Volleyball, A1 women, Novara stops Milan. Scandicci struggles with Vallefoglia

Two advances for the seventh day of return.

milan-novara 2-3 (27-29 25-19 19-25 25-22 12-15)

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Novara blow to the Allianz Cloud. Igor Gorgonzola conquers the Allianz Milano field in the tiebreak, putting the arrow towards an overtaking of second place in the standings, which could materialize next Saturday in the recovery against Casalmaggiore. It ends 2-3, with the guests playing a linear and orderly match, with a lucid direction by Bosio who takes turns picking out the most effective teammates, from Akimova (MVP with 23 points) to Buijs (15) and Szakmary 14, and cemented by the surgical strikes of Bonifacio (14) and the solidity of Fersino. Milan, on the other hand, is discontinuous and often in trouble, with the defeat of Palaverde last week which seems to have left some waste. 28 points for Egonu, added to which are 20 from an excellent Sylla and 11 (from the third set) from Rettke, but with the serve rarely worrying the opposing second line, the road was always uphill. Seven days before the Italian Cup Final Four in Trieste, not a good feeling. Gaspari starts with Orro-Egonu diagonally, Bajema-Sylla spikers, Folie-Heyrman in the center, Castillo libero. Bernardi, waiting for the new signing Markova (he will arrive in Novara this week), responds with Bosio as director opposite Akimova, Szakmary and Buijs in the starting line-up, Danesi and Bonifacio in the center with Fersino libero. Milan makes itself felt immediately in the center and on the block, but there is balance, broken by a 0-3 (which leads to 11-13). Milan’s response (still 3-0, scored entirely by Sylla who enters the match), but the teams move forward arm in arm, with Allianz’s serve not stinging (5 errors) and Igor’s order allowing the team of Bernardi to enter the hot phase with a 2 point lead. At the fifth attempt Novara closes 27-29 with 8 points for Akimova and Sylla. Balance also in the second half, with Novara led by Akimova and Allianz looking for (and finding) Egonu. Igor begins to make mistakes (7 errors in the set), and Paola (10 points) digs in, especially in the final 5-0 which sets the score at 25-19 for 1-1. Novara, however, starts well in the third (2-9), with Milan in the doldrums. Gaspari revolutionizes the team: Candi for Folie, Rettke for Heyrman (Cazaute was leaving for Bajema), but without appreciable results. Igor flies 10-22, Egonu and Cazaute favor a break in the final, but it’s not enough and the guests close 19-25 for 1-2. The sides change in the fourth set, and Milan takes the lead (4-1), but the guests return. Teams in contact, then from 15-17 5-0 break favored by Cazaute’s positive serve. Milan controls with Egonu and closes 25-22 bringing the match to 2-2. In the tiebreak, the balance was broken by Szakmary (3 consecutive points in the 1-3 which led to a change of court at 5-8. Allianz went up 11-12, but a serving error by Egonu and a block by Novara’s Hungarian band made Igor escape which closes 12-15. (Rodolfo Palermo)

Vallefoglia-Scandicci 2-3 (25-22, 25-21, 21-25, 17-25, 10-15)

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Hard-earned victory for Savino del Bene. The match has always been on a razor’s edge, with the green-and-white tigers trying to control the speed of the game imposed by Ognjenovic; the home wall tries to take measures on the long shots Antropova and Zhu, while Aleksic looks for space both in attack and on the block. Giovannini takes the place of captain Kosheleva at 9-14 and little by little Barbolini is correct to stop the game at 13-15; Aleksic, queen of the block, closes for 15-15, then an ace from Dijkema increases the overtaking (17-15). The hosts control the lead, Herbots is not there and closes to make it 22-22, Mingardi arrives to close the lead to 24-22 and Aleksic’s block marks the end of the partial 25-22. Change of field to unchanged formations and every ball is played to the limit, after a block from Alekisc and an ace from Dijkema the Tigers overtake the Tuscans, 10-8, then Barbolini stops the game. An error by Antropova brings Vallefoglia to 14-10 and Barbolini can only play the substitution weapon: he has run out of time outs available, at 18-13 Washington comes in for Nwakalor; therefore it is Pistola who stops the game twice (18-15 and 19-17). Washington grabs the equalizer (20-20), Degradi takes the lead, Aleksic also closes the second set with a block. The change of field also sees changes in Scandicci’s ranks, who immediately move to 1-5 and Pistola runs for cover, stopping the game. The highly confirmed Washington closes 4-9. Aleksic, on the front line, closes the score 9-11 and it is Barbolini who stops the game. The guests move to +6 again; Herbots returns for Villani, in Scandicci, Kosheleva in Vallefoglia closes for 19-21 and Barbolini calls time out. Antropova serves and Zhu closes the third set. Change of pitch and determination of the Tuscans, Pistola stops the game at 1-4. Degradi believes it and tries to respond to Antropova’s strength, 5-10; Scandicci tries to move away and keeps the distance at 14-17, when Dijkema goes to serve Mingardi closes the 15-17. Scandicci wants to recover and Pistola stops the game at 16-20. Scandicci’s mental strength makes the difference and we go to the fifth. Savino del Bene is psychologically ahead, Megabox tries to stay in the game, but the change of ends is at 4-8; Degradi closes the score 6-8 and Antropova responds, the green and white time out is 7-10. An ace closes the set and match. (M. Novella Ferri)