Alan Nine
International: VakıfBank hold off Eczacıbaşı fightback to lift Super Cup
VakıfBank regrouped after surrendering a two-set lead to beat Eczacıbaşı 3-2 (25-21, 25-23, 19-25, 17-25, 15-10) and win the Turkish Super Cup in Antalya.
Giovanni Guidetti’s side appeared to be in control after taking the opening two sets, but Eczacıbaşı fought back to force a decider. VakıfBank then rediscovered their attacking rhythm, converting 57 per cent of their attempts in the fifth to secure the trophy.
Marina Markova led the winners with 29 points, while Zehra Güneş contributed 16 and claimed the MVP award. Eczacıbaşı outblocked their opponents 13-5 and served nine aces to VakıfBank’s six, but could not overcome the winners’ greater efficiency in attack. Ekaterina Antropova finished with 20 points for Giulio Bregoli’s side.
In Germany, VfB Suhl LOTTO Thüringen opened their season with a German Super Cup triumph, edging Dresdner SC in three tightly contested sets (26-24, 29-27, 25-23) in front of 2,000 spectators in Coburg.
The pivotal passage came in the second set, when Suhl overturned a 17-11 deficit and saved five set points before moving 2-0 ahead. Hannah Hartmann earned MVP honours with 14 points, including four aces and two blocks, while Svea Naujack led Suhl’s scoring with 15.
SuperLega: Piacenza finish training-match programme unbeaten
Piacenza made it seven wins from seven training matches by taking all four sets against Cuneo at the PalabancaSport, winning 25-23, 25-19, 25-17, 27-25.
The hosts fought back from 13-8 down in the opener and saved a set point in the fourth to complete the sweep. Zlatanov led the scoring with 13 points, while McHenry, León and Bovolenta added 10 apiece.
Piacenza converted 48 per cent of their attacks against Cuneo’s 34 per cent and outserved the visitors six aces to two. Iranian outside hitter Poriya Khanzadeh made his first appearance for Cuneo after winning Asian Games gold with his national team.
Padova, meanwhile, twice led by a set but fell 3-2 to Croatia’s HAOK Mladost Zagreb (24-26, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 15-12) at the Kioene Arena.
New setter Arshia Behnezhad made his debut after just one training session with his teammates, while Orioli and Rinaldi missed the match through flu.
Mills scored 24 points and Leo Lukas added 18 for Padova, but Mladost took the final two sets to secure victory. Padova have two more pre-season fixtures scheduled over the weekend.
Women’s Serie A1: Kudiess arrives at Novara to continue rehabilitation
Brazilian middle blocker Julia Kudiess arrived in Italy on Wednesday to begin the next stage of her rehabilitation with Igor Gorgonzola Novara.
Kudiess tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during the VNL in July and underwent surgery in Belo Horizonte. She will now continue her recovery under the supervision of Novara’s medical staff, with no date set for her return to competition.
Her arrival brings the last member of Massimo Barbolini’s squad to the club, although she remains unavailable for selection while her rehabilitation continues.
Men’s Serie A2: Pineto and Brescia set for Super Cup showdown
Abba Pineto and Consoli Sferc Brescia will contest the first trophy of the season when they meet in the Del Monte Super Cup at the Pala Maggetti in Roseto degli Abruzzi on Saturday 10 October at 20:00.
The match comes a week before the 14-team Serie A2 regular season begins on 17–18 October.
Pineto will have the crowd behind them but have had to reshuffle their line-up following an injury to Matheus Krauchuk, with Luis Vattovaz stepping into the starting role.
Brescia are preparing for their fourth consecutive appearance in the final and hope to have Slovak outside hitter Julius Firkal available.
The match will be shown free on DAZN in Italy and on Volleyball World Italia’s YouTube channel abroad.
In memoriam: Italian volleyball mourns Stefania Corna
Italian volleyball is mourning former setter Stefania Corna, who died on 7 October, aged 35.
Corna came through Bergamo’s youth system and went on to play in both Serie A1 and Serie A2, helping Giaveno win promotion in 2011/12.
She won European junior titles with Italy in 2006 and 2008 before making her senior international debut at the Montreux Volley Masters.
