Imoco
The story of Imoco Volley Conegliano started in 2012 when Spes Volley, a team that made the foundations of the Women’s volleyball in the city of Conegliano, had to abandon the Italian Women’s Championship (Serie A1) due to economic reasons. Despite the fact Imoco were not successors of Spes Volley’s achievements nor their Serie A1 spot, they joined the Italian top division immediately upon being established. Some would not approve the way Imoco won this privilege but the club officials did not care much of what other people would say. They simply bought the sports rights from Parma Volley, who managed to avoid relegation in the 2011/12 season but lacked funds to continue competing.
Already in their first season in Serie A1, Imoco advanced to the play-off finals but lost to Piacenza. Nevertheless, they qualified for the CEV Champions League, being stopped in the Playoffs 12 by the Russian Omichka in the 2013/14 season. The next season was a season of stagnation for Imoco before they made a boom in the 2015/16. They won the Serie A1 Regular Season and crowned it by winning the championship title. In the ongoing season, they still have a chance to repeat this stunt and add a third trophy in the 2016/17, in addition to the Italian Cup and Super Cup.
It seems that, somehow, things always coincide in the case of Imoco. After having a chance to play the Italian top division already in the first year of the club existence, only five years later they got an opportunity to host the final tournament of the Champions League. At the moment when Imoco found out they will organize the Final Four in Treviso, they had a 2-2 record in the pool stage. So, then, they played the remaining two games without pressure. Fortune really smiled on them, right? We will never know how their 2017 Champions League adventure would finish in the case Final Four was not awarded to them…
Still, Imoco do not have 100% luck on their side as Mexican Samantha Bricio, one of the team’s backbones in the attack, recently suffered an injury that will probably sideline her from the F4.
Statistically, Imoco do not have players at the very top of individual stats in the CEV Champions League with the exception of Dutch player Robin de Kruijf, who was the fourth-best blocker of the pool stage with 29 kill blocks, according to the CEV. Besides her, Imoco’s rivals should watch out for Serena Ortolani, the best scorer of the team so far.
Imoco will meet Russian Dinamo Moscow in the semifinals (20:30 CET, “Palaverde“, Treviso, Italy, April 22).
Find out some facts about VakıfBank İstanbul and about Eczacıbaşı VitrA İstanbul who will face each other in the other semifinal.
See STATS & VIDEOS from women’s Champions League 2016/2017.
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