cuneo Granda Volley two weeks ago, the last of which against Eurotek Laica UYBA Busto Arsizio on Sunday, and now have six victories and one loss.

With 140 points, star opposite Ekaterina Antropova is the Italian League's top scorer this season. Also offering solid contributions to Scandicci's strong campaign are German middle blocker Camilla Weitzel, who registered 76 so far, and American outside hitter Avery Skinner, who tallied 75.

"Novara are one of the strongest and most competitive teams in the league," head coach Marco Gaspari said. "They have plenty of offensive options, and we'll need to serve well to neutralize at least some of them. We'll also need to do better both offensively and defensively. Important points will be in play, and we'll need to be ready to overcome difficult moments."

Sunday's match will mark the 30th encounter between the teams in Italian League action and Novara have a solid advantage, having collected 21 victories in the 29 duels held so far. The rivals have met already in 2025-2026, and Novara came out on top, winning in five sets to take the title of the preseason tournament Courmayeur Cup, in September.

Five more matches on Sunday

Besides the Derby and the encounter between Conegliano and Bergamo on Saturday, the seventh leg of the Italian League will have five more matches, all held on Sunday. The first of them, set to start at 15:00 (14:00 GMT), will have Numia Vero Volley Milano at home against Monviso.

Lega Volley Femminile - Match Schedule & Results

The four remaining duels will all begin at 17:00 (16:00 GMT) - Busto Arsizio vs. CBF Balducci HR Macerata, Megabox Ondulati Del Savio Vallefoglia vs. Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri '76, Il Bisonte Firenze vs. Bartoccini-MC Restauri Perugia and Omag-Mt San Giovanni In Marignano vs. Cuneo.

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