Florence, Italy, March 7, 2017. Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO have started counting the days down to the Final Four of the 2017 CEV Volleyball Champions League – Women that they will be hosting in Treviso on April 22-23. In the meantime, Italy’s reigning national champions confirmed their leading role in domestic competitions by seizing the trophy of the Italian national cup in Florence – and they did so after routing Liu Jo Nordmeccanica MODENA in straight sets (25-23, 25-22, 25-23).

The Italian ‘Panthers’ had previously edged Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA 3-1 in the semis and capped a perfect weekend by cruising to a comprehensive victory in the matchup with MODENA – a team still in contention for participation in the Champions League Final Four. Liu Jo Nordmeccanica will take on Russia’s Dinamo MOSCOW in the Playoffs 6 in an effort to join their rivals from CONEGLIANO in the final stage of Europe’s elite club competition.

The libero player of Imoco Volley, Monica De Gennaro received the award for the Most Valuable Player of the Italian cup finals from the hands of a true Volleyball legend – Cuba’s three-time Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion Mireya Luis Hernandez, now a member of the FIVB Athletes’ Commission.  

Photos courtesy of Diego Poluzzi