A week after beating Numia Vero Volley Milano in a dramatic five-setter, Savino Del Bene Scandicci are ready to face another Derby in the 2024-2025 Lega Volley Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà and determined to use it to establish themselves at second-place in the standings.

The team from the Firenze region will go on the road against fourth-placed Igor Gorgonzola Novara on Sunday, at 15:30 local time (14:30 GMT), in the 13^th leg of the regular season, which marks the end of the first round in the country.

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Currently appearing between league leaders Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano (39 points) and third-placed Milano (28) in the standings with 29 points (ten wins, two losses), Scandicci could make important moves this week.

With both their rivals out of action because of their participation at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s Club World Championship 2024 next week in China, Scandicci have the opportunity to cut the gap to Conegliano to seven points, while also creating a four-point separation to Milano.

Undefeated in their last six matches, Scandicci count on the great form of Olympic champion Ekaterina Antropova to keep winning. The 21-year-old opposite scored 34 points against Milano last Sunday and has produced over 25 points in each of the last five matches, in a run that took her to the top of the Lega Femminile’s scoring table, with 293 points – she’s also the league’s best server with 27 aces.

With three victories in their last four matches, Novara also have a huge opportunity in this weekend’s Derby. Currently in fourth place with 25 points (nine wins, three losses), they can move up to third place overcoming Milano if they triumph in three or four sets.

The team’s leading scorer in the season with 177 points, Japanese star outside hitter Mayu Ishikawa has been one of their top players. Last weekend, against Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia, it was Russian opposite Tatiana Tolok who stepped up for them, producing a whopping 36 points.

The Derby between the teams has happened 27 times over the years in the Italian League and Novara has been historically more successful, taking the win in 19 occasions. Scandicci came out on top in three of the five most recent encounters, though, including the last two.

Busto with eyes on the Derby

Sitting right below Novara in fifth place with 24 points, Eurotek Uyba Busto Arsizio will be watching Sunday’s Derby as a defeat from their rivals combined with a victory in their road match against Cda Volley Talmassons Fvg on Saturday, at 20:45 local time (19:45 GMT), could take them up to fourth place.

Lega Volley Femmnilie – Match Schedule & Results

Three other matches will be held on Sunday in Italy, with 14^th-placed Honda Olivero Cuneo hosting eighth-placed Vallefoglia at 16:00 local time (15:00 GMT), ninth-placed Il Bisonte Firenze facing seventh-placed Bergamo one hour later and tenth-placed Wash4Green Pinerolo welcoming 13^th-placed SMI Roma Volley at 17:30 local time (16:30 GMT).

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