Vallefoglia Women produced one of the most convincing road performances of the early Serie A1 Women season, defeating Brescia Women 3-1 on 17 October 2026. The visitors recovered from dropping the second set to win 20-25, 25-22, 19-25 and 22-25, a result that underlines their credentials as a genuine contender for the playoff places.

In a league where away wins are hard currency and every point matters for the final standings, taking three points from a road trip is a significant statement. Vallefoglia were sharper in the decisive phases, more efficient in attack, and considerably more disciplined at the service line — three qualities that tend to decide matches at the top level of Italian women's volleyball.

Match Overview

Vallefoglia began the match on the front foot, controlling the first set with patient construction and a well-organized block. Brescia responded impressively in the second, lifting their serving intensity and finding a rhythm in transition that had been missing in the opening set to level the match at one set apiece.

But the visitors restored order immediately after the interval. A dominant third set gave them the lead again, and although Brescia fought hard in a tight fourth set, Vallefoglia's composure at the end of rallies proved decisive.

• Result: Brescia Women 1-3 Vallefoglia Women
• Set scores: 20-25, 25-22, 19-25, 22-25
• Competition: Serie A1 Women (Italian top division)
• Date: 17 October 2026
• Attack points: Vallefoglia 61 – 52 Brescia
• Blocks: Vallefoglia 10 – 8 Brescia
• Aces: Vallefoglia 7 – 5 Brescia

Set-by-Set: How the Match Unfolded

First set (20-25): Vallefoglia took control early with a run of four straight points from the service line, forcing Brescia's reception into a defensive shell. The hosts never found a way back into the set, and the visitors closed it out comfortably.

Second set (25-22): Brescia's best period of the match. Their serve became far more aggressive, the block started reading Vallefoglia's setter, and the home crowd lifted the team through a tight finish. A well-timed block on the outside sealed the set and levelled the contest.

Third set (19-25): The decisive set. Vallefoglia re-established their serving pressure and built an early five-point cushion. Brescia's error count climbed as they chased the game, and the visitors never allowed the lead to shrink below four points, closing the set with a clean ace down the line.

Fourth set (22-25): A genuinely tense finale. The two sides traded points to 18-18, and Brescia held a one-point lead at 21-20. Vallefoglia responded with three unanswered points, including a huge transition kill from the back row, before finishing the match with a block in the middle.

Tactical Story

Vallefoglia's win was built on serve and block. Their tactical plan was to compress Brescia's attacking options by targeting the passers on the wings, and it worked: the home side were frequently forced into predictable high-ball situations, allowing Vallefoglia's middle blockers to set up early and help the wing defenders.

Their attacking distribution was also notably balanced. Rather than relying on a single scorer, Vallefoglia rotated the load between the opposite, both outside hitters and a busy middle attack, which kept Brescia's block guessing. The setter's decision-making in the third and fourth sets was excellent, repeatedly finding the one-on-one matchup on the right side.

Brescia's second set showed the blueprint for how they can compete with the league's stronger sides: aggressive serving, a compact block, and the willingness to extend rallies at the net. Their challenge is consistency. When the passing broke down, the offence became narrow and predictable, and Vallefoglia's defense read it comfortably.

Standout Performers

Vallefoglia's opposite hitter, Sara Pellegrini, was the player of the match with 23 points, including three aces in the crucial opening set. Outside hitter Martina Colombo added 17 points and was outstanding in transition, while middle blocker Giulia Ferrante contributed four blocks and a series of momentum-changing plays at the net. Setter Elena Ricci orchestrated the offence with composure, and libero Alessia Moretti anchored a defense that grew stronger as the match went on.

For Brescia, Anna Bianchi led the scoring with 18 points and was particularly effective in the second set. Sofia Marchetti added 14 points and Camilla Rizzo impressed at the net with three blocks, but the team's overall attacking efficiency dipped whenever the first contact was under pressure.

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