Second straight statement from Conegliano, and as we reported at Jogo Hoje, the Italian final is turning into a clinic. On Wednesday (15), Imoco Volley Conegliano crushed Vero Volley Milano 3–0 (25/21, 25/19, 25/18), taking a commanding 2–0 lead in the series. Tactically, it’s the kind of win that doesn’t just score points, it suffocates options. And with a third game coming Sunday (19), one more win is all that stands between this team and the trophy.
The win that puts the title within touching distance
Let’s be honest: the gap wasn’t created by luck. Conegliano ran a tight side-out game, punished transitional moments, and made Milano’s first phase feel heavy. When you’re winning sets with partials like 25/21, 25/19, and 25/18, you’re not chasing rallies—you’re controlling them. That’s what a dominant system looks like when it’s sharp from serve to defense.
Now the series is 2–0. Milano can still swing momentum with one big performance, sure. But what happens when your opponent is already stacking pressure on your serve-receive and turning every error into a clean scoring lane?
Gabi, Haak, and the offensive machine behind Conegliano
Gabi Guimarães didn’t need a headline moment. She needed impact every rotation. At 14 points, she was the steady lever in Conegliano’s attack, right alongside Isabelle Haak, who finished as the match’s top scorer with 22 points. Haak’s output stretches defenses; Gabi’s efficiency makes that stretch permanent.
And the way Conegliano distributed the work matters. Milano’s plan revolves around containing the opposite and timing the block read, but Conegliano kept finding angles that forced late decision-making. Once the ball starts arriving on the right tempo, the offense turns into rhythm, not chaos.
Gabi’s numbers: serve, blocking, and elite reception
This is where the match tape starts telling the real story. Gabi finished with 2 points from serve and 2 points from net blocking, plus 80% reception that was both reception positive and reception perfect. That combination is pure leverage in a final: you don’t just defend, you manufacture your own side-out chances.
If Milano wanted to slow Conegliano, they needed cleaner first contacts and steadier pass quality. Instead, Conegliano kept turning Gabi’s tactical serve into pressure, then converting the resulting defensive gaps into point sequences. That’s the recipe: win the first contact, attack the second touch.
What Milano couldn’t neutralize
Milano had Paola Egonu, and she still delivered 15 points—but you can’t win a final on one player’s workload alone. The bigger issue was how Milano’s defense struggled to stabilize after Conegliano’s pressure. When your serve-receive isn’t holding, every tempo change becomes a gamble.
Egonu’s role as the primary opposite threat is clear, but Conegliano’s bloqueio de rede and coverage forced her into tougher swings. Meanwhile, the supporting cast couldn’t consistently bridge the gap. Even with Khalia Lanier adding 8 points, the offensive base couldn’t keep pace with Conegliano’s chain of scoring.
So the question becomes: how do you stop a team that wins the ball before the ball even becomes yours?
When is the next match, and what’s at stake?
The next game of the Italian women’s final is scheduled for Sunday (19). With Conegliano up 2–0, this is the moment where the series can end—or where Milano finally finds a tactical reset that changes the rhythm of the whole contest.
For Conegliano, it’s simple: keep the first phase clean, keep the side-out machine running, and let the pressure do the talking. For Milano, it’s a must-win scenario where courage alone won’t be enough; they’ll need execution, not just desire.
O Veredito Jogo Hoje
From a tactical standpoint, this 3–0 isn’t just a result—it’s a statement of control. Conegliano are winning the micro-battles: the pass quality, the read on the hitter’s window, the timing after serve, and the way they turn defense into immediate offense. If Gabi Guimarães is serving like that and blocking lanes like that, you’re not “hoping” to stay in the match, you’re fighting uphill every single rotation. Call it what it is: Conegliano look like the team that’s already rehearsed the title moment.
Perguntas Frequentes
How many points did Gabi Guimarães score?
Gabi Guimarães scored 14 points in the 3–0 win over Milano.
What was the final score between Conegliano and Milano?
Conegliano defeated Milano 3–0 with set scores of 25/21, 25/19, and 25/18.
When is the next match of the Italian final?
The next game is scheduled for Sunday (19).
