Scandicci’s key figures set their sights on Istanbul
As the CEV ZEREN Group Champions League Volley 2026 Women Final Four returns to Istanbul, Savino Del Bene Scandicci arrive once again among Europe’s elite - not as newcomers, but as a team shaped by experience, consistency, and a growing sense of unfinished business.
After coming close in recent seasons, the Italian side now faces another opportunity to turn potential into history.
Antropova embracing a leading role
At the heart of Scandicci’s evolution is Ekaterina Antropova, whose impact continues to expand with each season. Already one of the competition’s most prolific scorers (186 points so far), the opposite has embraced an even greater responsibility in key phases of matches.
“Over these three years I have definitely grown personally and I’m able to give more help to the team, especially in the decisive moments of a match. It’s an added pressure, but it’s part of both my role and my personal goals: to be decisive and help the team. Fortunately, since this is a team sport, responsibility is always shared, so my teammates and I will try to handle it in the best possible way, knowing we will support each other.”
Ekaterina Antropova“Reaching the Champions League Final Four was one of the goals we set at the beginning of the season. I would say we don’t need any extra motivation beyond competing against the best teams in Europe.”
Nwakalor’s timing and instinct at the net
Scandicci’s identity is not built on attack alone. Their balance is reinforced by one of the most effective blocking units in the competition, led by Linda Nwakalor (35 kill blocks so far). For the Italian middle blocker, success at the net is a constant blend of preparation and instinct.
“I’d say it’s about 50%. I start by following the coaches’ instructions and what we’ve studied about the opposing team. But as the match develops, things change - every game is different - and you need to understand how it’s unfolding. That’s where reading the opponent and the moment comes into play, always alongside the coach’s guidance.”
In decisive moments, that instinct becomes crucial.
“A block can really be decisive because it gives us confidence and takes it away from the opponent. In those moments, I try to understand what’s going through the opposing setter’s mind. In general, I’m very focused on the moment and on the attacker, but in the end, when I’m up in the air, there’s only the desire to block.”
Ognjenović chasing the missing crown
If Scandicci’s present is defined by performance, its leadership is anchored in experience. Few embody that more than Maja Ognjenović, whose career spans over two decades at the highest level.
Maja Ognjenović“Volleyball, as I’ve said a thousand times, is my life. Over all these years, I’ve always been deeply in love with what I do."
"As for the Final Fours, I don’t even know how many I’ve played, but I’ve always approached them with the same goal - very high ambitions. I still haven’t won a Champions League, but I’m very excited to be in a Final Four once again. It’s definitely a different feeling - beautiful, but also a bit strange - because if someone had told me in 2002 that twenty years later I’d still be playing in a Final Four, I don’t think I would have believed it.”
Despite multiple finals and major titles, the Champions League trophy still eludes her - a rare gap in an otherwise extraordinary career.
“It definitely matters a lot. I really like the Final Four format, more than the Superfinal, which I played with VakıfBank and Eczacıbaşı. I haven’t managed to win, even though in my first year with VakıfBank we played against Conegliano and were ahead. The same happened with Eczacıbaşı: we were leading in the final against VakıfBank.
Last year I reached the final again with Savino Del Bene Volley. The Champions League is practically the only trophy I am missing - I still believe in it. But if you lose three finals with three different teams, as I once said in an interview, maybe it’s destiny. There are many top-level players who have never won the Champions League, and just reaching a Final Four is already important. I’m not saying we’re happy just to be here - that’s definitely not our goal, because we all know what it is. But playing in a Final Four, being among the top four teams in Europe, is not something to take for granted.”
Gaspari and the lessons of past finals
Head coach Marco Gaspari knows better than most how fine the margins are at this stage of the competition. Having reached two consecutive finals with different teams, he brings both ambition and perspective into this campaign.
“Reaching two Champions League finals with two different clubs was definitely a great sporting challenge. They were two very different finals - certainly the one with Milan left a more bitter feeling because of a tie-break we could have handled better. Last year, however, Conegliano showed a level of play and individual quality superior to ours.
This year we’ve worked a lot to get closer to the best teams in Europe, and we know that if we want to aim for the final, we need to be solid from start to finish in our system of play and in serving.”
That experience has shaped Scandicci’s approach this season.
“Reaching the final again this year would be a great personal satisfaction, but it’s only possible thanks to players of the highest level. The goal every year is to build a system that can adapt to our very strong opponents and try to take one step further.
In Istanbul, however, we’ll face a team used to this stage, and to reach the most important final we’ll need a solid and focused performance.”
Watch Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI in the semi finals of 2026 #CLVolleyW against Turkish opponents Eczacibasi Dynavit ISTANBUL on May 2 at 20:00 local time in Istanbul, 19:00 CEST!