Lega Femminile Team Previews – Part 1

The Lega Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà, widely acclaimed as the world`s premier women`s volleyball national league, is set to commence its 81st season on October 6. Over seven months, concluding in late April, 14 of Italy`s top teams—representing a nation that currently holds Olympic, World Championship, and Volleyball Nations League titles—will battle for supremacy. All matches of this thrilling tournament, featuring some of the globe`s best players, will be streamed live on VBTV.

This season`s edition promises to be particularly exceptional, with 11 of the 13 players who secured Italy`s first Olympic gold last year, and 12 of the 14 players who contributed to their second World Championship triumph last month. These national stars are distributed among seven different league teams, complemented by a host of other prominent international talents.

The regular season will run until February 21, after which the top eight teams will advance to the playoffs. Quarterfinal series will be best-of-three, while the semifinals and Finals will intensify to best-of-five duels. As opening day approaches, we present a comprehensive overview of the first seven of the 14 participating teams.

Bergamo

An eight-time Italian League champion (1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 2001-2002, 2003-2004, 2005-2006, 2010-2011), Bergamo finished eighth last season, reaching the playoff quarterfinals before being defeated by eventual champions Conegliano. The team underwent several changes in the offseason. Key returning players include Czech outside hitter Michaela Mlejnková, Cuban outside hitter Ailama Cesé, German middle blocker Monique Strubbe, middle blocker Linda Manfredini, and libero Martina Armini. Under coach Carlo Parisi, major new signings include 2025 VNL champion setter Chidera Eze and high-scoring German opposite Emilia Weske. American setter Ashley Evans and opposite Vittoria Piani departed for other clubs.

Eurotek Laica UYBA Busto Arsizio

Busto Arsizio claimed its sole Italian League title in 2011-2012. Last season, they reached the playoffs but were knocked out by Scandicci, finishing sixth. Returning foundational players include setter Jennifer Boldini, opposite Josephina Obossa, Belgian middle blocker Silke Van Avermaet, and libero Federica Pelloni. Under head coach Enrico Barbolini, Busto made strategic offseason moves, bringing in Japanese national team setter Nanami Seki from Conegliano, re-signing experienced opposite Valentina Diouf and outside hitter Alessia Gennari to the Italian League, and adding promising outside hitters Mariam Metwally from Egypt and Melanie Parra from Mexico. Notable departures after the 2024-2025 season include World Champion middle blocker Benedetta Sartori, opposite Giorgia Frosini, and outside hitters Ana Karina Olaya, Rebecca Piva, Alexandra Lazić, and Laura-Dervisaj-Künzler.

Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri `76

Chieri finished fifth in the 2024-2025 Lega Femminile season, exiting the playoffs after a dramatic three-match quarterfinal battle against Novara. By retaining World Champion outside hitter Stella Nervini, Olympic Champion libero Illaria Spirito, Dutch setter Sarah Van Aalen, and Italian national team middle blocker Anna Gray, Chieri established a strong core for 2025-2026. The team was active in the transfer market, securing Dutch opposite Elles Dambrink, Hungarian opposite Anett Németh, Italian national team outside hitter Alice Degradi, French outside hitter Halimatou Bah, and German middle blocker Anastasia Cekulaev. Chieri also appointed a new coach, Nicola Negro, who joined after six successful seasons with Minas in Brazil. Opposites Mártha Anthóuli and Lucille Gicquel, outside hitters Avery Skinner, Anne Buijs, and Loveth Omoruyi, and middle blocker Katerína Zakchaíou left the team in the offseason.

Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano

Conegliano secured their eighth overall and seventh consecutive Italian title (2015-2016, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025) last season, completing a flawless campaign where they triumphed in every tournament they entered. The “Panthers” are poised to remain formidable in 2025-2026, having kept their entire star core: Polish setter Joanna Wołosz, Swedish opposite Isabelle Haak, Brazilian outside hitter Gabriela `Gabi` Guimarães, Chinese outside hitter Zhu Ting, middle blockers Marina Lubian, Sarah Fahr, and Cristina Chirichella, as well as libero Monica De Gennaro and head coach Daniele Santarelli. The team`s offseason strategy primarily focused on maintaining roster depth, with American setter Jenna Ewert, Dutch outside hitter Nika Daalderop, and Slovenian outside hitter Fatoumatta Sillah joining to replace the departing Nanami Seki (setter), Khalia Lanier (outside hitter), and Martyna Łukasic (outside hitter).

Cuneo Granda Volley

Cuneo finished 11th in the 2024-2025 Lega Femminile, missing the playoffs but successfully avoiding relegation. Their inconsistent performance prompted a significant squad overhaul, with setter Noemi Signorile, Colombian outside hitter María Margarita Martínez, and middle blocker Agnese Cecconello being the sole returning players alongside head coach François Salvagni. Among their numerous acquisitions, notable additions include Spanish outside hitter Jessica Rivero Marín, Dutch outside hitter Nova Marring, American middle blocker Jaelyn Keene, and libero Anna Bardaro. Key departures included Serbian opposite Ana Bjelica, German opposite Margareta Kozuch, Russian outside hitter Anastasiia Kapralova, and Dutch middle blocker Tessa Poulder.

Il Bisonte Firenze

Firenze battled against relegation for most of the 2024-2025 Lega Femminile season and achieved their objective, finishing 12th. For the upcoming season, head coach Federico Chiavegatti remains, but the majority of the squad has been revamped, with only setter Beatrice Agrifoglio and middle blocker Nausica Acciarri retained. Serbian opposite Vanja Bukilić, Dutch outside hitter Jolien Knollema, outside hitter Francesca Villani, and Serbian middle blocker Ana Malešević are among their most experienced and promising new additions. Players who left the team after their last campaign include setter Marta Bechis, opposite Adhuoljok Malual, outside hitters Stella Nervini and Hanna Davyskiba, and middle blockers Božana Butigan and Indy Baijens.

CBF Balducci HR Macerata

Macerata secured second place in the Italian second division last season and is set to compete in the country`s elite league for only the second time, having previously finished 14th in 2022-2023. Alongside head coach Valerio Lionetti, several players will continue with the team in Serie A1, most notably setter Asia Bonelli, opposite Clara Decortes, middle blocker Alessia Mazzon, and libero Giulia Bresciani. Key signings include Argentine national team middle blocker Bianca Farriol, American middle blocker Emma Clothier, and Finnish outside hitter Suvi Kokkonen. Among those who departed after the promotion are setter Safa Allaoui, Argentine outside hitter Daniela Bulaich, and middle blocker Sara Caruso.