PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO-CDA TALMASSONS 3-0
(25-22,25-19,28-26)
Prosecco DOC Imoco: Seki 2, Eckl 9, Lubian 7. Adigwe 7, Lanier 18, Lukasik 10, De Gennaro, Zhu ne, Haak 11, Wolosz, Gabi, Chirichella ne, Fahr ne, Bardaro ne. All. Santarelli
Cda Talmassons: Eze 1, Shcherban 8, Kocic 8, Storck 16, Strantzali 7, Botezat 7, Ferrara, Pamio 1, Gannar ne, Piomboni 2, Bucciarelli ne, Feruglio ne, Gazzola ne. All. Barbieri.
Referees: Scotti and Giardini
Spectators: 5,344 (sold out) Set duration: 29′,28′,32′ Notes: Battering errors Co 9,Ta 10; Aces 4-3, Walls: Co 10,Ta 10
MVP: Lanier
World celebration in the classic Boxing Day at Palaverde. The match with Talmassons is an opportunity to embrace and celebrate the Panthers after the world feat in Hangzhou, and the audience responds in a big way with an announced sell-out, impossible to miss!
For the match with the newly-promoted Friulians, taking into account the Chinese exertions, coach Santarelli gives space to the “freshest” and lines up Seki-Haak, Lubian-Eckl (former), Lanier-Lukasik, free Bardaro, Talmassons responds by lining up Eze-Stork, Botezat (former Conegliano in 2019) and Kocic center, Scherban-Strantzali, captain Ferrara free.
In the first set, the Panthers after a few practice runs shrugged off the Friulian resistance and it was former player Katja Eckl who dug the first furrow with a wall and two winning attacks, well served by a sparkling Nanami Seki (10-6). Talmassons recovers tenaciously, former Pantera Botezat prints the -2 wall (13-11). It’s Khalia Lanier’s turn now to take the brunt of the offensive responsibilities, and with the USA dunker’s heavy hits, the lead expands (17-12).
Everything seems quiet in the closing set, between a fast by Lubian (5 points in the set) and an attack by the Lanier-Haak pair (6 points each in the set), but in the final on 24-18 something jams and Talmassons makes itself dangerous with Storck’s shots (6 in the set) until 24-22. Coach Santarelli has to run for cover, inside the double change with Wolosz and Adiwge and the latter is good to close for the 25-22 that makes the 5344 at Palaverde explode.
In the second set beautiful start of the Friulian women who fly 3-7 with Stranzali protagonist against a Prosecco DOC Imoco visibly tired after the return from China and the exertions of the World Cup. With a very pushed serve and the attacks of Stork and Stranzali, the newly promoted team continues to grind out points putting the Panthers under: 3-10 and time out by coach Santarelli. The thaumaturgic words of the coach from Foligno awaken the sacred yellow-blue fire, Lukasik and Lubian rage at the wall, Lanier does well on the counterattack and Prosecco DOC Imoco squares the counterbreak by asserting its lineage, and in an instant it’s parity at 10 after a 7-0 run that puts De Gennaro and her teammates back on track. Then it’s up to an inspired Marina Lubian with two walls and attack (4 points in the set), Seki with valuable first touch and Lukasik (wall, she’ll score 6 points in the set) to put the Panthers ahead (16-13). Having escaped the initial danger, Prosecco DOC Imoco finds its rhythm again and for a combative Talmassons (well Storck, 6 points also in the second set) it cannot go beyond a valid resistance. Unleashed Lubian places the ace, Lanier (still “bomber” with 7 points in the set) unhinges the wall and it’s +5 (19-14). The partial ends with Isabelle Haak’s final blow for 25-19 that sends the “champions of everything” ahead 2-0.
Also in the third set, the best start is by Eze and her teammates (3-6), but Prosecco DOC Imoco, today in Christmas red-green version, recover well with Lubian’s walls, the always effective attacks of Khalia Lanier and Lukasik and Nanami Seki’s ace (9-9). Katja Eckl walls for the overtake (she will end a good run with 9 points and 4 “blocks”. With Lukasik (10 points at the end) and Lubian (7, 1 wall and 1 ace) very present in attack, Seki’s favorite terminal today, however, is Khalia Lanier who continues to put hay in the pot with points from every position, while Talmassons, however, is always threatening (17-15). Merita Adiwge has also entered, hers the 18-15 hand-off that paves the way, then another nursery product like Eckl makes her presence felt on the fast break (19-16).
Talmassons doesn’t go for it, Eze with her serves and Shcherban at the net hurt Conegliano and set a dangerous 4-0 break that sent the guests ahead (19-20). Adiwge equalizes after the time out, before an exciting head-to-head that sees Talmassons go close to the partial success, two set points canceled by the gialloblù battleship that also inserts for key-points the veterans Wolosz and Gabi, in the end the winning shots of Lanier (MVP with 18 points, 70% in reception, 53% in attack, 2 aces) and Adiwge close the accounts with the 28-26 that gives the “there” to the rainbow celebrations!
And…after the game is over, off to the World Party at Palaverde!
On Dec. 30 last and important match of 2024 at Palaverde at 7 p.m., it’s time for the Italian Cup with the quarterfinals in a dry game against Megabox Vallefoglia, presale already active on Vivaticket.
INTERVIEWS ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND ON THE FACEBOOK PAGE OF PROSECCO DOC IMOCO VOLLEYBALL
(Photo M.Gregolin)
