The 2025/26 Lega Volley Femminile A1 season is almost here. Discover how seven prominent teams – Bergamo, Busto Arsizio, Chieri, Conegliano, Cuneo, Firenze, and Macerata – are gearing up for the start of the 2025-2026 Italian volleyball season.
Widely regarded as the premier women`s volleyball national league globally, the Lega Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà is set to commence its 81st season on October 6.
Italy`s 14 top teams, featuring players who have achieved Olympic, World, and Volleyball Nations League titles, will compete in a thrilling seven-month season concluding in late April.
This year`s tournament promises to be exceptional, showcasing 11 of the 13 players from Italy`s Olympic gold-winning team last year, and 12 of the 14 players who secured their second World Championship title last month. These national heroes are distributed across seven different league teams, alongside numerous international volleyball stars.
The regular season will run until February 21. The top eight teams will then advance to the playoffs, with quarter-finals played in a best-of-three format, and semi-finals and finals decided over best-of-five series.
As the opening day approaches, we offer comprehensive insights into each of the 14 participating teams, starting with this first group:
Bergamo
Bergamo, an eight-time Italian League champion (with titles spanning from 1995-1996 to 2010-2011), finished eighth last season, reaching the playoffs before being eliminated by eventual champions Conegliano in the quarterfinals. The team has seen some roster adjustments. 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. Notable new additions under coach Carlo Parisi are 2025 VNL champion setter Chidera Eze and prolific German opposite Emilia Weske. Players who departed include American setter Ashley Evans and opposite Vittoria Piani.
Eurotek Laica UYBA Busto Arsizio
Busto Arsizio`s sole Italian League victory came in the 2011-2012 season. Last season, they reached the playoffs but were defeated by Scandicci, finishing sixth overall. Setter Jennifer Boldini, opposite Josephina Obossa, Belgian middle blocker Silke Van Avermaet, and libero Federica Pelloni are among the returning core. Under head coach Enrico Barbolini, Busto made strategic off-season acquisitions: Japanese national team setter Nanami Seki from Conegliano, veteran opposite Valentina Diouf and outside hitter Alessia Gennari returning to the Italian League, and promising outside hitters Mariam Metwally from Egypt and Melanie Parra from Mexico. Departures from the 2024-2025 squad 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 `76 finished fifth in the 2024-2025 Lega Femminile season, exiting in the quarterfinals after a closely contested three-match series against Novara. The team has a strong returning foundation with 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 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. Nicola Negro, joining after six successful seasons with Minas in Brazil, takes over as the new head coach. Players who left during the offseason include opposites Mártha Anthóuli and Lucille Gicquel, outside hitters Avery Skinner, Anne Buijs, and Loveth Omoruyi, and middle blocker Katerína Zakchaíou.
Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano
Conegliano celebrated their eighth Italian title overall and an impressive seventh consecutive championship (2015-2016, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025) last season, capping a perfect run where they won every tournament they entered. The Panthers are expected to remain a dominant force in 2025-2026, having retained their entire core roster. This includes 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, and libero Monica De Gennaro, along with head coach Daniele Santarelli. Offseason transfers primarily focused on maintaining squad depth, with American setter Jenna Ewert, Dutch outside hitter Nika Daalderop, and Slovenian outside hitter Fatoumatta Sillah joining to replace Nanami Seki (setter), Khalia Lanier (outside hitter), and Martyna Łukasic (outside hitter).
Cuneo Granda Volley
Cuneo Granda Volley finished 11th in the 2024-2025 Lega Femminile season, missing the playoffs but successfully avoiding relegation. Their inconsistent performance prompted a significant squad overhaul. Only setter Noemi Signorile, Colombian outside hitter María Margarita Martínez, and middle blocker Agnese Cecconello are returning players, with head coach François Salvagni also continuing. Key new signings include Spanish outside hitter Jessica Rivero Marín, Dutch outside hitter Nova Marring, American middle blocker Jaelyn Keene, and libero Anna Bardaro. Major departures include Serbian opposite Ana Bjelica, German opposite Margareta Kozuch, Russian outside hitter Anastasiia Kapralova, and Dutch middle blocker Tessa Poulder.
Il Bisonte Firenze
Il Bisonte Firenze spent much of the 2024-2025 Lega Femminile season battling relegation, ultimately securing their safety by finishing 12th. For the upcoming season, head coach Federico Chiavegatti remains, but the team has largely revamped its roster, retaining only setter Beatrice Agrifoglio and middle blocker Nausica Acciarri. Prominent new additions include Serbian opposite Vanja Bukilić, Dutch outside hitter Jolien Knollema, outside hitter Francesca Villani, and Serbian middle blocker Ana Malešević. Players who left after the 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 promotion after finishing second in the Italian second division last season. They are now poised to compete in the country`s top league for only the second time, having previously ranked 14th in 2022-2023. Head coach Valerio Lionetti will continue, alongside several returning players such as setter Asia Bonelli, opposite Clara Decortes, middle blocker Alessia Mazzon, and libero Giulia Bresciani. Key new signings feature Argentine national team middle blocker Bianca Farriol, American middle blocker Emma Clothier, and Finnish outside hitter Suvi Kokkonen. Players who left after their promotion include setter Safa Allaoui, Argentine outside hitter Daniela Bulaich, and middle blocker Sara Caruso.
Oliver Wrenwick