13/04/2019 10:00
Follow Your Star - Francesca Piccinini
2019 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Women
Luxembourg, April 13, 2019. At 40 years of age, Italian Volleyball queen Francesca Piccinini will be trying to secure her sixth CEV Champions League crown in about a month when she will captain Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA at the #SuperFinalsBerlin. Piccinini is a five-time winner of Europe’s elite competition – and the last time she stood on top of the podium, back in 2016 in Montichiari, she received the award for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Finals as well.
Piccinini has been a leading name in international Volleyball for more than 20 years and her resume includes every possible accolade – with the only exception of an Olympic medal. On Wednesday night, after claiming a Golden Set victory over titleholders VakifBank ISTANBUL, even such an experienced and seasoned player as Piccinini could not hold back the tears.
Fourteen years after her first Champions League triumph with Volley BERGAMO, Francesca will be vying for even more glory. Even though Paola Egonu is the undisputed star player of Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA, Piccinini remains the ‘cover girl’ of Italian Volleyball. The 2002 world champion and two-time European champion with Team Italy is still a force to reckon with.
NOVARA and Imoco Volley CONEGLIANO will contest the first all-Italian CEV Champions League grand finale since 2005. Back then, Piccinini won the title with Foppapedretti BERGAMO edging Asystel Sant’Orsola NOVARA in the gold medal match. Will this be a good omen for the queen of Italian Volleyball when NOVARA and CONEGLIANO take to the court of the Max-Schmeling-Halle on May 18 for the 2019 #CLVolleyW final showdown? Only time will tell us…
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