Day one of the City of Conegliano Trophy at Zoppas Arena.
In the opening semifinal, the highly-ranked Dresden Germans, led by Teutonic national team director Straube, ruled the young Slovenians of Maribor after a hard-fought match (3-1) and will take on Prosecco DOC Imoco Volleyball in tomorrow’s final (6 p.m.), which received the first warm embrace from its fans in the semifinal won by dominating against the Serbs of Zeleznicar Lajokovac. 
Coach Santarelli kept Azzurri center Marina Lubian at precautionary rest, lining up in the first official outing of the season at captain Wolosz, opposite Bella Haak, in the band Khalia Lanier and Brazilian superstar Gabi, center Chirichella and Fahr, libero De Gennaro.
A sextet that immediately showed flashes of great volleyball with wall-defense already at a good point and Wolosz who could indulge by exploiting all the valuable arsenal at his disposal.
Despite the effort, the Serbian team can do little against the broadsides of Haak and Lanier, who appeared in great form, while Fahr and Chirichella lay down the law in the center.
To complete the picture, flashes of Moki De Gennaro and Gabi thrilled the Zoppas Arena crowd.
The first set is a monologue of the Prosecco DOC Imoco (25-14), in the second partial the entry of the new Polish setter Lukasik for Gabi does not change the substance with Wolosz and her teammates holding the reins of the score with authority putting under Zeleznicar with a clear 25-13.
Space in the final also for Bardaro, Seki and Adiwge.
The third set is instead hard-fought, the Serbs keep Prosecco DOC Imoco on the rope until the middle phase even taking the lead (11-14, 14-16), but coach Santarelli’s team regroups on defense and evens up, then gingerly cancels three set points (from 21-24 to 24 tied), the last one with Lukasik, and then closes in beauty 27-25 with the final touch of Olympian Sarah Fahr. 
Tables1st semifinal VOLLEYBALL 1898 DRESDA (Ger) – BANKA BRANIK MARIBOR (Slo) 3-1 (25-19,24-26,27-25,25.20) Dresden: Nestler ,Winter 1, Lemmens 9, Goertz, Demidova 15,Lengweiler, Zatkovic 2 ,Linke 8, Kyparissi 4, Levinska , Pfeffer, Fijok 18, Straube 1.
All.Waibl Maribor: Mlakar 17, K.Milosic 4, Stampar 1, Danilovic 3, Senekovic, Cikac, Farkas, Ramic 2, N.Milosic 14, Jularic 11, Keselj, Haluzan 6.
All. Kos Referees: Cecconi and Fiabane 
2nd semifinal PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO – ZELEZNICAR LAJKOVAC (Ser) 3-0 (25-14,25-13,27-25) Prosecco DOC Imoco: Gabi 4, Seki, Eckl ne, Lubian ne, De Gennaro, Haak 16, Wolosz 1, Adigwe 1, Lanier 9, Lukasik 7, Chirichella 8, Fahr 9, Bardaro, Novello ne.
All. Santarelli Zeleznicar: Ivanovic 7, Stanojevic, Sucurovic 5, Isailovic, Allard 2, Zelenovic 8, Pakic, Kostadinovic, Koprivica 5, Stojanovic, Filipovic, Tomic 7.
All.Pavlicevic Referees: Biscaro and Davanzo 
SCHEDULE SUNDAY 15/11 – ZOPPAS ARENA – 3 p.m. Final 3/4 ZELEZNICAR LAJKOVAC (Ser) – BANKA BRANIK MARIBOR (Slo) – 6 p.m. Final 1/2 PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO – VOLLEYBALL 1898 DRESDA (Ger) Ticket office open from 2 p.m., ticket valid for the two matches of the day 
Credits Photo: Duilio Dalla Libera