Table and Chronicle 5th Day Series A1
MEGABOX VALLEFOGLIA-PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO 0-3
(10-25,19-25,12-25)
Megabox Vallefoglia: Giovannini 2, Candi 4, Perović, Lee 8, Weitzel 8, Bici 9, De Bortoli, Michieletto 5, Feduzzi ne, Torcolacci ne, Storck 3, Kobzar. All. Pistola.
Prosecco DOC Imoco: Gabi 12, Zhu 14, Fahr 11, Seki, Lubian 8, De Gennaro, Haak 8, Wolosz 2, Adigwe 1, Lanier ne, Lukasik ne, Chirichella ne, Bardaro ne, Eckl ne. All. Santarelli
Referees: Papadopol and Vagni
Set duration: 25′,28′,21′
Notes: Batting errors Co 6,Vf 10; Aces: 5-3; Walls: 12-7
MVP: Zhu
The Prosecco DOC Imoco Volleyball Panthers rack up their sixth win in as many matches, another three points scored on the minefield of Pesaro against surprise Megabox Vallefoglia.
With the full team, Gabi and Zhu more and more inserted, the midweek in the Marche region gave important signals to a satisfied coach Santarelli in view of Sunday’s big match at Palaverde with Savino del Bene Scandicci, highly anticipated by the Gialloblù fans who have already stormed the presales assuring a “sold out”.
On the court from the start for Prosecco DOC Imoco the dream sextet with captain Asia Wolosz at the dribble, opposite Isabelle Haak, slappers stars Gabi and Zhu, and then Olympic gold medalists Fahr and Lubian at center, libero Moki De Gennaro. Megabox lines up with Coach Pistola’s 6-1 base that includes Perovic-Bici, Candi-Weitzel, Giovannini-Lee (former), libero De Bortoli (another former Panther).
Like Sunday at Palaverde, the first set is fireworks for Coach Santarelli’s team with all its “all stars” cast in the role. Zhu Ting starts with fireworks in attack and wall, then the winning serves of the same Chinese and Marina Lubian dig the first break 4-9. Despite the efforts of Giovannini (another Olympian on the court tonight in Pesaro) and Coach Pistola’s girls, with effective hitting the Panthers put the home attack in trouble, then the break that breaks the set comes with great walls from the Zhu-Lubian pair (5-12). Isabelle Haak also joins the party, and the score continues to favor the Italian champions, who push from the service side: 16-10. Reception travels on very high percentages, Gabi plays full court, attacks and defends aggressively, captain Wolosz is in the mood and Sarah Fahr also benefits (11-17). The Megabox tries to push, but Zhu Ting (7 points in the set, 1 wall and an aces with breathtaking shots) is already at ease with her captain and finds star shots: a double by the Chinese “zhuper” for 13-19. Candi reacts at the wall, but Isabelle Haak responds and is a relentless terminal (4 points in the set). The accumulated advantage, between an ace of an “electric” Zhu Ting and a defense of the De Gennaro-Gabi pair leads to the comfortable closing of the first set: 19-25 and exults the group of Gialloblù fans who tonight support the Panthers even in Pesaro!
The second set also starts well with Gabi offering a show, first sags for Megabox at 2-5 after a “tip” by the Brazilian and another feat by Zhu. Wolosz makes Vallefoglia’s wall crazy, now it’s Haak’s turn to hit, but again Candi with an experienced flick brings the Marche women close, then Weitzel’s ace to tie (7-7). Stung in their pride the Panthers come back to scratch, Asia Wolosz from first cleverly closes a long exchange, then Lubian works well on offense (3 points) and at the wall, Coach Pistola has to call time out to stop the break by De Gennaro and her teammates (7-11). Prosecco DOC Imoco’s wall-defense is textbook, Wolosz’s plays bring out the qualities of her prized firebrands (this time it’s Gabi in the lead with 7 points in the set), and the score expands again: 8-15.
The pace of tonight’s Prosecco DOC Imoco, at full strength, would be difficult for anyone to sustain; Megabox even tried by inserting players from the bench, but could not hold up (12-20). In the final space for the tried-and-true double change with Adiwge and Seki. Michieletto has the last gasp for Vallefoglia, but the Italian champions close 19-25 also the second partial.
Vallefoglia takes the first lead of the match at the beginning of the third set (3-2) with a lively Weitzel, but Fahr responds blow by blow, three points of the blue central and it’s overtaking Conegliano. Zhu, more and more inserted in the “Santarellian” mechanisms, also makes herself felt with her centimeters under the net (3-6). Marche time out.
Vallefoglia’s levee breaks under the blows of Sarah Fahr (11 points at the end, always in double figures!) at the bat and Marina Lubian at the wall (4 in total in the match with 8 points in the meatbox), the Olympians’ points bring Prosecco DOC Imoco to +5 (4-9). Wolosz has fun triggering in turn, without squeezing them, all her stars, but everything comes from the wall-defense with De Gennaro and Gabi (12 points in the match for the super Brazilian) behind and a granitic first line, Lubian walls the 7-15 and for Megabox it’s nighttime.
Zhu Ting (MVP of the match with 14 points, 4 muti, 47% attack and 1 ace) and teammates kept pushing and arrived at the finish line with arms raised, even dominating the end of the race after a choral match that was impressive in quality, continuity and focus: 12-25 the merciless ending of the third set and it is the sixth three-point win in as many matches for Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano.
It now continues apace, Sunday at 6 p.m. comes Savino del Bene Scandicci, for a red-circle game that will offer a great show for the lucky ones who have won one of the 5,344 seats at Palaverde, while Thursday 7 will be Champions League time with the first match for the European champions at home with Mladost Zagreb.
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(Gregolin photo)