A.CARRARO PROSECCO DOC CONEGLIANO-SAVINO DEL BENE SCANDICCI 3-0
(25-16| 26-24| 27-25)
A.Carraro Prosecco DOC Conegliano: Gabi 17, Zhu 19, Scognamillo, Ewert, Lubian 4, De Gennaro, Haak 19, Munarini ne, Wolosz 1, Adigwe, Daalderop ne, Fahr 6, Airhienbuwa ne, Sillah ne. Coach Santarelli
Savino del Bene Scandicci: Traballi ne, Bechis ne, Skinner 1, Castillo, Ruddins 12, Franklin 3, Ribechi ne, Bosetti, Ognjenovic 3, Mancini ne, Graziani, Nwakalor 7, Antropova 21, Weitzel 3. Coach: Gaspari
Referees: Aro (FIN) and Sikanjic (LIE)
Attendance: about 8000
Set duration: 20′- 30′- 31′
Notes: service errors Co 7, Sc 5; aces 8-5, blocks 7-5
MVP: Haak
The 54th and final match of a long and intense yellow-blue season is staged at the Ulker Arena in Istanbul at 17.00. It is not the match-time that the Panthers would have wanted, because immediately after, at 8 pm, there will be the all-Turkish final between Vakifbank and Eczacibasi which will decree the team that will succeed as European Champion at the A. Carraro Prosecco DOC Imoco who had held the scepter for two seasons. Yesterday we were very close, after two and a half perfect sets against the battleship Vakif and four match points, the comeback of the hosts led by the Markova-Boskovic pair (64 points in two!) was successfully crowned after more than two hours of bitter battle.
Wolosz and her teammates had to “settle” for the bronze medal in the Italian derby for third place on the continent with Savino del Bene Scandicci, testimony however of a constant presence at the international top of the yellow-blue club, for two decades a protagonist at the highest levels.
In addition to Chirichella who remained at home due to the serious injury to her right knee (even today her teammates played with the number 18 drawn on her arm), Daalderop was also unavailable today due to a muscle problem in her left thigh suffered yesterday in the fourth set.
In a muffled atmosphere, the confrontation between the Venetians and the Tuscans begins, which sees Conegliano take command of the operations from the beginning thanks to the poignant serves of Haak (6 points in the set) and Lubian (2 aces) and the good work in attack of Fahr (5p) and Zhu Ting. It is the Chinese who closes the set with her 6th point, the net block 25-16.
The second set begins with an ace by Gabi and continues with the A. Carraro Prosecco DOC Imoco in control until 10-3. At that point Scandicci lights up with the blocks of Antropova and Nwakalor and coach Santarelli stops the game with the Tuscans coming back (12-10). A wild Zhu Ting (7 points in the set), with the defensive collaboration of De Gennaro and Gabi (also 5 points for the Brazilian), takes over the reins of the match to the sound of blocks and counterattacks, and is again +6 (17-11). Scandicci is not there and comes back strong with Antropova’s broadsides (10p in the set), cancels a set ball (24-24), then Haak (6p) and Zhu Ting (with his second block of the set) close 26-24 for the 2-0 of the Panthers.
Third set in an Ulker Arena that begins to fill up for the final between the two home teams, but the A. Carraro Prosecco DOC Imoco has to finish the job. The partial is very balanced (16-16), in the final phase the newfound verve of Castillo and her teammates puts spice in the match. The Tuscans cancel two match points with Antropova (25-25), but Haak and Gabi close the challenge 27-25 and Conegliano ends the season with a victory and the prestige of the continental podium.
Thus ends with the 49th victory out of 54 games another super season that has seen the Panthers go all the way in all competitions, once again increasing the trophies in the yellow-blue trophy cabinet with the 9th tricolor championship and the 8th Italian Cup, in addition to today’s world silver and European bronze.
Tomorrow morning the return to Italy, for another intense day that will see the team and staff first (18.30) in Piazza Cima in Conegliano to receive the warm embrace of the fans and yellow-blue supporters and then go up to Ca’ del Poggio for the classic end-of-season dinner with the club’s sponsors and partners, before the “break the lines” that will officially end the season.