PROSECCO DOC A.CARRARO IMOCO CONEGLIANO-IGOR GORGONZOLA NOVARA 3-1
(23-25 | 25-13 | 25-18 | 29-27)
Prosecco DOC A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano: Gabi 25, Zhu, Scognamillo, Ewert ne, De Gennaro, Haak 24, Munarini ne, Wolosz 1, Adigwe ne, Daalderop, Chirichella 10, Fahr 11, Forte ne, Sillah 12. Coach Santarelli
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Cambi 1, Herbots 12, Squarcini 4, De Nardi, Leonardi ne, Alsmeier, Ishikawa 6, Mims ne, Bonifacio 7, Carraro, Baijens ne, Tolok 31, Costantini ne, Melli. Coach Bernardi
Referees: Verrascina and Cesare
Attendance: 5344 (sold out)
Set duration: service failures Co 12, No 13; aces 5-5, blocks 12-5
MVP: Wolosz
Sunday of great show at the Palaverde, the Prosecco DOC A.Carraro Imoco Conegliano hosts the Igor Gorgonzola Novara for the 5th day of the return of the Regular Season of the Serie A1 Tigotà. Sold out at the Palaverde for the big match, the third sold out of the season sees two of the big names in the Italian championship facing each other. First-level volleyball and emotions in the intervals between sets: the notes of the Friulian saxophonist Charlie Sax resound in the arena, while in the time-outs there is always the energy of the Old Wild West cowboy with his T-shirt shooter. In the first home game of the new year, it will not only be the Panthers who will take the field but also “goodness”. On Sunday 4 January, the first Cuoredarena Social Day of 2026 will be held (the second of the season): “Goodness takes the field” with the friends of the Aipd Marca Trevigiana and their Golosi biscuits. Godmothers of the day Isabelle Haak, Merit Adigwe, Cristina Chirichella, Sarah Fahr and Jenna Ewert.
Coach Daniele Santarelli chooses Wolosz in the direction and Haak opposite, Gabi and Sillah are the spikers, Fahr and Chirichella the middles, De Gennaro is the libero. Open applause also for “Moki”, awarded in the pre-match with a symbolic bouquet of flowers by president Piero Garbellotto as the best player in the world 2025, recognition by VolleyballWorld . On the bench there is the libero born in 2008 Alessia Forte, Marina Lubian is absent due to an ankle problem. In the other half, coach Lorenzo Bernardi deploys Cambi, Tolok, Herbots, Ishikawa, Bonifacio, Squarcini, De Nardi is free.
At the start it is Novara who takes the lead, the Panthers set in motion and find rhythm with the energy of Gabi’s shots (8-10). Chirichella is often engaged with the fast by Wolosz (13-17, 8 points combined for the two middle blockers in the first set), it is the three blocks in a row by Gabi and Fahr and definitively put the Panthers back on track (18-19). Daalderop guarantees presence and energy in defense, Sillah fixes the tie at 20: Scognamillo enters the service, Zhu to reinforce the front line, after set point canceled by Prosecco DOC it is Novara to take the lead (23-25).
Advantage and break point Panthers signed by Chirichella at the beginning of the second set (3-1, double digits with 3 blocks for the Neapolitan, 10 centers with 66%), with a 5-0 partial De Gennaro and her teammates sprint to 8-2. Haak increases the pace as the exchanges go by (12-4), Sillah has fire both from the attack and at the block (15-7): it is a yellow-blue monologue that leads to 1-1 (25-13), Prosecco DOC travels to 60% team reception with 4 blocks and a 6-point Haak with 50% offensive (set point for the Swede, 24 points at the end for the opposite).
Mind-boggling ace by Haak (6-5), but the third set is decidedly more balanced than the second: even Chirichella finds the Piedmontese reception disordered (9-7), then puts his hands on the 13-12 block. Gabi erodes the hands of the wall for 16-13, then cleans the line and forces the opponent’s bench to interrupt (19-14, 8 tokens in the set with 58%). Fahr gives away 7 balls for the 2-1 (11 points for the middle, including 4 blocks), it is an error at Novara’s service to make it 25-18.
De Gennaro bakes a pancake for the point scored by Haak which is worth 4-6, Chirichella prints the parity immediately after. Wolosz defends with his face and slaps the winning serve of 12-10, Daalderop is called into question when Novara returns slightly ahead (16-17), Gabi hits hard 18-18. Chirichella breaks Igor’s inertia with the block (21-23), Haak equalizes the score twice (24-24), then Gabi carries the team on his shoulders and leads the team to victory by placing the decisive ace (29-27, 10 points in the partial, 25 in the end with 3 blocks).
CEV Zeren Group Champions League away match for A. Carraro Prosecco DOC: Wednesday 7 January at 6 pm at the Lodz Arena will be played against LKS Commerceon Lodz, a match valid for the third day of pool D. Return to the Palaverde scheduled for another European challenge: Thursday 15 January will be played against Dresden, the fourth in the group.
PHOTOGALLERY AND POST-MATCH INTERVIEWS ON IMOCO VOLLEY’S SOCIAL PROFILES
(photo Gregolin)