Table and chronicle Game 4
PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO-VOLLEY BERGAMO 3-0
(25-13,25-17,25-23)
Prosecco DOC Imoco: Gabi 14, Seki, Eckl ne, Lubian 2, Zhu 6, Bardaro, Haak 11, Wolosz 3, Adigwe 8, Lanier ne, Lukasik 5, Chirichella 5, Fahr ne, De Gennaro ne. All. Santarelli
Volley Bergamo: Piani 8,Adriano 3, Carraro, Strubbe 8, Mistretta, Manfredini 6, Mlejnkova 8, Montalvo 8, Bolzonetti ne, Armini, Farina ne, Evans, Alcantara ne, Spampatti ne. All. Parisi
Referees: Caretti and Cruccolini
Spectators: 5,103
Set duration: 25′,28′,30′
Notes: Batting errors Co 7,Bg 5; Aces:8-1;Walls: 11-3
MVP: Gabi
The Panthers of Prosecco DOC Imoco Volleyball return to their home to once again receive the warm embrace of their fans, more than 5,000 who flocked to the Palaverde for the fourth day against the Bergamo of former Piani and Carraro.
In the pregame, the presentation of Panty, the new Gialloblù super mascot designed by Testa and Molinaro and produced by Trudi, a new attraction for young and old at the Palaverde, and the line-up of the teams wearing Frecciarosa jerseys, an initiative of Lega Volley Femminile and Gruppo FS on the occasion of cancer prevention month. Also present for today’s match were more than 500 ULSS2 employees to confirm the traditional partnership between the yellow-blue club and the Local Health Unit that sees the Panthers as testimonials for women’s cancer screening campaigns.
After the pleasantries, it’s time to get serious and the audience can applaud the long-awaited debut of Chinese star Zhu Ting who starts at setter along with Brazilian Gabi for a dream pair; with them is captain Asia Wolosz at setter with Isabelle Haak opposite, center Lubian and Chirichella, surprise at libero with Anna Bardaro starting and a well-deserved rest for De Gennaro. Volley Bergamo lines up with Evans-Piani, Manfredini-Strubbe, Montalvo-Mlejnkova, libero Armini.
Crackling start, rocket start of the Gialloblù “dream team” that between walls and counterattack solutions (Zhu did well right away) places an initial break (7-1) that already makes clear the intentions of the home Panthers. Gabi defends, Zhu walls and attacks, Chirichella after a foot save in “Gabi style” also places an ace and the lead expands (12-3). Zhu is “in fire” (4 points in the set) and also hits with her serve, then Isabelle Haak (7 points and 2 walls in the set for the “Queen of the North” is relentless (15-4). Prosecco DOC Imoco does not stop and the gap remains abysmal until the end of the set closed by Wolosz and her teammates 25-13.
The second set after a balanced start (4-4) saw another immediate break by Prosecco DOC Imoco, which propelled by the enthusiasm of its public pushed immediately on serve with Marina Lubian who put the guest reception on fire, then Asia Wolosz imitated her and it was 11-5. Bergamo suffers in reception and often finds in attack the granitic opposition of the yellow-blue wall-defense, until an orobic minibreak that brings Piani and her companions closer again (11-9). The Panthers make up for it right away with Lubian, Gabi (5 points with 62% for the Brazilian in the partial) and a consistently sharp serve (15-9), then the double change with Nanami Seki and Merit Adiwge (also unleashed to the sound of aces and attacks, 6 points in the set!) does the rest and the set ends with a 25-17 that confirms the gap between the two teams.
Third set with Polish Lukasik relieving Zhu, still needing to put gas in her legs. It is the most hard-fought partial, the orobiche start well, dragged by Montalvo and Mlejnkova, and take an early lead (4-6, 9-11). Point by point Prosecco DOC Imoco makes its way back with the grit of Gabi and Haak and the tie comes at 15 with the Swedish player’s wall. But Bergamo insists and surges ahead again getting applauded by the Palaverde crowd for grit and character (16-19). Lukasik places two aces in a row, then a brilliant Adiwge, who entered with Seki, confirms her latest excellent performance (8 points tonight too!), Bardaro defends well and Conegliano overtakes decisively with the break that also decides the third set in favor of the hosts: 6-0 and it’s 22-19 with coach Parisi’s time out. In the final sprint there is a battle, the decisive point is by Gabi (MVP with 14 points, 52% attack and 3 blocks) at the wall that closes the match 25-23 for the fifth victory in as many matches for the Italian and European champions who leave to the applause of the audience.
INTERVIEWS AND PHOTO ALBUM ON IMOCO VOLLEYBALL YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK PAGE
Gabi awarded MVP of the match by Industrial Forniture Moro, traditional sponsor of the Panthers and Treviso sports. Gabi signed 14 points today with 52% attack and three walls!
(Gregolin photo)