Italian #CLVolleyW Semifinalists Shone in Domestic Playoffs, Clear Win From VakifBank

With the CEV Champions League Volley semifinals approaching, the top contenders returned to their domestic leagues this weekend. In Italy, all three #CLVolleyW semifinalists—A. Carraro Imoco Volley Conegliano, Numia Vero Volley Milano, and Savino Del Bene Scandicci—secured their places in the Serie A1 semifinals. Meanwhile, in Türkiye, VakifBank Istanbul claimed a dominant win but remained in third place as their biggest rivals also won their matches.

The reigning Italian champions A. Carraro Imoco Volley Conegliano showed no signs of slowing down as they dominated Bergamo in straight sets (3-0: 25-13, 25-21, 25-19). Conegliano controlled the game from start to finish, with Italian libero Monica De Gennaro earning the MVP title for her defensive brilliance. Cristina Chirichella and Isabelle Haak led the scoring with 11 points each, ensuring Conegliano’s smooth progression to the semifinals.

For Savino Del Bene Scandicci, the road to the semifinals was far more challenging. Busto Arsizio took a shocking 2-0 lead, putting Scandicci under pressure. However, the #CLVolleyW semifinalists fought back, forcing a deciding set. The tie-break turned into a nerve-wracking battle, extending to 22-20 before Scandicci finally secured the victory (3-2: 19-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-20, 22-20). Ekaterina Antropova was the standout performer, delivering an MVP-worthy 32-point performance, including four aces and one block. Britt Herbots also contributed 16 points to help Scandicci advance.

Like Scandicci, Numia Vero Volley Milano endured a tough battle against Vallefoglia before clinching a five-set victory (3-2: 25-20, 21-25, 25-15, 21-25, 15-7). Despite an inconsistent performance, Milano dominated the decisive tie-break to secure their spot in the semifinals, where they will now face Scandicci. Middle blocker Hena Kurtagić was named MVP, thanks to her 13-point performance, featuring an impressive 8 blocks. Meanwhile, Paola Egonu led the attack with 24 points, guiding Milano to victory.

In Türkiye’s Sultanlar Ligi, VakifBank Istanbul delivered a commanding 3-0 win against Beşiktaş (25-16, 25-18, 25-22). However, with Fenerbahçe and Eczacıbaşı also securing victories, VakifBank remains in third place in the standings. With the playoffs approaching, the team will aim to build momentum for both their domestic and European campaigns.

As all three Italian semifinalists progress further in their domestic campaigns, and VakifBank continues to stay strong in Türkiye, the #CLVolleyW semifinalists are now gearing up for their next crucial battles. With their domestic form in check, they proved that they will definitely want to reach the happy ending in every competition they attend. We will see what will happen at the end of the season.