Hill: We have been waiting for the match against VakifBank for two years now
Interview
If you had a look at the team photos of A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano from this season, you could not help but see that the players coached by Danielle Santarelli, are always having fun on the field. Maybe this was the formula to the success so far, as the Panthers have been on a winning streak of 63 victories, the last one making them the newly crowned champions of Italy…
Conegliano count on a great group of players who are now aiming for the only trophy missing in their accomplishments list - the #CLVolleyW gold medal. To bring it home, the Panthers will have to outclass VakifBank Istanbul on May 1, playing the #SuperFinal in the city of Romeo and Juliet - Verona.
U.S. star Kimberly Hill, who joined the Italian powerhouse back in 2017, has been one of the best players for Conegliano in this #CLVolley season. Together with Paola Egonu (who was on fire in the last matches for the Scudetto vs the eternal opponent of Igor Gorgonzola Novara), Kimberly was leading Conegliano in this #CLVolleyW campaign, showing stable play in decisive moments.
Hill is the second-best #CLVolleyW scorer for her Conegliano so far (80 points to her name), the first one being Egonu with 174. Discussing the possible key to success in the #SuperFinal, Kimberly agrees with coach Santarelli, and evaluates things in the context of the team. “For the match against VakifBank, it will be important that all 14 of us are giving our best. We are lucky to have a player as strong as Paola, but Vakif are also very strong. We will need all of us to contribute in our own individual ways if we want to win this match.”
The Panthers have been through a victorious but long season. Even though there might be some exhaustion, Kimberly&co will be aiming at reaching the maximum on May 1.
Kimberly Hill“It has been a long season, for sure. But we have been waiting for this match against Vakif for almost two years now. We feel like we are in good shape and ready to push through these last few weeks of the season to arrive at our best on May 1.”
Player, A. Carraro Imoco CONEGLIANO
The #SuperFinal against VakifBank will be a special match for Kimberly, given that before coming to Conegliano, she was part of VakifBank, when VakifBank won the #CLVolleyW Gold over Conegliano in 2017. “I always think it’s fun to play against a former team. Especially when it comes to Vakif. They are always so strong, and of course I know a lot of the players and staff personally. I hope it will be a battle and a really fun match.”
Volleyball fans not only across Europe, but all around the globe, are wondering what the future plans of Hilll are. Before the Pandemic hit, she mentioned that after the Olympic Games she would stop playing overseas. “I am still undecided on a lot of things with my career, and I am hoping to take some time to rest and recover after this Olympic year. So for sure this last match on May 1 will be emotional. Also, just because we were never able to complete last season, so the excitement for the match has been building for a long time."
Kimberly Hill"I would really love to be able to bring this gold medal home to Conegliano.”
Player, A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano