Unstoppable Tuscans: they find their fourth success in a row. Antropova still decisive. In Milan it is Egonu-show
Milan and Scandicci fly in the fourth day of the Champions League. 17 points for the unstoppable Egonu who redeems Vero Volley from the defeat against Vakifbank. Everything was easy for Scandicci who reached the quarter-finals undefeated.
KAMNIK-MILANO 3-0 (25-15, 25-11, 25-13)
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A finishing or little more in view of the Club World Cup. Numia Milano defeats the Slovenian Calcit Kamnik with a 3-0 gained in just 68 minutes. Next Tuesday the debut in China (against the Brazilians Minas) in the intercontinental competition, but in the meantime the Lombards are back to winning in the Champions League. The difference with the opponents was too clear, so Lavarini took advantage of it to do some turnover and give Pietrini some space. MVP of the match is the Greek setter Lamprini Konstantinidou, although the performances of Egonu (17 points, and increasingly in match pace) and Kurtagic (9 with 3 blocks) are worth mentioning. Milan, still without Orro (but he will be at the World Cup) and with Danesi and Daalderop rested, starts with Konstantinidou-Egonu diagonally, Sylla-Cazaute laterals, Kurtagic-Heyrman central and Gelin libero. Najdic responds with his daughter Sara as director opposite Grbavica, Boisa and Pucelj spikers, Rituper and Hutinski in the center and Spoljaric libero. Numia starts with the attitude of those who are not in the mood for gifts: 8-3 which drags on until 16-12. Egonu and Sylla rage and the lights go out for the Slovenians: 25-15 and 1-0 in 21′ with the attack at 64%. The second half goes no differently: 9-3 and 17-6 when Pietrini comes on for Sylla. The gap widens because Calcit, with only Grbavica managing to bring something home, also starts making mistakes, so the 25-11 which is worth 2-0 is the logical consequence. Pietrini remains on the court at the start of the third set (the first point of the season in the Champions League will arrive), but the Egonu-show continues. Paola is joined by Kurtagic, and it’s immediately night for Kamnik (8-1). At 13-6 Lavarini also gives space to the returning Marinova (for Egonu) and Guidi (for Kurtagic), and before the end (25-13 and 3-0) there is also the joy of the debut for the young player from the youth team. Pos.
Milan: Egonu 17 points, Muri team 9, Ace team 6 (Cazaute 4).
Kamnik: Grbavica 12 points, Muri team 2, Ace team 0.
Savino Del Bene Scandicci-Allianz MTV Stuttgart 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-23)
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In Europe, Savino Del Bene Scandicci knows no obstacles, also because there is no rule requiring three Italians to be on the pitch at the same time and therefore Gaspari has no rotation problems. So make room for Baijens in the centre, who practically doesn’t see the field in the league, but also for Bajema who has played in spurts this season. Opportunity also for Graziani.
first set
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Departure at a thousand miles per hour for the home team, with Herbots leading the team and immediately taking it to 8-4. Stuttgart, which showed up in Florence accompanied by a large number of (very noisy) fans, was unable to keep up the pace. The American opposite Rivers pulls off a few good shots, but we are at a decidedly lower level than Antropova (in anticipation of a contract renewal with Nocentini’s club), just to name a name that is anything but casual. The first set ends with a smooth 25-16.
second set
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Same music and same score in the second half. The groove opens with Antropova’s shots from behind the nine meter line (9-3). Savino is superior in every fundamental, attack, service and even blocking: Bajema and Graziani make two in a row; then Antropova passes with a dunk of her own and so Bitter is forced to interrupt the game at 15-6 for the opponents. Graziani, with another block, stops Rivers’ offensive action: this is how Scandicci easily takes the lead to 2-0 (25-12).
the ending
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A surge of pride for Stuttgart at the start of the third set, with an initial 1-5 which led Gaspari to call an immediate time out. Segura even finds two aces in a row, widening the gap between the two teams (4-11). Antropova is needed to change the cards on the table; Ognjenovic serves his opposite at his best and Kate doesn’t have to be asked to put down a series of consecutive balls (10-13). And then the magic touch comes from the Serbian setter who unleashes a couple of aces that are worth the lead (13-13). It goes point by point…at least until the usual Antropova, by far the best on the court, goes to serve. Two aces and another serve that puts the Germans in difficulty for her, to pass in an amen from 20 equal to 23-20. Stuttgart cancels two match points, but on the third they have to give up: from the second row Antropova puts the final seal, for a change.
peak for scandicci
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Scandicci flies to 12 points in the group (full score), a first place consolidated more than ever by Gaspari’s girls who can already think about the next phase of the competition.
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