Day 2 Series A1 – Table
CDA TALMASSONS – PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO 0-3
(23-25, 20-25,18-25)
Prosecco DOC Imoco: Gabi 6, Seki 4, Eckl 6, De Gennaro (L), Haak 19, Wolosz, Adigwe 1, Lanier ne, Lukasik 12, Chirichella ne, Fahr 9, Bardaro, Lubian ne, Arici (L) ne. All. Santarelli Cda Talmassons: Eze 2, Shcherban 12, Kocic 5, Kraiduba 11, Strantzali 6, Botezat 7, Ferrara (L), Pamio, Gannar 2, Piomboni ne, Bucciarelli, Feruglio ne, Gazzola (L) ne. All. Barbieri.
Referees: Salvati and Pozzato
Spectators: 1,800 (sold out)
Crowd bath in Latisana for the Panthers of Prosecco DOC Imoco Volleyball that in a packed palasport baptize the “first time” of CDA Talmassons and Friuli in A1 with the second consecutive victory in this league start, another 3-0 that is not a surprise given the technical gap between the champions of Italy and the newly promoted opponents, but a confirmation of the growth of the new yellow-blue group.
After the (by now ritual) awards to the Olympians by the Friulian FIPAV, the game started in the general enthusiasm with coach Santarelli taking advantage of his long list of players to make a turnover: the Japanese Seki made her debut as a starter at the direction, Haak in the opposite position, Eckl (freshly ex, protagonist of the promotion in Talmassons) made her debut in the middle paired with Fahr, Gabi as the setter and, another novelty as “starter”, the Polish Martyna Lukasik, De Gennaro as libero. In the challenge between panthers the home “Pink Panthers” instead line up with Eze at the setter, Kraiduba opposite, Scherban and Strantzali setters, Botezat (former Conegliano in 2019) and Kocic central, captain Ferrara free.
A somewhat distracted start for Conegliano, which gives the hosts confidence with a couple of errors, then Talmassons with Kotic’s walls and Botezat’s serves pushes to +4 (5-9). Here comes former Eckl’s first point to reduce the gap, then the Bolzano girl, best Under 21 of last A2, also places the ace. Serbian Kotic, however, is outstanding at the wall, two more goodies and the Friulian women stay on top (7-11). The setter Eze, a product of the gialloblù nursery, registers the game well for Talmassons, but as the minutes go by, the Venetians settle the mechanisms of the new set-up and begin to step up: Fahr imposes herself at the wall (4 points in the set for the Italian), Haak (7 points) and Lukasik well led by Seki hit and the tie comes at 15. An excellent Talmassons holds up and with Kraiduba (6 points) goes back ahead (16-18), but Gabi doesn’t take it and places the +1 wall (18-19), the first lead for the Panthers. The yellow-blues are good once they take the lead to make their lineage count. There’s also the unprecedented Wolosz-Adigwe diagonal in the last exchanges, which with a few too many patches eventually smile on Conegliano. Gabi’s shot is worth a painful 23-25.
The first stretch of the second set is by the yellow-blue Pantherers with a sparkling Haak (4-7), but the “pink” respond and keep in their wake, then tie at the wall (8-8) and overtake with Shcherban’s ace. Prosecco DOC Imoco has to roll up its sleeves, a brilliant Fahr tries with an ace (11-13), but Botezat responds from the center and they stay at arm’s length throughout the middle phase in the second partial as well. Another batting broadside by Shcherban (6 points in the set) makes it 17-16 for CDA and it’s on to the final sprint with the teams still in balance. Gabi on defense and Haak on offense sound the charge and give the first push (18-21), as in the first set the acceleration of De Gennaro and her teammates gets the better of them and Talmassons gives in sharply. Prosecco DOC Imoco closes in crescendo with the shots of the wild Martyna Lukasik and “safety” Haak (7 points each in the set!): 20-25 and Panthers ahead 2-0 in Latisana.
Third set, Coach Santarelli’s girls want to close and immediately push at a high pace with a hammering Haak (4-8), then Seki, protagonist in her debut as a starter of a consistent performance (also 4 points with 2 walls), strikes first to fend off the Friulian’s comeback attempt (7-10). Eze and Botezat with their verve try to answer, but Katja Eckl asserts herself for her part by giving her audience a sorry with a nice ace and Conegliano escapes again: 9-12. Prosecco DOC Imoco doesn’t want to take any risks and keeps its concentration high, Bella Haak (19 points, MVP and top scorer of the match!) is a safety for Seki and after a defense by “Moki” there is a further stretch on 12-17. Lukasik (12 points at the end) also always gives positive answers in attack and the Panthers retando firmly in the lead despite Botezat’s walls ignite the home crowd. On 14-20 inside captain Wolosz and Adiwge for a fairly comfortable close: Fahr’s wall (9 points, 4 walls) seals the 18-25 and the Panthers come out victorious to the applause of the Friulian audience.
After their second three-point win of the season, Prosecco DOC Imoco will have a busy week with two more away games, Thursday in Perugia at home of the other newly promoted team and Sunday in the capital against Roma Volleyball.
Isabelle Haak, MVP of the match with 19 points:
“We didn’t start this match well, it took us a while to get into gear, but when we found our game again we went up and got another good three-point win which is what we wanted. We are aware that we have to take one step after another to make the new group grow, so matches like tonight’s are useful to progress and look ahead, now we have two more away games and we will try to win them, but most of all we will try to improve day by day.”
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(Photo CDA Talmassons Press Office)