Paola Egonu in the hunt for the Final Four

Paola Egonu in the hunt for the Final Four

After the beautiful success in the A1 Tigotà Series against Smi Roma Volleyball on Boxing Day, Numia Vero Volley Milano è already ready to return to the court. On Sunday, Dec. 29 at 5 p.m. (live VBTV) Coach Lavarini’s girls, still with the world bronze medal around their necks, will take the court for the quarterfinals of the A1 Frecciarossa Italian Cup. By virtue of third place in the standings at the end of the first round, they will find on the other side of the net the Piedmontese team of Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri '76 for a dry match all to live at the Opiquad Arena of Monza. The winner will advance to the Final Four scheduled for the weekend of’February 8-9, 2025 at Unipol Arena in Bologna.

The two teams have already faced each other this season in the advance of the 13th day of the first leg of the championship, played in Monza and won by Numia 3-1. The’last confrontation in the Italian Cup, on the other hand, dates back to the 2021/2022 season, when Chieri imposed itself on Milan with a clear 3-0. 

For the meneghine this is the eighth participation in the tournament, while the Piedmontese are on their third appearance, after last year's excellent journey that took them all the way to the semifinals, where they surrendered to Conegliano, the defending champions. The latter, in fact, faced Milan itself in the final, eventually winning the title.

After winning the CEV Cup last year, Chieri comes to this new season – its seventh in A1 – with a team composed of players from six different nationalities, in addition to the Italian one. Super-confirmed, after the summer in the blue jersey, are Spirito – new captain – and Omoruyi, along with Olympic silver medalist Skinner and Anthouli, Zakchaiou and Gray. Also from the Paris Olympics are the two new setters, Buijs and Gicquel, as well as setter Van Aalen. Guiducci, Lyashko, Alberti are also new additions. Coach Bregoli sits on the bench for the sixth consecutive year.