Imoco Busto

Conegliano and Busto will start the Lega Femminille playoffs on Saturday

Another week filled with elite-level volleyball and beach volleyball is ahead of us, with countless meaningful matches and tournaments set to take place all around the world from April 11-17.

The club season is quickly approaching its pinnacle, with the playoffs entering the decisive rounds in national and continental leagues. It will be a huge week in the CEV Women’s Champions League, with the two semifinal series coming to an end over the next few days and the teams that will compete for the title in Turin becoming known.

Italian volleyball fans will also have a lot to look out for over the next seven days, with the SuperLega Credem Banca holding the first two legs of its semifinal round and the Lega Pallavollo Serie A1 Femminille kicking off the postseason with the quarterfinals.

The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour also continues at full pace, having the second of three events in Brazil this week, the Saquarema Challenge.

Here’s what to follow in the next few days on the court and on the sand:

Tuesday

Polish Women’s Tauron League – Quarterfinals Leg 2

The playoffs of the Women’s Tauron League continue in Poland, with three of the four quarterfinal series having their second matches on Tuesday. ŁKS Commercecon Łódź, BKS BOSTIK Bielsko-Biała and Grot Budowlani Łódź, who won their first-leg matches against OnlyBio Pałac Bydgoszcz, Energa MKS Kalisz and Grupa Azoty Chemik Police respectively, will advance to the semifinals if they secure another win.

Wednesday

CEV Women’s Champions League – Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul vs. Igor Gorgonzola Novara – 19:00 local time (16:00 UTC)

Turkish giants Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul and Italian powerhouse Igor Gorgonzola Novara will meet in the second leg of their CEV Women’s Champions League semifinal series in Istambul. The Italians enter the second round of their battle with a small edge after they won their first encounter 3-2 last week at home. The all-Turkish series between VakifBank Istanbul and Fenerbahçe Opet Istanbul will be completed on Thursday.

Thursday

Beach Pro Tour Saquarema Challenge - Brazil

Watch on VBTV

The Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour moves cities, but continues in Brazil for a second-straight week, going from Itapema to Saquarema, the host city of this week’s Challenge tournament. The winners in Itapema, Chinese Olympians Chen Xue and Xinyi Xia will be looking for another victory in Brazil while the men’s field is led by Estonians Kusti Nõlvak and Mart Tiisaar.

SuperLega Credem Banca – Semifinals Leg 1 - 20:30 local time (18:30 UTC)

Watch on VBTV

Just three days after the conclusion of the quarterfinal round, the semifinals of the SuperLega Credem Banca begin with the two series starting at the same time on Thursday. In one of them, defending champions Cucine Lube Civitanova, who made a fantastic comeback against WithU Verona in the quarterfinals, will be at home against Allianz Milano, who eliminated reigning world champions Sir Safety Susa Perugia. The other duel will have Itas Trentino, who overcame Vero Volley Monza, hosting Coppa Italia champions Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, who also came back from a 2-0 deficit to top Valsa Group Modena in the quarterfinals.

Friday

American AVP – New Orleans Open

The American AVP will have its second 2023 event going on this week, in New Orleans, and some regular Beach Pro Tour faces will be in action in Louisiana. The women’s field is particularly strong, with USA’s top teams of Kelly Cheng/Sara Hughes and Taryn Kloth/Kristen Nuss and Canadians Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes all set to compete, while Chaim Schalk and Tri Bourne lead the way among the men.

Saturday

Lega Pallavollo Serie A1 Femminille – Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano vs. E-Work Busto Arsizio – 20:30 local time (18:30 UTC)

Watch on VBTV

The playoffs of the Lega Pallavollo Serie A1 Femminille begin, with regular-season winners Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano facing E-Work Busto Arsizio in the first match of their best-of-three quarterfinal series. Conegliano won the two encounters between the teams during the regular season, but Busto were able to take sets off of the defending champions on both occasions, falling 3-2 at home and 3-1 on the road.

Sunday

SuperLega Credem Banca – Semifinals Leg 2 - 18:00 local time (16:30 UTC)

Watch on VBTV

The second leg of the SuperLega Credem Banca will be held on Sunday, with the lower-seeded teams now hosting the matches. It will be the first home playoff match in history for both Allianz Milano, who will face defending champions Cucine Lube Civitanova, and Coppa Italia winners Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, who will play against 2022 FIVB Men's Club World Championship silver medallists Itas Trentino.

Monday

Men’s Turkish Cup – Semifinals

The semifinals of the Men’s Turkish Cup will open the week of play in the country, with two duels taking place to determine the finalists of the tournament. In one of them, defending champions Arkas Spor face CEV Champions League semifinalists Halkbank Ankara. The other matchup reunites Ziraat Bankasi Ankara and Fenerbahçe HDI Sigorta.