In the midweek Women’s Serie A1 match played as an early fixture due to the upcoming Club World Championship, Savino Del Bene Scandicci delivered a commanding 3-0 win over Vero Volley Milano. Despite three closely contested sets, the home side held their nerve in key moments to take all three points.

Milano struggle with reception despite Egonu’s effort

Milano started strong in the opening set, leading 18-15 before losing momentum. Scandicci responded with a 7-2 run to overturn the score. Milano’s serve reception issues continued throughout the match, and although Paola Egonu contributed 21 points, her efforts fell short of turning the tide. Scandicci setter Maja Ognjenovic orchestrated the offense effectively and was named MVP of the match.

Antropova leads Scandicci to the top of the table

Ekaterina Antropova led Scandicci with 18 points, supported by 7 team blocks and 6 aces. The victory puts Savino Del Bene at the top of the standings, level on points with Conegliano and Novara, though with one extra match played. For Milano, the defeat marks their first loss of the season after winning the Italian Super Cup.

Conegliano make quick work of Pinerolo

In another match played on the same evening, Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano swept Wash4Green Pinerolo 3-0 in just 80 minutes. From the opening serve, Conegliano took full control, with standout performances from Isabelle Haak and Gabriela Guimarães (Gabi), who both finished with 16 points.

Gabi named MVP as Conegliano stay unbeaten

Conegliano showed their offensive superiority with 56 attack attempts compared to Pinerolo’s 25. Middle blocker Marina Lubian added 14 points, including 3 blocks and 1 ace, hitting at 71% efficiency. Gabi was awarded MVP for her all-around performance in both attack and defense. On the home side, Hanna Davyskiba recorded 11 points and led the team in serve reception. With the win, Conegliano remain undefeated and share the lead with Scandicci and Novara.

On Saturday, October 18, 2025, Italian women’s volleyball witnessed a historic moment. Vero Volley Milano defeated Imoco Conegliano in the Supercoppa final, ending a dominance that had lasted uninterrupted for 2,449 days. Including the Supercoppa specifically, that streak stretched to 2,908 days. Since 2019, Conegliano had won every domestic title it contested, halted only by the pandemic, never by an opponent—until now.

The team that finally broke the streak was Milano, in a year when few believed it possible. Over the past seasons, Milano had made eight failed attempts to dethrone Conegliano, including three scudetto finals, three Coppa Italia finals, and two Supercoppa finals. In their ninth try, the tide turned.

A breakthrough years in the making

Milano’s past rosters were often stronger on paper, yet the team repeatedly missed its opportunities—sometimes due to injuries, sometimes sheer misfortune. Last year’s Supercoppa final was played without Egonu. The 2022/23 league final was lost in Game 5 despite a 2–1 lead, undone in part by Conegliano’s secret weapon, Alexa Gray.

In several single-match finals, Conegliano didn’t always play its best but still found ways to win. As coach Julio Velasco has often said, great teams know how to win even when they play poorly. But in Trieste, Conegliano faltered. And this time, Milano took full advantage.

Egonu delivers again—but this time, as captain

Paola Egonu was once again at the center of it all. Her 30-point performance in the final was no surprise. She holds multiple scoring records, including 47 points in a league match and 45 in a national team game. She has appeared in five Champions League finals, winning three.

But what stood out this time wasn’t just the numbers. The real story was the number 18 jersey bearing a new detail: a captain’s stripe. Egonu as captain is a new chapter—and a meaningful one.

A new side of Paola Egonu emerges

The defining moment came not during the match, but after. During the post-match interview, Egonu displayed an emotional openness rarely seen before. Her body language, often guarded in the past, gave way to bright eyes, candid words, and unfiltered expressions of joy.

At 26, Egonu has spent much of her career under intense scrutiny, often forced to explain or defend her heritage, her national identity, and her dedication to Italy. Until now, her public image was one of distance, marked by short responses and minimal emotional display.

But on that stage in Trieste, something shifted. For the first time, Paola spoke freely, proudly, and even playfully. The word “pride”—which she has used often—took on a deeper meaning as she lifted the trophy not just as a star, but as a leader.

A leadership role with meaning

Milano’s decision to name Egonu captain marked a strategic turning point. It was a bold move aimed at redefining team dynamics and leadership. While the national team under Velasco chose to ease her burden, her club did the opposite—giving her full responsibility.

“The national team is full of mature women. There’s little I need to do,” said Egonu. Milano, by contrast, is a team with new dynamics and fresh challenges.

That contrast may be crucial—not just for the club, but for Egonu herself. Now a woman with experience, she may no longer need the defensive armor she once wore.

The challenge ahead: from title to tradition

Egonu must now prove her leadership on and off the court. Being a captain by title is different from becoming a leader in the locker room. But if the start is any indication, she is ready.

As the saying goes, “There’s only one captain.” Paola Egonu, wearing the Milano jersey, may well become just that.

Latvia’s Gustavs Auzins and Kristians Fokerots secured the 2025 FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championship title in Puebla without conceding a single set across seven matches. This marked their second world title after winning the U19 crown in 2022 and was Latvia’s second U21 men’s title overall following the 2005 success of Martins Plavins and Aleksandrs Samoilovs.

Flawless run highlights Latvian dominance

Auzins and Fokerots, who are also two-time European age-group champions, dominated the final against Poland’s Szymon Beta and Artem Besarab with a straight-set win (21-19, 21-19). Despite close scoring and several momentum shifts, the Latvians maintained composure under pressure. The win was sealed after a decisive block-out shot by Auzins.

In a symbolic coaching duel, both teams were guided by former U21 world champions. Latvia’s Martins Plavins, the 2005 titleholder, coached the winning side, while Poland’s Jakub Szalankiewicz, the 2009 champion, led the runners-up.

Poland earn first U21 medal as a pair

Silver medalists Beta and Besarab achieved their first world-level podium together. The Polish duo showed strong form throughout the tournament, particularly in their semifinal, where they defeated fellow Poles Szymon Pietraszek and Jakub Krzeminski with a 2-0 (21-16, 21-15) victory.

Mexico claims historic bronze on home sand

Hosts Antonio Lares and Carlos Andres Ayala secured the bronze medal with a commanding 2-0 (21-16, 21-13) victory over Pietraszek and Krzeminski. The result marks Mexico’s third podium finish in the competition’s history and the first world-level medal for Lares and Carlos Andres.

Previously finishing fourth at the U19 World Championship in 2024, the Mexican pair have shown consistent regional form with four NORCECA Tour medals this season. Backed by a vibrant local crowd in Cholula, they delivered a strong performance in the bronze medal match.

Unbeaten streak ends in semifinal

Before their semifinal loss, Lares and Carlos Andres had not dropped a set in the tournament. However, their winning streak was halted by Auzins and Fokerots, who advanced to the final with a 2-0 (21-17, 21-19) win. The semifinal stage marked the first defeat for the Mexican team in the competition.

Path to the podium

The 2025 edition of the U21 Beach Volleyball World Championship showcased emerging global talent, with Latvia confirming its strength in youth development. The tournament also provided valuable international experience for rising athletes, many of whom are expected to transition to the senior Beach Pro Tour in the coming years.