PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO-NUMIA VERO VOLLEY MILANO 3-1
(25-17 | 24-26 | 25-21 | 25-13)
Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano: Gabi12, Zhu 17, De Gennaro, Haak 27, Wolosz 2, Lukasik, Chirichella 9, Fahr 9, Bardaro, Seki ne, Eckl ne, Lubian ne, Adigwe ne, Lanier ne. Coach Santarelli
Numia Vero Volley Milano: Cazaute 3, Gelin, Heyrman, Pietrini, Orro 4, Danesi 8, Kostantinidou, Fukudome, Kurtagic 3, Smrek, Sylla 7, Egonu 33, Daalderop 9, Guidi ne. Coach Lavarini
Referees: Cappello and Cesare
Attendance: 5344 (sold out)
Set length: 23′ – 28′ – 26′ – 23′
Notes: errors batted Co 8, E 8; aces 6-4; blocks 3-5
MVP: Haak
The dances of the Scudetto Finals open, Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano and Numia Vero Volley Milano compete at the Palaverde. The two teams faced each other in the last act for the tricolor also in 2022 and 2023, while this season the confrontation was repeated 5 more times between the Regular Season, Super Cup, Italian Cup and Club World Cup. The Panthers want to continue their streak of success in the league that has been going on since 2018. Great emotion in the sold out of the Palaverde, the eighth of the season: as per tradition the national anthem is sung, the goosebumps comes from the voice of the tenor Domenico Altobelli, while godmother of the trophy is Serena Ortolani, pillar of the first Prosecco DOC Imoco Scudetto in 2016.
Game-1 will be a challenge between great volleyball stars, Olympic and international champions, it is played in the best of five challenges. Coach Daniele Santarelli confirms the sextet of the semifinals against Novara: the diagonal is Wolosz-Haak, Gabi and Zhu are the bands, Fahr and Chirichella the middles, De Gennaro the libero. On the other side, coach Lavarini proposes the diagonal Orro-Egonu, Sylla and Daalderop are the wings, Danesi and Kurtagic the middles, Fukudome the libero.
The first exchanges already photograph the quality of the teams on the field: Milan first gasses with Sylla taking a 3-7 lead, then the Panthers put in a 13-3 run that forces the opposing bench to time-out. Wolosz scores Haak, Gabi and Zhu (55% of the team in attack in the first set), while a block by Fahr ignites the Palaverde (15-10, lethal the middle in the first set with 5 points and 100% in attack). Yellow-blue central players a hair away from double figures, 9 also for Chirichella at the end. Wolosz takes the whim of the point (20-13), Lukasik enters to defend in the second line, Prosecco DOC Imoco leads the boat to the port towards 1-0 with Daalderop’s error (25-17).
The beginning of the second set is characterized by the long-distance challenge between Haak and Egonu (7-7 and the Swede in double figures after the second set), Bella finds the touch of the wall after a galactic defense by De Gennaro (10-9). Gabi answers affirmatively three times (14-12), the Panthers try to escape with Haak, then Numia Vero Volley impacts again (18-18). Lukasik returns to the court in the hot moment, on the first disadvantage of the set coach Santarelli calls time-out: a super Gabi keeps the set alive (5 without errors in the partial, he will end up at 12 without flaws in attack and reception), Bardaro enters to serve, it goes to the bitter end with the error of Egonu who then signs the 24-26 of the 1-1.
Haak lights up the scene of the third set with a double ace, Panthers in command in the opening (7-5); Chirichella lights up (10-9, 3 bricks without mistakes at the right time), the new yellow-blue advantage bears the signature of Zhu (16-15, Chinese second fiddle with 17 points), but it is a very tense partial that is played point to point. Wolosz is unbeatable from the wall, Zhu stings for the mini-break of 21-19: Haak is a dragon from place 2 and scores five of the six points that lead to 2-1 of Prosecco DOC Imoco (25-21, 10 rounds in the set for the opposite). Lethal panthers on an offensive level, no errors in attack in the first three sets and only 2 at the end.
The dawn of the fourth set is more tense, Chirichella finds the opponent’s defense messed up with the ace and Gabi writhes to find the perfect angle, De Gennaro draws a masterpiece to serve Haak (11-6). The Swedish diesel also hits from 9 meters and shatters the taraflex for 18-8. Chirichella and Fahr increase the gap, Haak closes the match with a flourish with the ace of 25-13. Bella takes the MVP scepter thanks to 27 points and 4 winning hits tag.
The series continues at the Unipol Forum in Assago for game-2, appointment for Saturday 19 April at 16. For game-3, however, the final returns to the Palaverde, alarm clocks set for Tuesday 22 April at 20:30.
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(photo M. Gregolin)