Fedoroteva show in Türkiye, but Bernardi’s team – with Tolok having a super day – comes one step away from victory
FENERBAHCE-NOVARA 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 25-12, 20-25, 15-10)
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Novara came close to achieving the feat at Fenerbahce, only surrendering in the tiebreak to Orro and his teammates. With the Champions League group stage getting underway, Bernardi’s team surrenders to an extraordinary Fedorovtseva (20 points with 4 aces), and yet another stratospheric performance from Tolok (29 points) is not enough. But Bernardi’s team will play on equal terms for a long time and can rightly aspire to return to Istanbul, which will host, after the last one, the next two Champions League Final Fours (the first on 2 and 3 May), with an option on the third, at the Ulker Sports Arena, a venue owned by Fenerbahce which will organize the events. Very good match: one set for each side at the start with Tolok and Fedorovtseva as protagonists. The hosts dominate the third half and Igor responds (with some final thrills) in the fourth. Tiebreak decided on serve: the usual Tolok starts (3 aces in the 1-4 at the start), but the Turks overtake at the change of court (winning serve by Erdem). Ishikawa returns after two sets and it’s a new tie (ace at 10 all), but three consecutive point serves from Fedorovtseva give the “the” to the definitive escape which is worth confirming first place in the group. The Italians’ European adventure continues: tomorrow at 6pm Scandicci-Volero Le Cannet, at 8pm Milan-Zeleznicar Lajkovac, Thursday at 8.30pm Conegliano-Dresdner.