Italy - Serie A1 2025/26

Double sweep for Novara and Conegliano in Saturday's fixtures.

Novara didn't make discounts and Cuneo was able to compete in the lone second set, the rest of the match was almost a no contest. Little by little the limits of a team that has possibly the worst passing of the league, an ageing and declining setter and a group of laterals built in the most tinkered way are showing. Still, I liked the grit Marring showed in order to overcome the difficult technical context. With the return of Tolok in the starting lineup and a fully healthy roster, Novara is clearly on a different level and it's showing. Baijens did make the transition from Igiede flawless and formed a solid pairing with Bonifacio, Alsmeier is working well with Herbots too and resting Ishikawa now might translate in making the Japanese a dangerous jolly to play further ahead in the season. I think the match with Fenerbahçe may be quite fun.

In the first two sets Conegliano faced possibly the best version of Perugia this season, but in the end, even without Gabi, Zhu Ting, Fahr and Chirichella, the gap between the two teams showed. The pairing of Daalderop and Sillah worked well, with a slight edge of the Slovenian over the Dutch, but positive game from Munarini too. I don't think Perugia could have done much more than this, maybe they could've tried to help Gardini giving Markovič a bit more playtime, but the essence of the game wouldn't have changed.

Bosio has became Orro. She is playing horribly.

Its basically Seki outplaying Bosio right now. Seki really added the fun factor to the team.

Basically no surprises around the league in the afternoon.

I must say Monviso did battle more than expected against a messy Vallefoglia. Both teams made many mistakes, but the hosts managed to get more consistent thanks to an inspired Dodson. Her entry helped Monviso in becoming more competitive on block-defence correlation and giving more options on offence, but they still managed to choke a 2-1 lead and suffer a 6-0 run to end the tie-break when leading 12-9. At least this showed that Marchiaro wasn't the real problem and with this roster is almost impossible to avoid relegation. I can't say Vallefoglia can be that much happier either, De Bortoli and Giovannini struggled way too much against a quite sloppy serving, Carletti was good off the bench but overall the team looked quite messy. They were gritty though, and this is something to build on looking on their crucial Challenge Cup fixture.

Milano got off a rocky start but managed to get the better of UYBA, with Egonu and Lanier sharing the bigger load and thus opening a bit the field for Piva. I know how important Kurtagić is for Milano's game, but considering she's coming off an injury I would've put Sartori in for some rotations. Plus, as much as Bosio is a competitor, the difference between her and Seki clearly showed, even after the immense first set and a half played by Obossa. I think Parlangeli subbing Battista for passing went well, so I would've tried it in the other sets too rather than relying in Gennari. That said, I believe Busto Arsizio got the most out of their resources today.

Chieri managed to sweep San Giovanni in Marignano after a complicated first set and that means if their next match against Perugia will end 3-0 or 3-1, Chieri will mathematically finish ahead of Novara because of set ratio, which is important looking towards Coppa Italia. Hats off to them, because the team is operating as regular as clockwork, ensuring consistent performances even in tricky games, when in past season used to lose points. I'd like to say something about San Giovanni in Marignano but... Well, you know...

Huge win on the road for Bergamo against Firenze, making a crucial step for a much better second half of the season. The visitors' performance was solid from the first to the last rally, building on rhythm and focus. What a day from Meli, she was dominant around the net and she's really making the most out of the opportunity she got after Strubbe's injury. Good effort from Kipp too, the American is finding her way now and becoming the main weapon of the offence. Firenze was a real mess and in total confusion, they tried a late, desperate recovery in the fading phases of the third set, but the feeling I had it was more of Bergamo lifting the foot off the accelerator rather than Firenze really having a chance. Plus, the choices Chiavegatti is making are worsening the situation.

The real surprise in Macerata was seeing Ognjenović as a starter and playing the whole match. I expected Gaspari to give her some rest after the Champions League match against Alba-Blaj, but the woman can't be almost 42 because she basically didn't show any sign of fatigue today. Macerata didn't have much of a chance against a fully loaded Scandicci, but credits in making that 7-0 run in the second set, which almost extended the match for one set.

Quote from side.out

Huge win on the road for Bergamo against Firenze, making a crucial step for a much better second half of the season. The visitors' performance was solid from the first to the last rally, building on rhythm and focus. What a day from Meli, she was dominant around the net and she's really making the most out of the opportunity she got after Strubbe's injury. Good effort from Kipp too, the American is finding her way now and becoming the main weapon of the offence. Firenze was a real mess and in total confusion, they tried a late, desperate recovery in the fading phases of the third set, but the feeling I had it was more of Bergamo lifting the foot off the accelerator rather than Firenze really having a chance. Plus, the choices Chiavegatti is making are worsening the situation.

What is Strubbe's injury? I thought she simply lost her starting spot due to poor performance and because Meli seemed to do better.

Quote from Matthias

What is Strubbe's injury? I thought she simply lost her starting spot due to poor performance and because Meli seemed to do better.

From what I know she had some small problems to her ankle, hence Parisi gradually gave Meli more and more playtime.

Quote from side.out

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Huge win on the road for Bergamo against Firenze, making a crucial step for a much better second half of the season. The visitors' performance was solid from the first to the last rally, building on rhythm and focus. What a day from Meli, she was dominant around the net and she's really making the most out of the opportunity she got after Strubbe's injury. Good effort from Kipp too, the American is finding her way now and becoming the main weapon of the offence. Firenze was a real mess and in total confusion, they tried a late, desperate recovery in the fading phases of the third set, but the feeling I had it was more of Bergamo lifting the foot off the accelerator rather than Firenze really having a chance. Plus, the choices Chiavegatti is making are worsening the situation.

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It was known that Bisonte was a "mediocre" team, but it's only as mediocre as Monviso, Cuneo, Perugia, Macerata, and SGM, teams that on paper certainly had less potential to express and over which they started with an advantage thanks to a very favorable first-half schedule...

Firenze's problem is certainly the bench: if the other teams have Lionetti, Giovi, Salvagni, etc., Florence has Chiavegatti...

Even when his appointment was announced, many had expressed doubts about the decision to entrust a team like Firenze had built this year to an unknown and inexperienced coach, but he was given the benefit of the doubt...

Now, it's safe to say that in A1, at least in recent years, we haven't seen such a low-level coach on the bench: perhaps a comparison can be made with Casalmaggiore a few years ago, when the team was entrusted to Volpini, but, almost certainly, and for me without a doubt, Chiavegatti is worse than him...

I have no idea what It might happen during the week in the gym (but judging by the constant decline of all the players, I'd say it's nothing good), but seeing him on the bench during games is a spectacle bordering on the ridiculous: inconsistent in his relationship with the girls and with an almost dissociative behavior, he seems at times absent from the game and incapable of reading, even on a basic level, what's happening...

In recent months, he's collected every negative thing that can be done on the bench with incomprehensible consistency and perseverance: absurd lineups, incomprehensible substitutions (both made and unmade), non-existent video checks... A truly difficult sample to describe...

Now, in light of what has been described and what can be expected, the Bisonte's hopes of survival are only tied to the fact that at least two teams, between now and February 21st, do worse: I doubt the club will go on the market in December/January and I strongly doubt that Chiavegatti can be replaced, unless the situation becomes disastrous, and, in any case, it will be done. only when this is almost irreversible...

Milano's black outs are a little bit worring and I do not understand what's wrong. I have two thoughts. Either Bosio is so messy or Egonu must make a step ahead in her role as a captain. Anyway, I like Milano this season. Egonu is in great form and is clearly having her best season since joining Milan. She is stable, she scores, she hits every kind of set and keeps her errors in a normal level. Bosio has a big role in her success. They built a really good connection and generally she is really good with her pins but.... Her sets in the middle... She usually plays good with Kurtagic but when it comes to Danesi and Sartori, I just can't see it. The sets are barely middle sets, they are really bad. I can't see Danesi stays in Milano if Bosio stays as well..

The other team I wanted to comment is Monviso or the error queens. I still believe that that Daviskyba and Malual can perform good individually but really what do you expect when you transfer the main trio of a team that almost relegated the last season... And things are probably even worst then the last season because Malual only makes errors and D'Odorico just make things worst with her errors. They definetely need a different OH. A solid defensive player that scores and do not make errors. Only in this way they can be saved.

Chirichella is probably thinking about coaching after his career ends.

https://www.volleyball.it/2025…iventa-internazional.html

What an entertaining match between Macerata and Bergamo last night! Tons of blocks in the first set, where the teams probably didn't make the best choices on offence, but overall it was quite neck and neck until the end. I think the hosts won because they were more precise in the tie-break and overall had a better passing. Bonelli was able to vary the game, involving Clothier and Mazzon much more in the game and thus giving a very good Decortes some breath between rallies. The visitors suffered from the lack of contribution by Cesé, in the crucial phases Kipp didn't make the difference as expected and Bergamo's passing didn't help Eze in making the best choices. Bolzonetti had a very good game off the bench and Mlejnková showed signs of revival, Meli wasn't a factor on offence but showed once again she's a fearsome presence around the next, tallying four blocks.

Cese Montalvo is the big flop of this season so far. From being choice for top level clubs, she became a sub for Mosser,Mlejnkova and Bozonetti ( who is an really interesting player ). I liked her a lot when she played in Russia as an opposite and never understood either her club choices or the fact that she became OH. She has the worst reception in the whole Serie and her teammates leaves her the less space possible in the reception. Anyway, I hope that she will find her way.

I'm happy for the Novara players that Bernardi is finally rotating and not overusing them, but it's super annoying for my Fanta team

Also Knollema as opposite? Yikes, does anyone know if Bukilic is not fit either or the coach really thinks they'll be better offensively with this switch? Bc seeing Jolien's efficiency on OH/pipe I'd go for Tanase/Villani as receiving opp over this version lol

Are you able to watch in VB*fckin*TV? I seem to have an error.

Quote from Sassy

I'm happy for the Novara players that Bernardi is finally rotating and not overusing them, but it's super annoying for my Fanta team

Also Knollema as opposite? Yikes, does anyone know if Bukilic is not fit either or the coach really thinks they'll be better offensively with this switch? Bc seeing Jolien's efficiency on OH/pipe I'd go for Tanase/Villani as receiving opp over this version lol

im also suprised by Knollema as a OP with the OHs they have. Best guess would be that it's just temporary and between the three she's the best hitter on the right?

Quote from mintonette

Are you able to watch in VB*fckin*TV? I seem to have an error.

Yes, so far it works! But now I'm afraid to close the app in case me being able to watch is the fluke lol. I'm watching through the app on my tablet

Quote from mintonette

Are you able to watch in VB*fckin*TV? I seem to have an error.

It's working fine for me

Quote from volley123

im also suprised by Knollema as a OP with the OHs they have. Best guess would be that it's just temporary and between the three she's the best hitter on the right?

Yeah I guess, but they're also sacrificing their best scorer on the left. Acciari has more attacking points on slide than Villani and Tanase have

Bracchi as OPP for SGM, seems to be working well so far.