Only four teams continue undefeated after the first two legs of the 2025-2026 Lega Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà regular season, and two of them, Igor Gorgonzola Novara and Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri '76, are set to clash on Wednesday in what should be the most exciting duel of the third matchday of the Italian League.

A full set of seven matches is scheduled to take place in the country on Wednesday and the duel involving Novara and Chieri will be the first to start, at 19:15 local time (17:15 GMT), in Novara.

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Novara have been in great form since the start of the season. The team secured victories against defending champions Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano and Savino Del Bene Scandicci, the two other teams that are undefeated in the Italian League, to win the preparation tournament Courmayeur Cup, and continued in great form at the start of the Lega Femminile, beating Omag-Mt San Giovanni In Marignano and Eurotek Laica UYBA Busto Arsizio in their first two matches to collect the six points in play.

"We expect a very difficult match," outside hitter Britt Herbots said. "They are coming from a big win against Milano and will be motivated. They are a very talented team, which likes to play fast, but we'll have the support of our fans to push us forward. We'll need to be calm in the difficult moments, to push when we can and be ready to play our best volleyball right from the start."

With 29 points scored across the team's two matches, American middle blocker Amber Igiede, one of Novara's offseason signings, has had a great start for them. Japanese outside hitter Mayu Ishikawa is another of the pillars of the team and tallied 20 points so far.

Chieri produced the biggest upset of the season so far, taking down last year's runners-up Numia Vero Volley Milano in a five-set battle last Sunday. The team, which on Opening Day topped Il Bisonte Firenze 3-1 on the road, has five points in the Italian League standings.

"I don't think our match against Milano was perfect, but it showed that we can win even if we have ups and downs," setter Sarah Van Aalen reflected. "Novara is another very good team, and they're having a great start to the season. If they can get their middles involved in the offense, it will be very difficult for us, so we'll need to serve well."

One of their offseason additions, Hungarian opposite Anett Németh is Chieri's leading scorer in the season so far, with 42 points. World champion outside hitter Stella Nervini has also been extremely productive for them, having amassed 37 points across the team's first two matches in the season.

Novara have historically been successful in the encounters against Chieri, having triumphed 16 times in 24 duels. Last season, the teams met in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs, adding up to five encounters during the Italian League, with Novara prevailing in three of them.

Firenze, which have one win and one loss, and CBF Balducci HR Macerata, which are yet to triumph in their return to the Italian Elite, having dropped the first two matches of their campaign, will face off at 20:00 (18:00 GMT).

Lega Volley Femminile - Match Schedule & Results

The remaining five matches will all start at 20:30 (18:30 GMT) - Busto Arsizio vs. Bergamo, Bartoccini-Mc Restauri Perugia vs. Wash4Green Monviso Volley, Milano vs. Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia, Omag vs. Conegliano and Honda Cuneo Granda Volley vs. Scandicci.

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