Vero Volley Milano delivered a powerful 3–1 victory over Imoco Volley Conegliano (22‑25, 25‑19, 31‑29, 25‑20) in front of a sold‑out Allianz Cloud. At the heart of this Serie A Matchday 17 heavyweight clash was their captain and opposite hitter, Paola Egonu.

Conegliano struck first, taking the opening set with their trademark precision. But Milano, urged on by the home crowd, regrouped quickly. In the second set, Egonu’s attacking firepower combined with Danesi’s presence at the net to swing momentum back to the hosts.

The turning point came in the third set: a marathon of rallies, missed chances, and defensive brilliance. Egonu, relentless and composed, forced the set into extra points and finally closed it out 31‑29 on the sixth opportunity, a moment that electrified the arena.

From there, Milano never looked back. The fourth set was one‑way traffic, with Egonu continuing to score at will and her teammates riding the wave of confidence. Piva’s clever plays and Kurtagic’s blocking added balance, while Lanier’s consistency in reception kept the team steady. Conegliano leaned heavily on Gabi, but even her efforts couldn’t prevent their first regular‑season defeat.

Egonu’s numbers tell the story: 32 points, countless decisive attacks, and the MVP award. As captain, she not only led by example but also embodied the team’s resilience, guiding Milano through tense moments and inspiring belief. 

Alongside her, Lanier contributed 14 points with an outstanding 76% positive reception, and Kurtagic added 12, including five blocks. The bench also played its part, with Miner and Akimova injecting energy at key stages.

Photos: Lega Serie A