Imoco Conegliano earn the second Champions League crown after dramatic five-setter

A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano triumphed in the CEV Champions League Volley 2024 - Women! The team around coach Daniele Santarelli snatched the title after a dramatic five-setter in the all-Italian final against Allianz Vero Volley Milano. Imoco earned their second continental crown in history, repeating their success achieved in 2021.

A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano vs Allianz Vero Volley Milano 3-2 (25-14, 23-25, 25-19, 19-25, 15-9)

The all-Italian clash with the Champions League trophy at stake, Imoco opened in an impressive way. With Kelsey Robinson Cook on the service line they jumped to a 4-0 lead. With Joanna Wolosz on playmaking duty was taking an advantage from all their spikers, not only keeping the distance safe (12-8), but also improving it to eight points at 18-10. Isabelle Haak showed her strength from the beginning, being simply unstoppable (7 points in the opener and 70% success). Vero Volley tried to overcome their stage fright led by Paola Egonu (5 points, but only 25% succes), but they couldn't find their rhythm. At 19-14 Marina Lubian entered the court going straight to a service line and stayed there until the end of the set that was closed by Imoco 25-14 after Cook's block.

Vero Volley returned to the court with new energy and quickly took a 5-3 lead with Paola Egonu on the serve. Imoco pushed hard to tie, but the team from Milano withstood the pressure and improved their advantage further to 17-9 with Adhuoljok Malual on the service line, who delivered two aces in one run. But Imoco didn't lay down their arms. Khalia Lanier first gave a signal to fight with her spike and then with her serve she put the rivals in trouble. Supported by spikes from Haak and Cook, they reduced the distance to 17-14. Vero Volley, though, stayed on the lead (21-17), having a series of setballs from 24-21. Imoco denied two of them, but the third Egonu's attempt closed the set 25-23.

Imoco were determined to banish memories from the previous set. The third part started with a 6-2 lead of Imoco - it was a big merit of Robin de Kruijf, who with powerful serves troubled the rivals. Vero Volley lacked patience and committed too many mistakes (10-5). Although the team around coach Marco Gaspari was trying to challenge Imoco harder, delivering some nail-biting rallies, the Italian champions were keeping the distance safe and extending their advantage (18-10) after great spikes from Haak (4 points in this set), Fahr and Plummer (5 points apiece). The end of the set was complete domination by Imoco who led 23-16. Back-row spike from Isabelle Haak completed the set with 25-19.

Vero Volley put in a lot of effort to stay in the quest for the Champions League trophy. Despite good serves from Kruif and Haak (one ace apiece), it was the team from Milano keeping a two-point lead (7-5, 13-11). A soft attack from Paola Egonu moved Vero Volley to 15-12. Although Imoco managed to reduce the gap at 18-17, brilliant plays from Egonu and Bajema along with another solid performance on service line from Malual let Milano to win the set 25-19 and extend the game into a tie-breaker.

In the decisive set Imoco took a 3-1 lead after an ace from Joanna Wołosz. Both sides battled hard for every point. Helena Cazoute delivered two good spikes, once Miriam Sylla recorded a block to tie at 5-5. Kathryn Plummer found the way to move Imoco to 11-7. The American outside hitter was a hero of Imoco in the tie-break with six points to her name. Sylla tried to spark back Vero Volley, but even Malual on the serve couldn't make a difference this time. One more point scored by Plummer and too long spike from Cazaute ended the game 15-9, so Imoco could start celebrating their second Champions League title. 

Isabelle Haak topped the scorers chart with 23 points to her name, including 22 kill spikes (42% success) and 1 ace. 21 points on Imoco's side were delivered by Kathryn Plummer (2 blocks, 19 attacks - 43% success in attack). On Vero Volley's side Paola Egonu tallied 19 points (2 blocks, 1 ace, 16 spikes - 27% success).