PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO-IGOR GORGONZOLA NOVARA 3-0
(25-17 | 25-16 | 25-13)
Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano: Gabi 7, Zhu 16, De Gennaro, Haak 17, Wolosz 2, Lukasik, Chirichella 8, Fahr 6, Bardaro ne, Seki ne, Eckl ne, Adigwe ne, Lanier ne. Coach Santarelli
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Villani 2, Bosio, Bartolucci, De Nardi, Fersino, Alsmeier 6, Ishikawa 4, Mims 1, Bonifacio 1, Aleksic 8, Tolok 6, Squarcini 2, Mazzaro ne, Akimova ne. Coach Bernardi
Referees: Papadopol and Puecher
Attendance: 4998
Length: 23′ | 25′ | 23’
Notes: errors batted Co 11, No 9; aces 3-3; blocks 7-2
MVP: Zhu
The classic of the semifinals, at the Palaverde it is time for game-1 between Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano and Igor Gorgonzola Novara, the Scudetto play-offs are played in the best of five challenges. It is the fourth time in the season that the confrontation is repeated after the Regular Season and the semifinal of the Italian Cup, so far the Panthers have always won.
In the pre-match, the Palaverde, packed with almost 5000 spectators, applauds two yellow-blues who have made history on the occasion of game-2 of the quarterfinals against Bergamo: Monica De Gennaro has become the player with the most appearances in the history of the Italian championship, surpassing Francesca Piccinini at 631; Isabelle Haak, on the other hand, with 11 points scored has overtaken Robin De Kruijf and is at the top as scoring leader in the history of Prosecco DOC Imoco with 2576 points. For the libero there will be a standing ovation at the end, celebrated as the flag of the club as well as of Italian volleyball.
Coach Daniele Santarelli proposes the diagonal Wolosz-Haak, Gabi and Zhu are the wings, Fahr and Chirichella are the middle, De Gennaro is the libero. On the other side, coach Lorenzo Bernardi opts for Bosio-Tolok for the diagonal, Ishikawa and Alsmeier are the wings, Bonifacio and Aleksic the middle, Fersino the libero.
In an immediately incandescent Palaverde, the start of the Panthers is lightning-fast: 9-0 with 3 points scored by Zhu (they will be 6 after the first set with 50% offensive efficiency), Asia has velvety fingertips when she raises for Fahr’s first point (14-7, 6 points including 3 blocks at the end for the blue), while Haak is a guarantee when he jumps from place 2 (20-13). The 1-0 yellow-blue is signed by the Swede, Prosecco DOC Imoco irrepressible in the first period (25-18).
Zhu again on the cover at the dawn of the second set, the Chinese superstar scores three in a row to bring the Panthers to 4-2: he will close with 16 points and an ace in addition to the superlative man of the match award. Novara remains in contact, then Wolosz takes the chair, even without the assists: block after a long exchange (the first of the team, Fahr imitates her immediately after) accompanied by the ace (9-6 and opponent time-out). Gabi stings from place 4 (71% positive reception in the set), now De Gennaro and her teammates are everywhere in defense (only 2 errors in team reception at 2-0), Zhu scores robbery (10 points at the end of the second set) and Prosecco DOC Imoco puts the arrow (18-8, 8-0 of partial yellow-blue). The second set ends with 2-0 for the Panthers, Lukasik gives phosphorus in the second line and Mims misses the service for the final 25-16.
A magic by Gabi is the first valuable play of the third set, Zhu makes an ace and Haak turns it into gold after a nailing by De Gennaro (9-5), Prosecco DOC Imoco takes the period by the hand even with the double advantage. It’s a real show at Palaverde, Fahr erects the wall again and Haak immediately echoes it (16-8 and sixth team block, opposite on fire with 17 points and 51% offensive). Zhu realizes again as soon as a glimmer of hope opens (19-10), Chirichella scores like a tightrope walker (23-12, 8 points with a monstrous 60% efficiency), the matchpoint for the final 3-0 is Gabi’s (25-13, 7 points at the end for the Brazilian).
Game-2 will be played at the PalaIgor in Novara on Saturday 29 March at 17, the series is at the 5 challenges. We will return to the Palaverde on Sunday 6 April for game-3, start of the match at 15:20.
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(photo M. Gregolin)