Redazione Volleyball.it
The day unfolded on three main tracks: the Frecciarossa A2 Women’s Italian Cup, the European cups (Champions League, CEV Cup and Challenge Cup), plus a few side stories spanning the transfer market, awards and a statistical feature.
Frecciarossa A2 Women’s Italian Cup: Padova into the semifinals
In Rome, Nuvolí AltaFratte Padova secured the last semifinal spot in the Frecciarossa A2 Italian Cup, winning 1–3 away to SMI Roma Volley. The match was long and intense, with the opening set decided in extra points 29–31 after 44 minutes; Padova then moved back in front in the third (23–25) and managed the fourth (21–25).
Key takeaways from the story: Padova made the difference with blocking and backcourt defense (14 total blocks, roughly double Roma’s), and with two 21-point scorers (Esposito and Mazzon). Maggipinto was named MVP. In the semifinals, Padova will face Talmassons (scheduled for Wednesday, January 14).
In the post-match, Consoli summed it up: "Overall it was a match played on equal terms… We paid dearly for a few blackout moments when we couldn’t express ourselves at our best. Now it’s back to the league, we’ll also work on the mental side to bring out our character in the most important part of the season."
Women’s CEV Cup: Chieri win another tie-breaker, comeback confirmed
In France, Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 won the first leg of the Round of 16 in the CEV Cup, beating Vandœuvre Nancy 2–3 (16–25, 25–18, 28–26, 11–25, 11–15). The match followed the pattern you highlighted: after taking the first set, Chieri fell behind 2–1 (with the third set decided in extra points), then levelled the contest with a dominant fourth and closed it out in the fifth. Nervini was MVP after first coming in off the bench and then starting from the fourth set.
Post-match, Nicola Negro said: "After a first set played very well and with focus, we lowered our intensity… In the fourth and fifth sets we got back to giving more weight to our attack, we served and blocked better, and we earned an important win in France…", already looking ahead to the league and the return leg.
WEVZA U18 Women: Italy 3–1 France, “final” vs Germany today
In Foggia, Italy’s U18 team earned a second win in the WEVZA tournament: Italy–France 3–1 (23–25, 25–17, 25–20, 25–21), coming from behind again after dropping the first set. The text points to steady growth from set two onward, with control in both the third and fourth.
Numbers included in your recap: Italy finished with 11 aces and 12 blocks (France: 8 aces, 4 blocks). Individual highlights: Tessariol 15, Gordon 11, Monari Gamba 11, Manda 10.
The closing focus is already on the decisive match: Thursday January 8 at 20:00 vs Germany. Alessia Manda: "We played united, as a team… I hope I can repeat my personal performance in tomorrow’s decisive match against Germany."
European cups: a packed night across Champions League and CEV Cup
Men’s Champions League: Perugia win at Las Palmas in the tie-break
In Spain, Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia beat Guaguas Las Palmas 2–3 (23–25, 20–25, 25–22, 25–16, 10–15). The scoresheet features Ben Tara (22), Solè (17), Ishikawa (16) for Perugia and Bezerra Souza (23), Juantorena (15) for the hosts. A win built on managing key moments and holding firm in the fifth set.
Men’s Champions League: Lube sweep Leuven, 9 aces and 11 blocks
A decisive away win also for Cucine Lube Civitanova, 0–3 in Belgium against Leuven (17–25, 17–25, 13–25). Two headline numbers define it: 9 aces and 11 blocks. Loeppky was MVP and top scorer (14), with D’Heer and Poriya also in double figures (10). The piece also notes a historical mark: Civitanova reach 126 Champions League wins.
Women’s Champions League: Milano lose 3–2 in Istanbul, but stay top
In Pool C, Numia Vero Volley Milano fell at the tie-break to Eczacibasi: 3–2 (25–21, 20–25, 22–25, 25–22, 15–13). Despite the loss, Milano remain top of the group (two wins and 7 points, with Eczacibasi one point behind).
Key points: top scorer Egonu 27, MVP Jack-Kisal 21; the numbers cited include Milano’s 7 aces and 13 blocks, but also 25 errors. There is also the episode of Karakurt’s knee issue (she later returned).
Francesca Bosio: "We took a while to get into the match… In the fifth set the details made the difference…"
Women’s Champions League: Conegliano 0–3 in Łódź, third win
Antonio Carraro Prosecco DOC Conegliano made it three out of three in Pool D, winning 0–3 at Łódź (14–25, 23–25, 13–25). Zhu was MVP (16), Haak scored 15. The story also highlights Lubian’s absence and Conegliano’s imprint in block-defense and match management.
Women’s Champions League: Novara in Lisbon, Van Avermaet added to the roster
For Igor Gorgonzola Novara, it was a European eve in Lisbon: match vs Sporting (noted as live on Sky Sport Max). A key operational detail: Belgian middle Silke Van Avermaet has been added to the Champions League roster; Baijens and Mims remain unavailable.
Van Avermaet: "In Lisbon we have a tricky match ahead and we’ll need to play our best volleyball to get a positive result, which is obviously our goal."
Women’s Champions League: Scandicci–VakifBank, a Pool A heavyweight
Also a European build-up for Savino Del Bene Scandicci, hosting VakifBank: both sit on 6 points in the group. The preview stresses a packed January (Champions League plus the Italian Cup Final Four).
Maja Ognjenovic: "We know this January is very important for us… we’ll need to keep our tempo high."
Men’s CEV Cup: Piacenza through via Golden Set
A qualification night too for Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza: they lost 3–1 in Ceske Budejovice, but advanced after winning the Golden Set 17–19, saving two match points. The text underlines the serving risk profile (high risk and many errors) and several absences/unavailable players.
Next opponent: Rio Duero Soria (first leg January 21 in Spain, return January 28).
Dante Boninfante: "A lot of heart in the Golden Set when our energy was really at the limit… I’m happy with this win, but we do need to review the end of the first set… and the applause goes to a Golden Set played with so much heart…"
Challenge Cup: Ichino MVP, Milano already looking to Cisterna
Spotlight on Allianz Milano in the Challenge Cup as well: after qualifying against Stip, Tommaso Ichino was MVP and spoke about his current form and the upcoming SuperLega match.
Ichino: "Being named MVP in a European competition… is a great way to start the year… Against Cisterna we’ll give everything."
Side stories: SuperLega numbers, Nikolov’s award, and Taranto’s market move
• In the SuperLega 2025 “numbers” feature, three statistical headlines stand out: Perugia top for total points in 2025, Trento best on a per-match basis and in win/loss ratio, and Perugia/Civitanova as the “marathon teams” for total official matches played.
• In Bulgaria, Alexander Nikolov was voted “Sofia Athlete 2025” (36 points in the poll).
• Transfer market: in Taranto, after Lawani’s departure, the club is closing in on Slovak opposite Filip Gavenda (coming from Al Khowildiah), who has already played in Italy with Milano and Latina.
