Superstars ready to shine in brand new #CLVolleyW season

The start of the new season of the CEV Champions League Women is just around the corner, with the 20 teams which earned their tickets to the 4th round already preparing for the throw off, which will take place on 5 November, when Neptunes Nantes face Vasas Óbuda Budapest.

Of course, all teams are aiming for the top, but only one can be crowned the champion at the end of the season, therefore the battle will still be tough, with the top sides over the past seasons returning even stronger.

Once again, the rosters are all star-studded, with a high percentage of the best players in the world getting ready to take the court in the European premium competition. Let’s sift through the rosters and see who are the top players ready to deliver another amazing season in the CEV Champions League Women.

Isabelle Haak (A.Carraro Imoco Conegliano)

Who could be the best player to start the feature with other than the reigning MVP of the CEV Champions League Women? The 25-year-old opposite is entering her prime and has shined over the last seasons in the European premium competition, being instrumental for her side to win the title last season.

Haak was the second-best scorer in the competition last season, with 244 points, or an average of 5.95 points per set, having featured in 11 matches and 41 sets for Conegliano. Her performances were nothing short of special and Haak does not seem like slowing down any time soon, as she got even more help this season for the Italian powerhouse, which aims for another title.

Melissa Vargas (Fenerbahce Medicana)

Vargas only played four matches last season for Fenerbahce, but made her mark, having an average of five points per set in the 14 sets she played for the Turkish powerhouse. Once again, Fenerbahce fell short of delivering a trophy, but if this is the season to do it, then Vargas will be pivotal.

The 25-year-old opposite was also the MVP in the domestic league, where Fenerbahce secured back-to-back titles in the last two seasons, and will be expected to deliver more excellent performances this season, after three consecutive early exits in the semi-finals for the Turkish club.

Paola Egonu (Numia Vero Volley Milano)

Egonu is entering her second season with Numia Vero Volley Milano, as she was instrumental in the Italian side’s campaign last season, when they secured their maiden appearance in the last act of the CEV Champions League Women. With 218 points in 11 matches, Egonu was the third best scorer of the competition, but failed to secure her fourth trophy after Milano lost the final against rivals Conegliano.

While the first matches were not necessarily perfect for Egonu, the three-time MVP of the CEV Champions League Women bounced back in the business end and built up her form for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she helped Italy win the gold medal – the first in her career – and was also named the MVP of the competition.

Gabi Guimaraes (A.Carraro Imoco Conegliano)

What more can be said about Guimarares, an absolutely fantastic player, who will feature for the first time for an Italian side, after ending her stint at VakifBank Istanbul after five fantastic seasons? A two-time Champions League winner with the Turkish side, she was also named the MVP of the 2021/22 season.

Now 30 years old, Guimaraes is still a prolific scorer, being the 14th best scorer of the previous season, with 113 points, despite playing only nine matches. Her experience is next to none at this level, and Conegliano added yet another fantastic weapon to their arsenal, with Guimaraes ready to deliver excellent performances.

Tijana Boskovic (Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul)

In the last three editions of the CEV Champions League Women she played in, Boskovic had an average of over 6 points per match scored. In fact, Boskovic has 664 points scored over the last 26 matches played and in the previous season, when Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul went out in the semi-finals, the Serbian superstar was the top scorer of the competition, with 259 points.

Boskovic, who is only 27 years old, is an instrumental part of Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul, having played for the Turkish side since 2015. She has still to win the European premium competition, this being an objective Boskovic has been actively chasing for the last seasons.

Zhu Ting (A.Carraro Imoco Conegliano)

One more transfer for Conegliano to add to their already star-studded line-up was Zhu Ting, as the Chinese star signed for the reigning champions, coming from Savino del Bene Scandicci. Ting is still only 29 years old, but was the MVP of the Champions League in 2017 and the All-Star opposite spiker one season later, proving her worth with some excellent performances.

Now, she will join other superstars in the Italian powerhouse, hoping to add to her tally of wins in the European premium competition, having already secured the trophy twice with VakifBank Istanbul.