A New Season About To Start in Imoco-Dominated Italy
This summer was not the best year for the Italian national team, but just like the previous editions, the new club season will undoubtedly continue to be the center of quality and excitement. The first match will be held tomorrow, October 7th, between Casalmaggiore and Bergamo, and all 14 teams will try their best to reach high places throughout the season.
Even though nothing is certain in volleyball, one thing is for sure: A. Carraro Imoco Volley Conegliano is the biggest pre-favorite of the national league. They won the latest five editions and took each domestic trophy last year (league, cup, super cup). Italian expert Daniele Santarelli showed an impressive performance this summer in his first year with Türkiye, and now he will entirely focus on what his club can do.
Imoco will mainly continue with their top-notch players this season as well. Polish Joanna Wolosz, Swedish superstar Isabelle Haak, Dutch middle blocker Robin De Kruijf, and American outside hitters Kathryn Plummer and Kelsey Robinson-Cook will be the leading international stars of the team, as well as the domestic players, Monica De Gennaro, Marina Lubian, Sarah Fahr and Alessia Gennari.
Imoco may be the most significant candidate for the trophy, but it will take much work this year. Their biggest opponent in Italy will be Vero Volley Milano. The CEV Champions League Volley quarterfinalist and national league & cup silver medallist Milano side considerably improved their roster this season. They will surely want to stand at the top of the podium this year.
The most essential player in the squad will be Paola Egonu. After a one-year experience in Turkish powerhouse VakifBank Istanbul, the Italian opposite returned to Italy with the Milano jersey. Watching Egonu, especially against her old team, Imoco will be interesting. Apart from Egonu, French Helena Cazaute, American Kara Bajema, and Dutch Nika Daalderop joined the team as outside hitters, and Dominican Brenda Castillo as libero.
The country's third #CLVolleyW participant and the candidate for the national league podium is Savino Del Bene Scandicci. Last year's CEV Cup champion will pursue a good rank in Europe's most prestigious tournament this season and also want to be a massive threat in the domestic league. Serbian international Maja Ognjenovic and Brazilian Ana Carolina Da Silva will be the team's new stars, while Chinese Zhu Ting, American Haleigh Washington, and Italian Ekaterina Antropova stay in.
The first whistle will blow in Italy tomorrow for the new season, and the top three teams will take the court on Saturday in their first matches. Dominating the national tournaments for years, Imoco will surely do good things with its experienced & elite players. On the other hand, Milano and Scandicci both build robust teams that have a lot of potential. Don't forget to follow Italian Serie A1 Women this season to watch top-level volleyball clashes.