Women's volleyball has a new world club champion.Savino Del Bene Scandiccitriumphed with the 2025 world title in Sao Paulo, after winning the first all-Italian final in history againstProsecco Doc Imoco Coneglianowith3:1 (30:28, 25:19, 21:25, 25:23). The decisive match of the Final Round was played in the 'Pacaembu' arena and offered dramatic, tactical, and emotional volleyball at the highest level.
Marco Gaspari's team finished the tournament with an impressive campaign – five wins and only one lost set, which clearly underlines the fully deserved nature of their historic success.
The comeback that made history
The final will be remembered primarily for the incredible development of the first set. Conegliano controlled the events, led by Gabi's strong play in attack, and took a 24:20 lead. It was precisely then that Scandicci showed a championship character. Ekaterina Antropova stepped up to serve and with a fantastic series, including two aces, leveled the score at 24:24. What followed was a set that turned into a real spectacle, ending 30:28 after an attack error by Zhu.
This psychological blow also had a decisive impact on the second set. Scandicci completely dominated, with excellent defense and better organization in attack, to take a 2:0 lead after 25:19.
Conegliano reacted in the third set. With Zhu's return and improved defensive play, the 'Panthers' reduced the score after 21:25. The reaction even led to an unusual scene – Daniele Santarelli directed the Brazilian crowd, who responded with support for the Italian powerhouse.
In the fourth set, however, Scandicci regained control. A series of block points secured a lead that Conegliano couldn't catch up to, and at 25:23 the match ended.
Team statistics from the final
| Indicator | Scandicci | Conegliano |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 67 | 63 |
| Block | 10 | 5 |
| Serve | 4 | 6 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 20 | 21 |
| Total points | 101 | 95 |
Scandicci's decisive statistical advantage was their blocking game
10 direct points against only 5 for Conegliano. This compensated for a weaker serve and allowed the new champion to control the key moments in the match.
Reception and individual scorers
| Indicator | Scandicci | Conegliano |
|---|---|---|
| Reception | 83 | 91 |
| Top scorer | Ekaterina Antropova 25 pts. | Isabelle Haak 20 pts. |
| Other key scorers | Avery Skinner 18 pts. | Gabi 19 pts. |
Despite Conegliano's better reception, Scandicci was more effective in counter-attack. Antropova was the undisputed leader with 25 points and key performances from serve, while Skinner's support provided stability in attack. For Conegliano, the burden fell mainly on Gabi and Haak, but this proved insufficient for a comeback.
With this successSavino Del Bene Scandiccidethroned the 'champion of champions' Conegliano and for the first time in its history reached the world club pinnacle. The final in Sao Paulo affirmed the dominance of Italian women's volleyball and showed that Serie A1 continues to dictate the standards on the world stage.
