Match Report and Commentary of the Italian Cup Frecciarossa Final
PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO – NUMIA VERO VOLLEY MILANO 3-0
(37-35, 25-20, 25-20)
Prosecco DOC Imoco: Gabi 15, Zhu 11, De Gennaro, Haak 21, Wolosz 1, Lukasik, Chirichella 7, Fahr 9, Bardaro, Adigwe DNP, Lanier DNP, Seki, Eckl DNP, Lubian DNP. Coach: Santarelli
Numia: Orro 3, Egonu 24, Kurtagic, Danesi 9, Sylla 8, Cazaute, Daalderop 7, Fukudome DNP, Pietrini 3, Kostantinidou, Smrek, Heyrman 3, Guidi DNP, Gelin. Coach: Lavarini
Referees: Zavater and Brunelli
Spectators: 9000 (sold out)
Set Duration: 39′, 30′, 28′
Notes: Serving errors Co 9, Mi 10; Aces: 3-4; Blocks: 4-7
MVP: Haak
Third consecutive Italian Cup final between Conegliano and Milano in Bologna at a completely packed Unipol Arena, with the excitement at its peak for a super match featuring the best of world volleyball.
Lineups for the final: coach Santarelli fields Wolosz-Haak, Chirichella-Fahr, Gabi-Zhu, libero De Gennaro; coach Lavarini counters with Orro-Egonu, Heyrman-Danesi, Sylla-Daalderop, libero Gelin.
The match starts at a high pace with a first set full of fireworks. The two super teams, who have already faced each other for the Super Cup and World Championship this season, immediately try to unleash their powerful offensive arsenals. The first mini-break comes for Milano with an ace from Egonu and a block by Heyrman (5-7). Orro pushes the game a lot in zone 4 for a brilliant Daalderop, while Wolosz for Conegliano finds excellent answers, as in yesterday’s semifinal, from the Italian Fahr in the middle. The set is balanced, with Fahr scoring again to take the lead 10-9, but former player Sylla ties it. Egonu gets into rhythm, scoring three points in a row (block, ace, and tip) forcing a timeout by Prosecco DOC Imoco, who are down by 3 (11-14). Numia Milano raises the block again with Heyrman for a +4 lead (12-16), but there’s the omnipresent Sarah Fahr who with one of her “monster blocks” and a deadly attack keeps the Panthers close (15-16). Timeout for the Lombardy team. Captain Wolosz ties it with the first ace of the Final Four for the yellow-blue team (17-17). The match is entertaining and balanced, with teams giving their best in an exciting end to the set. Bella Haak warms up her arm, scoring repeatedly (22-21), but Egonu responds in kind, putting Numia back in the lead with a double (22-23). Gabi ties it. It’s Milano who has the first set point, but Gabi, despite a tough set in attack, finds the joker with a block and cancels it. Egonu scores again (25-24), but Milano misses the serve, as well as on the third attempt (26-26).
Another set point for Numia (they will collect 6, against 8 for the Panthers) with Sylla, but Isabelle Haak (10 points in the first, endless set) cancels this one too, 27-27. The Swede is hot, scoring an ace for 28-27, but the saga continues and Egonu “on fire” ties it up. Six set points are not enough in a true battlefield for Prosecco DOC Imoco, who must chase again at 33-34 after an Egonu tip, but Haak cancels it and keeps an endless set alive. After an incredible series, Paola Egonu (finishing with 14 points in the set!) errs (35-34), but Danesi cancels even the seventh set point. It’s up to the wonderful duo of Prosecco DOC Imoco to close it, first Zhu (36-35), then Gabi in counterattack for the 37-35 that makes 700 yellow-blue fans explode after 39 minutes of sublime volleyball. What a final!
The disappointment of just touching the first set affects the start of the second, the Panthers know it and immediately attack Numia, with Chirichella placing an ace for 4-1, but after the timeout, former player Danesi blocks well, bringing them close (6-4). Another push from Conegliano with the omnipresent Moki De Gennaro’s defenses and Bella Haak’s master strokes, precise in attack and ruthless in blocking (14-9). It’s not over, with Sylla and Egonu, the Milanese come back (17-15), despite an impeccable De Gennaro in defense and reception. The block-defense of Prosecco DOC Imoco, led by the best libero in the world, allows the Italian champions to take back a significant lead after Gabi’s out-of-bounds hit, scoring 20-16. Timeout by coach Lavarini.
The Brazilian star lights up completely, scoring three consecutive points (6 in total in the set), launching the Panthers towards conquering the second set (22-16). With practically perfect reception (100% for Gabi, 83% for De Gennaro in the set), Prosecco DOC Imoco easily brings the set to an end at 25-20, Wolosz and her team fly: 2-0.
Third set. A cautious start for Prosecco DOC Imoco which ignites with breathtaking dives from De Gennaro, Zhu, and Haak scoring from the back row (5-3). The match’s intensity becomes very high again after a quieter second set, and captain Wolosz finds convincing answers in the middle from Chirichella, keeping the Panthers ahead with first tempo attacks despite the assaults from Egonu and her team (12-9). We see again a surgical Isabelle Haak (she will be MVP with 21 points!) and Milano requests a timeout at 13-9 with Prosecco DOC Imoco seeming to want to deliver the decisive blow.
Coach Santarelli’s team sees the finish line and multiplies their efforts. Numia Milano puts their heart into it, defending everything, but even in the battle atmosphere, the Panthers maintain order and concentration, even getting excited and closing with Fahr for a +4 lead (15-11). Egonu doesn’t give up and tries to drag the Milanese back, but on the other side, there’s Haak on attack and a defense that makes life difficult for the opposing attackers each time. Asia Wolosz with always high-level reception orchestrates her attackers well, with Gabi (15 points at the end!) and Zhu (10) scoring frequently, while Milano seems to fade despite the substitutions. Again Haak, in a third set to frame for the Swedish star, scores, then the captain goes for a direct hit for 20-14, crushing Numia’s morale. These are the last turns before the finish line, and Prosecco DOC Imoco doesn’t falter in the end despite Sylla leading with Egonu (24 points, top scorer) in Milano’s last desperate attempt (22-19). Zhu Ting closes it with 25-20, ending the hostilities and… it’s time for a toast, strictly with Prosecco DOC!
And it’s a great celebration for the third trophy of the season, the 27th in yellow-blue history, setting a new record with the 7th Italian Cup (6th consecutively!) for the fantastic Panthers who continue their infinite legend with another intoxicating victory.
POST-MATCH INTERVIEWS ON IMOCO VOLLEY’S YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK PAGE
(Photos by Rubin for LVF)