Alan Nine
Conegliano head to Bari to face Scandicci in Saturday’s Women’s Super Cup, with the first trophy of the Italian women’s season at stake. Elsewhere, Costa Rica have claimed their first AFECAVOL Final Four title, while Silvia Fondriest has come out of retirement to rejoin Trentino.
Women’s Super Cup: Conegliano and Scandicci set for Bari showdown
Prosecco DOC A. Carraro Imoco Volley Conegliano face Savino Del Bene Scandicci at the PalaFlorio in Bari on Saturday 24 October at 18:00, with live coverage on Rai 2 and DAZN.
It will be the clubs’ first meeting in a Super Cup final, adding another chapter to a rivalry that has already produced clashes in the 2026 Italian Cup final, the 2025 Club World Championship and Champions League finals, and the 2024 league championship series.
Conegliano lead the head-to-head with 39 wins from 45 meetings, but libero Monica De Gennaro cautioned against reading too much into that record. Changes to both squads make the contest difficult to predict, she said, while stressing Conegliano’s determination to reclaim the trophy after missing out last season.
The team will train at the PalaFlorio on Friday afternoon, with head coach Daniele Santarelli and captain Joanna Wołosz attending the pre-match press conference.
Transfer news: Fondriest comes out of retirement to rejoin Trentino
Silvia Fondriest has returned to Itas Trentino for the 2026/27 Serie A2 season, 1,260 days after her last appearance.
The 37-year-old middle blocker retired in May 2023 after helping the club secure promotion to Serie A1. She now returns as Trentino’s fourth middle blocker and will wear the No. 6 shirt. She is expected to be included in the squad for Saturday’s match against Fasano at 16:00.
Sporting director Duccio Ripasarti said the signing would help the staff manage the training loads of the club’s three young middle blockers, who have recently been dealing with minor physical problems.
Fondriest’s primary role will be to support daily training and pass on her experience, with Trentino’s long-term commitment to developing young players unchanged.
International: Costa Rica save match point to claim historic title
Costa Rica won the women’s AFECAVOL Central American Final Four for the first time, overcoming hosts Nicaragua in a dramatic five-set final in Managua.
Coached by Italy’s Ciro Zoratti, Costa Rica prevailed 3-2 (25-21, 19-25, 20-25, 27-25, 20-18). After losing their early lead, they saved a match point in the fourth set before edging an extended tie-break to deny Nicaragua a third consecutive title.
Captain Tatiana Marín Sayles was named tournament MVP, while Paola Venegas led Costa Rica in the final with 24 points, including six blocks.
Zoratti has been in charge of the national team since May 2026.
Abroad: León and Takahashi make winning start together at Lublin
Bogdanka LUK Lublin’s new Wilfredo León–Ran Takahashi partnership got off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory over Gdańsk in front of 4,000 spectators.
León led all scorers with 17 points, converting 62 per cent of his attacks, while Takahashi contributed nine.
The 2026/27 CEV Champions League also got under way, with first-round victories for Mladost Zagreb, Fino Kaposvár and Orion Stars Doetinchem.
Zagreb won 3-1 away to Pafiakos Pafos, Kaposvár came from behind to beat Napredak Odžak in five sets, and Orion Stars swept UGD Štip.
Meanwhile, Istanbul Gençlik completed an unbeaten BVA Men’s Cup campaign with a straight-sets victory over hosts AO Kalamata 1980, securing both the trophy and a place in the Challenge Cup round of 32.
SuperLega: Cuneo put sustainability at the heart of top-flight plans
Cuneo Volley have appointed a new board for the 2026–29 term following their return to the top flight, with president Gabriele Costamagna overseeing plans centred on financial sustainability, stronger governance and long-term growth rather than short-term spending.
The club intend to raise equity through Mamacrowd, opening participation to supporters, small investors and local businesses.
Cuneo said any investment in property would depend on meeting their fundraising targets. New digital tools and wider use of the San Rocco Castagnaretta arena are also being considered.
