Redazione Volleyball.it
A three-day digest of the key stories published on Volleyball.it, grouped by competition and topic.
SUPERLEGA – PLAYOFF QUARTER-FINALS
Piacenza–Modena: series level, then all eyes on the decider
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza and Valsa Group Modena traded blows in a quarter-final that went the distance. After Modena’s away win in Game 4 (2–3), coach Dante Boninfante acknowledged Modena’s greater solidity on the night and said the series deserved a Game 5, stressing the need to recharge mentally and physically for the final showdown.
On the Modena side, coach Alberto Giuliani highlighted his team’s psychological resilience and the way key players responded under pressure, framing Game 5 as another intense battle.
Verona knocks out Milano in three straight
Rana Verona closed its quarter-final by sweeping Allianz Milano 0–3 on the road. Noumory Keita led the charge (18 points, 2 aces), also reaching a personal milestone (his 200th career ace). The statistical recap underlined Verona’s efficiency and control across the key phases of the match.
Post-match, Verona setter Micah Christenson celebrated the semi-final berth while insisting the team’s season ambitions remain higher than “just” getting through the quarters.
Milano: pride, then focus on Europe and the 5th-place race
After elimination, Allianz Milano’s leadership—director general Fabio Lini and captain Ichino—praised the team’s journey and thanked supporters, shifting attention to the European run and the end-of-season route still open via the 5th-place competition.
Playoff 5th place: Monza–Padova schedule released
Volleyball.it also published the official calendar for the Monza–Padova series in the 5th-place bracket (Game 1 on March 28, Game 2 on March 31, possible Game 3 on April 4), with the winner moving on to face Verona for a Challenge Cup pathway.
A1 TIGOTÀ – SCUDETTO SEMI-FINALS AND CHALLENGE PLAYOFFS
Conegliano–Novara: match-point scenario
Ahead of Game 3, Conegliano held a 2–0 lead over Novara. Daniele Santarelli urged Imoco to “reset” and close the series through serving aggression and concentration.
From Novara’s side, the message was clear: Game 3 was “do or die.” Middle blocker Federica Squarcini called for grit and belief against the reigning powerhouse.
Milano–Scandicci: mindset and margins
After a tie-break loss to Milano, Scandicci coach Massimo Gaspari pointed to too many service errors and said his team would need to take more risks to flip the match-up.
Milano outside hitter Elena Pietrini, one of the key figures in the win, spoke about reacting after European disappointment and asked for continuity and a stronger “winner’s mentality.”
Challenge Playoff: results shake up the table
In the third matchday of the A1 Challenge Playoff, Chieri beat Firenze 3–1 behind Sorokaite (23 points), Busto Arsizio won against Macerata (MVP Enweonwu), Vallefoglia came back to beat Cuneo, and Bergamo defeated San Giovanni. The provisional standings had Busto on top, ahead of Chieri.
Veteran farewells: Gennari, Diouf and Villani
Volleyball.it devoted a dedicated feature to the emotional goodbyes of three Italian veterans—Alessia Gennari, Valentina Diouf, and Francesca Villani—celebrated by their arenas and communities, with the on-court results taking a back seat to the moment.
Semi-final programme published
A separate service piece listed dates, tip-off times and TV coverage for Game 3 of the A1 semi-finals: Conegliano–Novara on March 24 and Scandicci–Milano on March 25.
A2 WOMEN – PROMOTION AND SURVIVAL
Pool Promozione: Talmassons clinches Serie A1 promotion
In the final round, Talmassons swept Roma 3–0 to secure promotion to A1. Brescia (second) and Padova (third) booked playoff spots.
Pool Salvezza: key wins tighten the bottom race
The third matchday produced wins for Offanengo, Imola, Casalmaggiore and Tenaglia Abruzzo Altino. The updated standings placed Altino and Offanengo on 8 points, while Casalmaggiore and Pinerolo remained in the relegation zone.
Busto Arsizio: win and a celebration
Futura Giovani Busto Arsizio beat Melendugno 3–1 with Victoria Enneking (21) and Taborelli (20) leading the scoring, keeping playoff ambitions alive even with Talmassons out of reach. The same coverage included a celebratory “lap of honour” and a sold-out arena atmosphere.
A2 MEN – ROUNDUP
The 12th return-round recap highlighted Ravenna’s opposite Hristiyan Dimitrov as top scorer (30 points) in a 3–2 win at Fano. Elsewhere, Aversa, Brescia, Porto Viro and Prata di Pordenone collected victories in three or four sets.
