Conegliano and Milano wins set up fourth All-Italian title match in the #CLVolleyW in the last 24 years

For the fourth time in the past 24 years, two Italian sides will compete for the big prize in the CEV Champions League Women, after A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano and Allianz Vero Volley Milano have qualified to the Super Finals, after dramatic matches against two Turkish powerhouses, Eczacıbaşı Dynavit Istanbul and Fenerbahçe Opet Istanbul.

After a 100% Turkish derby between VakifBank Istanbul and Eczacıbaşı Dynavit Istanbul in the Super Finals last season, it is time for two Italian sides now to compete for the trophy, with Conegliano qualifying for the last act of the competition for the fifth time, while Allianz Vero Volley Milano are for the first time in the final.

While Conegliano won both legs in the semi-finals against Eczacıbaşı Dynavit Istanbul, Vero Volley Milano had a roller-coaster of a doubleheader against Fenerbahçe Opet Istanbul, with a clear 3:0 win in Italy in the first match bringing a fiery second clash in Istanbul, where Fenerbahçe, a team which lost only one match before the semi-finals, needed to mount a comeback.

And for the first set, it looked like the Turkish side, which had lost the semi-finals in the previous two seasons, had something going for themselves, dominating on their way to a 25:15 win, which turned the pressure on for Milano.

While the Italian side relied on three-time MVP Paola Egonu to turn the match on its head, with a 28:26 win in the second set, the hosts powered through to a 3:1 win, after taking the next sets, 25:22 and 25:23. As Fenerbahçe’s main players, Mellisa Vargas and Arina Fedorovtseva combined for 54 points, the match went into the golden set, with everything on the line.

And it was Egonu who shined in the golden set, where Vero Volley controlled the match, despite going down 1:4 after the first rallies, as the Italian side celebrated a shocking win, stopping a Fenerbahçe comeback in its tracks, as the three-time MVP had 35 points.

In only their third season in the CEV Champions League Women, Allianz Vero Volley Milano have secured their maiden appearance in the Super Finals, after two consecutive quarter-finals eliminations, while Fenerbahçe Opet Istanbul have missed the Super Finals for the third season in a row, falling at the last hurdle.

"I'm really proud. I have no words. We did well in the last set to stay clear and have courage in a building full of opposing fans. I am proud, happy and I wish the best for future challenges," said Egonu, after one of the biggest wins in the history for Milano, in front of 7000 Turkish fans.

In the other semi-final, A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano extended their perfect season, with 38 wins in all competitions, with a clear 3:1 win against Eczacıbaşı Dynavit Istanbul, doubling down on their 3:2 win in the first leg in Italy.

It was a sure-fire start from Conegliano, who ensured they have one foot into the Super Finals even from the start of the match, taking the first two sets in superb fashion, 25:15 and 25:17, only for Eczacıbaşı Dynavit Istanbul to try to mount a comeback, 26:24, thanks to an excellent display from this season’s top scorer, Tijana Boskovic.

Boskovic added 26 points to her already impressive tally of 233 points this season, but Isabelle Haak was once again fantastic, with 29 points, after scoring 37 in the first leg, to preserve the winning streak for Conegliano and send the Italian team to their fifth final.

It is the fifth final in the last seven editions for the Italian side, which has lost in 2017, against VakifBank, in 2019 against Novara, in the last all-Italian final in the European premium competition, and in 2022 against VakifBank, winning the title in 2021 against VakifBank.

In the last 10 matches between A.Carraro Imoco Conegliano and Allianz Vero Volley Milano, Conegliano won eight times, including the last six matches in a row.