From October 13 to 16, 2022, the club, its MARIANNES, and its staff had the opportunity and pleasure of participating in the preparatory tournament "ππππ ππ πππππ ππ ππππππππππ" organized by the prestigious Italian volleyball club: Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano.
Alongside the host club and our Mariannes, the tournament also featured two other teams: VERO VOLLEY MONZA (finalist in the 2021/2022 Italian Serie A1) and VOLLEY BERGAMO (eight-time Italian champion, four-time Champions League winner).
The schedule for these four teams included two matches over two days: a semi-final and a final.Β
Our 13 Mariannes, accompanied by their staff, took off from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport on the evening of Thursday, July 13, bound for Venice Airport, from where they traveled by bus to the Italian town of Conegliano.Β
After a good night's sleep, it's time to dive headfirst into the first match, which will take place at 9:00 p.m. against the tournament's host team: Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano.Β
IMOCO VOLLEY 3 / 0 LES MARIANNES
Breakfast, then a video, and finally training... nothing is left to chance by coach Alessandro OREFICE and his staff. Training to get a feel for the game before the match, but also to discover one of the most beautiful venues in Europe. A venue steeped in history... Palaverde, the venue for all the European and national victories of the Italian club CONEGLIANO (nearly 5,300 seats).Β
7:15 p.m., arrival and discovery of the venue that will host the tournament for two days: the ZOPPAS ARENA. A magnificent arena in which the first semi-final is already being played, with Bergamo beating Monza 3 sets to 1. Bergamo will therefore play in the final the next day against... We'll have to wait for the match between our Mariannes and Imoco.
9:00 p.m., the match begins. On the court, CONEGLIANO's stars are in good form... Well, some are still missing, still on the roster for the World Championships. The Mariannes are in place, responding to their opponents until they take the lead in the first set... The IMOCO machine kicks into gear and comes back... IMOCO wins the first set 25-27. This is followed by the Italians winning the second (25-19) and third sets (25-18) against a combative and well-positioned Mariannes team.Β
In their first full match since our international players returned from the World Championships, the MARIANNES put in a quality performance that could almost have resulted in them winning the first set. But there are no regrets, because tomorrow there is another match, the 3rd-4th place play-off against VERO VOLLEY MONZA. We must savor this battle and focus on the recovery process.Β
October 15: Day 2 of the ππππ ππ πππππ ππ πππππππππ at the ZOPPAS ARENA.
VERO VOLLEY MONZA 3 / 2 LES MARIANNES
Facing MONZA, still missing several of its key players and stars, the MARIANNES and their staff were aiming for third place in the tournament. Led by their captain Karin PALGUTOVA (21 points in the match), the MARIANNES won the first set. MONZA won the second and third sets thanks to their two attackers, THOMPSON and DAVYSKIBA. But that was without counting on the reaction of the MARIANNES, who dominated the fourth set to force a tiebreak, with a fine performance from Maria YORDANOVA (17 points).Β
15 points now separate the two teams in the race for third place in the tournament. Unfortunately, in the final stages of the tiebreak, the MARIANNES succumbed to the attacks and blocks of American middle blocker RETTKE.
A first for MILOS, YORDANOVA, HERRERA & MARINOVA
Beyond the result, the tournament was an opportunity for our World Cup players: Laura MILOS (Croatia), Maria YORDANOVA, Radostina MARINOVA (Bulgaria) and Candelaria HERRERA (Argentina) to join the group and compete against high-level teams with the MARIANNES before the start of the Women's League A season this Saturday against Nancy at 8:00 p.m. at GΓ©o AndrΓ©.Β
Top: LΓ©a SANTORO (Physiotherapist), Emeric PIERRE (Physical Trainer), Alessandro OREFICE (Head Coach), NoΓ©mie SECRETANT (15), Emily THATER (11), Karin PALGUTOVA (2, C.), Naomi NGOLONGOLO (12), Candelaria HERRERA (17), Radostina MARINOVA (14), Lara STIMAC (7), Fabien LAGARDE (Assistant Coach), Maxime CHEZE (Assistant), GrΓ©goire BESSE (Statistician).
Bottom: Kaisa ALANKO (8), Laura MILOS (16), Lucile NDIAYE (1), Lucie DEKEUKELAIRE (6), Jade CHOLET (9), Maria YORDANOVA (5).
REACTIONS
Interview with Alessandro OREFICE, Head Coach: "The Conegliano tournament was a wonderful opportunity for the entire Mariannes team and staff. It was also an opportunity for the club to be in one of the world capitals of volleyball. I think it was important to have the entire staff with me. We used these three days in Italy to build team spirit with the whole team (staff and players).
The feedback after this tournament has been very positive, with only one full training session since the World Cup players returned. We had to deal with a few physical issues, as a preventive measure, before the start of the championship. I saw some good things on the court, the system is starting to work. There is still work to bedone, but I saw a team that works well together technically, tactically, and above all in terms of attitude.
A new team needs time to develop and find connections on the field. In the second game (against Monza), we showed that the group was ready to see an opening, ready to change something.Β
Interview with Karin PALGUTOVA, Captain: "The tournament in Italy was a great experience for the whole team. We got to play against the best volleyball teams in the world, which is something that doesn't happen every day.
What makes me happiest is that we were able to compete on equal terms with our opponents. What's more, it was the first time we had a full squad, both players and staff. It was a chance for us all to get to know each other better."Β
Interview with Philippe PETERS, President: Our ambition is to eventually become one of the best clubs in Ligue A FΓ©minine and to (once again) start competing against the best European clubs. This invitation to the Conegliano tournament is a recognition and an opportunity that we appreciate and will try to build on.
In short,
Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano in a few words:Β
Imoco is considered one of the best volleyball clubs in the world, both for its first team and for its structure and training of young players. The club's record over recent years speaks for itself: 1 Champions League (2021), 1 Club World Cup (2019), 5x Italian Champion (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), 4 Italian Cups (2017, 2020, 2021, 2022) and 5 Italian SuperCups (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021).
CONEGLIANO is a bit like the galacticos of women's volleyball: Kathryn Rose PLUMMER (USA), Kelsey Robinson COOK (USA), Robin DE KRUIJF (NED), Alessia GENNARI (ITA), Monica DE GENNARO (ITA), Isabelle HAAK (SUD), Joanna WOLOSZ (POL), Sarah FAHR (ITA). It should be noted that Italian star Paola EGONU was still at CONEGLIANO last season. She has been replaced by the prodigious Isabelle HAAK, a former familiar face in the Women's League A.Β
VERO VOLLEY MONZA in a few words:Β
Finalist in last season's Italian championship against CONEGLIANO, Monza has been a serious contender in the Italian league for several seasons now. One notable feature is that Monza has both a women's and a men's team in the top division.
Its roster includes the recent world champion with Serbia, Jovana STEVANOVIC; the Polish player Magdalena STYSIAK, a real powerhouse at the forefront of the attack; the American THOMPSON; and Italian stars Miriam SYLLA, Alessia ORRO, and Raphaela FOLIE.Β
BERGAMO VOLLEY in a few words:
A historic Italian volleyball club, Bergamo has won eight Italian championships, seven Champions Leagues, six Italian Cups, six Italian Super Cups, and one CEV Cup. This impressive record was built up in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Bergamo is also home to a player nicknamed the Queen of Volleyball, who recently retired: Francesca Piccinini, who brought glory to the club between 1999 and 2012.