PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO – HONDA OLIVERO CUNEO 3-0
(25-20, 25-15, 25-15)
Prosecco DOC Imoco: Gabi ne, Zhu ne, Seki ne, Eckl ne, Lubian 11, De Gennaro, Haak ne, Wolosz 3, Adigwe 11, Lanier 15, Lukasik 10, Chirichella ne, Fahr 12, Bardaro ne. Coach Barbato
Honda Olivero Cuneo: Colombo, Martinez 3, Polder 7, Cecconello 6, Panetoni, Scialanca ne, Bjelica 7, Bakodimou 9, Signorile 1, Kozuch 1, Brambilla, Camera, Kapralova 4, Sanchez. Coach Pintus
Referees: Marconi and Caretti
Spectators: 4980
Set Duration: 32’, 23′, 24’
Notes: service errors Co 7, Cu 6; aces 7-1; blocks 8-2
MVP: Lanier
Ten days after their last match, Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano returns to Palaverde to face Honda Olivero Cuneo. In the meantime, the Panthers secured victories against Numia Vero Volley Milano and Igor Gorgonzola Novara, clinching mathematical first place in the regular season. The Piedmontese cats, on the other hand, arrive in Villorba in tenth place in the standings with 22 points, fully engaged in the fight for survival.
For the 24th round of Serie A1 Tigotà, the surprise is the absence of coach Daniele Santarelli, sidelined at the last minute due to the flu. In his place on the yellow-blue bench, for the first time, assistant coach Tommaso Barbato takes charge, fielding the Wolosz-Adigwe diagonal, Lukasik and Lanier as wing spikers, Fahr and Lubian as middle blockers, and De Gennaro as libero. On the other side of the net, coach Lorenzo Pintus opts for the Signorile-Bjelica diagonal, Bakodimou and Kapralova as wing spikers, Polder and Cecconello as middle blockers, and Panetoni as libero.
The first set begins with balance, the Panthers take the lead at 5-4 thanks to Sarah Fahr, and shortly after, Adigwe scores the first ace of the match for the initial mini-break (7-5). With an unusual 6+1 lineup, Prosecco DOC Imoco adjusts its defense; midway through, Wolosz and her teammates pick up the pace: Adigwe finds the right rhythm with De Gennaro in the back row, then Wolosz and Lukasik step up with blocks (18-14). After a fragmented phase marked by lengthy video checks, Cuneo, chasing survival points with grit, levels the score, with Greek player Bakodimou (6 points in the set) tying it at 20-20; Tommaso Barbato’s timely first timeout sparks a decisive 5-0 run, the Panthers shift into gear again, and Lukasik seals it with a final double to close 25-20. The Polish wing spiker is the Panthers’ top scorer in the first set with 5 points and an impressive 66% efficiency, while Adigwe and Lanier each contribute 4.
Fahr starts the second set roaring with quick attacks and blocks (7-3), Lukasik and Lanier heat up from position 4 (12-8), and after Adigwe’s initial break, Prosecco DOC Imoco delivers a total symphony. The set point comes from Khalia Lanier, with 7 points in the second set, alongside a crucial 4 team blocks. Only 3 attack errors were made, with a team efficiency of 55%.
In the third set, the Panthers maintain their momentum, and more: the first opponent timeout is called at 6-0 after a lethal serving run by Lubian (11 points, 2 aces), who scores an ace in the break that pushes Prosecco DOC Imoco to 17-5, this time led by Lukasik (10 points total). At that point, the Panthers cruise toward their 43rd consecutive victory, despite a spirited response from an unyielding Honda Olivero (17-10). Fahr seals an ace, and Lubian delivers the match point.
The match MVP is Khalia Lanier, thanks to 15 total points and 2 blocks; the American was the cornerstone of the attack in a game where captain Wolosz got all her attackers into double digits.
The Panthers will return to the court Tuesday for an away match against Bisonte Firenze, scheduled for the penultimate round of the regular season. Saturday, March 1, they’ll be back at Palaverde at 8:30 PM for the 26th and final round against Bartoccini Mc-Restauri Perugia.
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(Photos by M. Gregolin)