PROSECCO DOC A. CARRARO IMOCO CONEGLIANO-IGOR GORGONZOLA NOVARA 3-2
(23-25 | 23-25 | 25-15 | 26-24 | 15-12)
Prosecco DOC A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano: Gabi ne, Zhu 21, Scognamillo, Ewert ne, Lubian ne, De Gennaro, Haak 25, Wolosz 2, Adigwe, Daalderop, Chirichella 7, Fahr 10, Forte ne, Sillah 14. Coach Santarelli
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Van Avermaet, Cambi 1, Herbots 10, Squarcini 1, De Nardi ne, Leonardi, Alsmeier 7, Ishikawa 1, Mims 4, Bonifacio 8, Carraro 1, Baijens 5, Tolok 34, Melli. Coach Bernardi
Referees: Verrascina and Puecher
Attendance: 5230
Set length: 27′ – 30′ – 26′ – 31′ – 18′
Notes: service errors Co 15, No 21; aces 4-8, blocks 12-3
MVP: Zhu
Game 1 of the Serie A1 Scudetto play-off semi-finals Tigotà goes straight into history: Prosecco DOC A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano, down 0-2 at Palaverde, comes back and wins in the tie-break against Igor Gorgonzola Novara. The Panthers have a thousand wins and take the first piece of a best-of-5 series, Zhu Ting is the total protagonist of an evening that closed her with the matchpoint of 15-12 in the fifth set, her scoreboard reads 21 points and 3 blocks; for mosquitoes, screaming performance by Tatiana Tolok, 34 points. Game 2 is played at the Pala Igor in Novara, appointment on Saturday 21 March at 21.15.
Before the kick-off, standing ovation for Monica De Gennaro, awarded best player of 2025 by Volleyball.it; and coach Daniele Santarelli chooses her as the libero of his 6+1, captain Wolosz in the direction, Haak opposite, Zhu and Sillah spikers, Fahr and Chirichella in the center. For the mosquitoes, coach Lorenzo Bernardi opts for Cambi-Tolok in the diagonal, Ishikawa and Alsmeier places 4, Bonifacio and Baijens in the center, Leonardi free.
After the first interlocutory exchanges, the Panthers get off the gas thanks to Haak’s service that yields an ace and disturbs the guest reception, Zhu blocks for the first break point (10-8). Fahr imitates the Chinese superstar, who then sets up on his own from seat 4 (17-15): Scognamillo makes his debut in the match in the second row, Haak closes a breathtaking exchange (19-17, 7 points with 50% in attack for the Swede). Tolok capitalizes to restore parity, Herbots takes advantage of his chance and Novara is in front (22-25): Haak extinguishes the first set point, Novara passes immediately after (23-25).
Chirichella scores from the dribble and Fahr blocks, the first rings of the middle blockers in the second set (4-4, 7 points and 2 blocks for a very solid performance by Cristina). Novara is more effective in attack in this phase (6-10). Prosecco DOC rolls up its sleeves and forcefully recovers with Zhu and Chirichella’s block (6 points with 85% in attack in the partial for the Chinese), Tolok churns out three aces and reverses the trend (9-14). Sillah charges with full arm (13-15), with Tolok Novara finds a good margin (14-19): Adigwe enters and guarantees a formidable serve, the Panthers regroup and return to the tie (21-21, 5-0 partial), in the final balance Novara wins by measure (23-25).
Encouraging start of the yellow-blue brand in the third (5-2), Zhu and Chirichella are also protagonists of the new tear that culminates with Haak’s ace (11-4, 25 points with 3 aces and 3 blocks for the opposite). Sillah scores in the powder (13-5, 4 points in the set) and it is repeated after a great defense by Scognamillo (16-7): Haak maintains the reassuring margin (19-11), the Panthers remain hungry in the game and close with the Swede’s block (25-15).
The balance returns in the fourth set, Zhu stands out by also scoring with the serve (6-5, 7 points with 71% and 1 block), Fahr finds the hands of the wall on the first half (10-10), the Chinese signs a new overtaking (12-11). Haak signs a break point (14-12), Scognamillo gives Zhu a breather while Tolok is back to charge (17-14). Zhu is always the protagonist (19-17), it is a ping-pong of ball changes, Wolosz snatches a point under the net (23-21) with energy: we go to the advantages, Zhu drives a nail on the wall and sends everyone to the tie-break (26-24).
The show continues in the fifth set: Haak and Fahr block (3-2, 10 points and 3 blocks for the middle), Zhu remains a factor from place 4, as well as Tolok, on the change of court the score is 8-7. De Gennaro gets everywhere, the Panthers win a break point (10-8). The Panthers resist like this and give themselves a match point, Zhu pushes again and the comeback is complete (15-12).
During the week, the Panthers return to the Palaverde: the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals are played, on Wednesday 18 March at 20.30 Ankara Zeren Spor arrives. Info and tickets online on the Vivaticket.com website. Tomorrow at 12 noon, however, the pre-sale for Game 3 of the play-off semifinals against Igor Gorgonzola Novara opens, appointment for Tuesday 24 March at 20.30 at Palaverde. More info at this link to buy tickets: https://shorturl.at/zhBWb
PHOTOGALLERY AND POST-MATCH INTERVIEWS ON IMOCO VOLLEY’S SOCIAL PROFILES
(photo Gregolin)