Eighth consecutive Scudetto for Conegliano, Paola Egonu not enough in Milan
Conegliano continues to dominate and is once again confirmed as the queen of Italian volleyball. The Panthers won their eighth consecutive scudetto, the ninth in history, overcoming Numia Vero Volley Milan in game-4 with a clear 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-22) at the Allianz Cloud and closing the final series on 3-1.
A success that certifies a domination prolonged over the years: Conegliano overtook Bergamo in the roll of honor and now looks closely at the supremacy of Olimpia Teodora Ravenna, capable of winning eleven titles in a row between 1981 and 1991. The Daniele Santarelli-coached lineup, after the stop in game-3 in front of its own public, reacted with authority, immediately imposing its pace in the decisive challenge.
The start was in fact one-sided, with the Venetian women immediately aggressive and masters of the game in the first set. In the second partial Conegliano built an important lead (16-11), then managed to contain Milan’s comeback attempt, which came as close as -2 without, however, finding the hook. Similar script in the third set: initial tear of the guests (9-5), management of the margin and final stretch despite the last attempts of the Lombardy, stopped at 22-23 before the decisive lunge.
The absolute protagonist was Isabelle Haak, top scorer of the match with 19 points, well supported by Gabi (11). More restrained offensive contributions were made by Zhu Ting (3) and Nika Daalderop (3), while Sarah Fahr (8) and Cristina Chirichella (6) chipped in at center. Orchestrating the game was Joanna Wolosz, with Monica De Gennaro impeccable on defense. A triumph shared also with the whole bench, from Merit Adigwe to Marina Lubian, passing through Matilde Munarini, Jenna Ewert, Serena Scognamillo and Fatoumatta Sillah.
On the other side, Milan struggled but had to surrender to the superiority of the opponents. The 24 points of Paola Egonu, the best scorer of the match, were not enough, nor the contribution of Khalia Lanier (13) and Rebecca Piva (5). More limited was the contribution of powerhouses Anna Danesi (1) and Hena Kurtagic (4), with Francesca Bosio at the helm and Eleonora Fersino free.
Conegliano’s season does not stop here. Having already won the Coppa Italia, the Veneto team is now preparing for the Champions League Final Four scheduled for the weekend of May 2-3 in Istanbul, where it will hunt for another trophy to make an already memorable year even more extraordinary. Milan, on the other hand, closes with the bitterness of the faded title, but also with the satisfaction of having won the Italian Super Cup, the first trophy in its history, and with the knowledge that it can compete at the highest level.
