The Olympic champion is welcomed with enthusiasm at the Pala Barton, then gets excited: her 32 points (7 aces) give the 3-1 to Gaspari’s girls
In anticipation of the third return day of the women’s A1 championship, Scandicci beat the Pala Barton in Perugia 3-1, remaining firmly second in the standings at 39 points.
Perugia-Scandicci 1-3 (28-30, 22-25, 26-24, 22-25)
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Once the curtain has fallen on 2024, 2025 opens with the victory of Savino del Bene against Bartoccini 3-1, in the advance valid for the third return day of the women’s A1 series. In the first leg it was a clear 3-0 for Scandicci, with Gaspari having just arrived on the Liglia bench. Today the lilies leave Carol and Ognjenovic to rest, replaced by Mingardi and Gennari, in view of the many upcoming commitments. Great welcome for Kate Antropova, awarded for the gold medal won with the national team at the Paris Games.
the race
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The Black Angels (6-1) started off strong immediately and found Pala Barton again after almost a month, with the Lilies remaining annihilated by the offensive action of the home team. Giovi’s girls don’t stop and manage to lap the Florentine sextet (16-8). Scandicci’s offensive action is very weak and fails to impart power and precision into the attacks of Antropova, Nwakalor and Herbots. Slowly the Tuscans returned to the match (23-22) thanks to greater precision in attack and too many errors from Perugia who seemed to have taken flight towards winning the set. An incorrect block by Herbots brings the Umbrians towards the set point, canceled out by a whip from Antropova. Nemeth misses the attack and so the two sextets reach 24-24. Antropova then takes advantage to close the set by crashing the ball to the ground (28-30). Initial balance in the second set (8-8), with Perugia managing to extend with a 4-point break (17-13) but, as seen in the previous set, the Gigliate recover (17-17) and take the lead with Antropova finding the fifth ace of the match (17-20). Scandicci finds the lead (20-24), followed by Bartoccini who cancels three set points, but it is still Antropova (10 points in the set) who closes by putting the ball down for 22-25.
third and fourth sets
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The hosts started the third set ahead (8-5) thanks to an excellent serve by Ungureanu. Savino recovers (11-11) and then takes the lead (15-17). Perugia doesn’t give up and with 5 points in 6 exchanges they move to 20-18. Moved by a last glimmer of hope to play the fourth set, the Perugians land 3 more balls (23-21), but Antropova brings the two teams back to a draw 24-24. With the advantages Cekulaev gives the set to Perugia (26-24). The two sextets did not hold back and in the fourth set they attacked with all their might from the start (7-7). Bartoccini extends to 11-8, but Gaspari’s girls are good at not letting the hosts get away (12-12). The Tuscans continue to attack the Black Angels’ defense, not giving up an inch and managing to get to 20-16 thanks to a good offensive phase and a double ace from Antropova (Mvp). Gennari ends the match with a tracer that gives Scandicci the match (22-25). Next day Perugia will be guests of Chieri, while Scandicci will face Busto at Palazzo Wanny, after Wednesday’s Champions League match.
Perugia: Nemeth 28 points, team blocks 15 (5 Cekulaev), team aces 2.
Scandicci: Antropova 32 points, team blocks 14 (6 Graziani), team aces 12 (7 Antropova).
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