All-Italian final as Chieri and Roma qualify for the last act of the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup Women

For the fourth consecutive season in a row, the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup Women will be won by an Italian side, after Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri’76 and Roma Volley both qualified to the last act, staging fantastic comebacks.

Drama was all around in the battle between Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri’76 and Galatasaray Daikin Istanbul, as Chieri took a clear advantage with an away win in the first leg, 3:1, needing only two sets to make it to the last act.

They were even closer after the first set, after Galatasaray lost an advantage close to the end of the set, as Chieri secured a 25:22 win, with only a set needed for the Italian side to progress. But the match was far from over and the Turkish team provided an impressive challenge, with their never-say-die attitude seeing a golden set played to decide the winner.

Backed by 21 points from Katarina Lazovic and 19 points from Alexia Căruțașu, Galatasaray swept the next three sets, in hard-fought fashion, 25:20; 25:23 and 27:25, forcing a golden set. The fourth set was especially close, with Chieri taking an early 8:3 lead, only for Galatasaray to come back and tie the score of the doubleheader, 3:1.

In the golden set, Chieri dominated from start to finish, leading 5:4 and 10:9, before they delivered an excellent finish, powered by their top scorer, Anne Buijs, who had 20 points, to clinch a 15:13 win and progress to the final.

"The performance we had in the first leg was close to perfection. We knew we had to replicate it to put them in difficulty, after the second set we didn't succeed at all, but with heart we turned it around. The contribution of all the players was fundamental. We are really happy,” said Chieri’s captain, Ilaria Spirito.

The Italian side qualified for their third consecutive European final, after clinching the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup Women in 2023 and the CEV Volleyball Cup in 2024.

Losing the first leg of the semi-final against SC Potsdam, 2:3, was hardly a good start of the doubleheader for Roma Volley, but with the second, decisive leg on their home court, the Italian side pulled no punches and dominated to secure their maiden appearance in the final of an European competition.

Roma started the match needing a win and with Anna Adelusi in fine form, they took the first set, 25:21, setting the tone for the match. The second set was even clearer, 25:19, but with Potsdam reeling and in need of a miracle, the third set was harder.

Tied on 20:20, Michela Ciarrocchi entered the court, delivered a spike and an ace, to help her side take a 22:20 lead. Eventually, Roma secured the third set, 25:20, and celebrated the 3:0 win, which saw them through to the next phase of the competition.

“We played a great match. After the first leg we started at a disadvantage but we always believed and we deserved the victory. Now let's think about the championship and then enjoy this final,” said Adelusi, who had 17 points in the match.