Milan-Conegliano, scudetto final kicks off: start at Palaverde
For Numia Vero Volley Milan it’s time for the Scudetto Final. It starts Wednesday, April 16 at 8:30 p.m. (live coverage by Rai Sport, DAZN and VBTV) at Palaverde in Conegliano. The meneghine take on Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano in Game 1, in a best-of-five series. The second act is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, at 4 p.m. at the Unipol Forum in Assago, which promises to be fiery already.
The Numia arrives at the Final with great confidence, strengthened by the clear successes achieved in the playoffs against Vallefoglia in the quarters and Scandicci in the semifinals, both overcome with authority. A brilliant path that allowed Coach Lavarini’s boys to hit the qualification to the last act for the third time in the last four participations. On the other side of the net, the Conegliano Panthers, defending champions, had to work harder to get the better of Novara, dragging the semifinal to Game 4.
This is the fifth meeting of the season between Milan and Conegliano, who have already faced each other in all major competitions: Championship, Supercup, Italian Cup and World Club Championship. For many Vero Volleyball players, it will be their first experience in a Scudetto Final: among them Cazaute, Pietrini, Konstantinidou, Kurtagic, Guidi, Smrek and the two frees Fukudome and Gelin.
The champions of Italy and Europe for this new season have further strengthened the roster, inserting Gabi (bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics), Zhu, Lukasik and the young opposite player promoted to the first team Adigwe in the setter’s department, Chirichella and Eckl in the center, and Japanese Seki at the setter’s position. Always confirmed is the diagonal made up of captain Wolosz and Haak, the three Olympic champions – De Gennaro, Lubian and Fahr – and setter Lanier with the second libero, Bardaro. Coach Santarelli sits on the bench.
