A1 women’s volleyball, Novara overtakes Scandicci and takes fourth place

Igor beats the Tuscans with a great collective effort. The framework for the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup has been outlined

Rodolfo Palermo and Simone Corbetta

December 15 – 7.31pm – MILAN

The first round of the women’s A1 comes to an end and the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup are taking shape (single match at the home of the best ranked team) which will be: Conegliano-Vallefoglia, Scandicci-Bergamo, Novara-Busto, Milan-Chieri. They will be played on December 29th and 30th

NOVARA-SCANDICCI 3-2 (24-26, 25-13, 25-19, 22-25, 15-10)

Novara takes victory and fourth place at the end of the first leg in the big home match against Scandicci: they will meet Busto in the Cup quarterfinals. Good match, opened well by the guests thanks to a show from Herbots, in the 7-0 break in the middle of the first set which was worth the advantage. Novara responds, with Tolok excellent at the start and the Alsmeier (MVP) and Ishikawa bands on the shields. The central defenders Bonifacio and Aleksic also did well (26 points together with 7 blocks and 2 aces). Reaction from the Tuscans (excellent entry from Graziani) in the fourth set which is worth the tiebreak, but Antropova struggles in an attack which also lacks continuity as a team.

Novara: Tolok 21 points, Muri team 7 (Bonifacio 4), Ace team 9 (Alsmeier 4).

Scandicci: Antropova 20 points, Muri team 11 (Graziani 5), Ace team 5.

CUNEO-VALLEFOGLIA 2-3 (23-25, 25-18, 27-25, 23-25)

Vallefoglia conquers Cuneo in the tiebreak in a strange match, which the local teams play well for a long time, but falters like other times in the season in decisive moments. Suicide in the first set by Honda Olivero who lost to her opponents from 23-19. But Pintus’ team is there and overtakes led by Bjelica and (above all) Kapralova. The Megabox (without Lee, but there is Carletti’s debut) drags the match to the fifth set and finds in Bici (7 of his 27 points) the leader and MVP decisive for the victory and to secure the eighth place at the end first leg (Conegliano will be in the Cup quarterfinals).

Wedge: Bjelica and Kapralova 22 points, Muri team 7, Ace team 5 (Polder 3).

Vallefoglia: Bici 27 points, Muri team 16 (Candi and Carletti 5, Bici 4), Ace team 5.

Pinerolo – Roma 3-0 (25-15,25-23,25-18)

Pinerolo concludes the first round with a good 3-0 victory in front of their fans. Roma only enters the field in the second set, where they play against the Piedmontese. For the rest, undisputed dominance of Wash4green which with this victory rises to 15 points. Cuccarini’s girls, also given the point obtained by Cuneo, remain alone in last place at 7 points. Very good Sorokaite (Mvp) and Smarzek, who in attack they scored 16 and 18 points, together with Perinelli who held up very well in reception (78%), also reaching double figures in attack (10).

Pinerolo: Smarzek 18 points, team blocks 7, team aces 5 (3 Sorokaite).

Rome: Adelusi 15 points, team blocks 6, team ace 1.

Florence – Bergamo 1-3 (26-24,20-25,23-25,17-25)

Important away victory for Bergamo which strengthens its ranking to 21 points, with the Bisonte still at 12. The Tuscans win the first match with advantages, but then it is the Bergamos who lead the game, with Martina Armini (in the end MVP ) who catches all the balls in the defensive and receiving phases (100%). The 24 points scored by Malual are not enough for the Bisontines, given the excellent performance in the offensive phase of captain Mlejnkova (18 points) and Cese Montalvo (26).

Florence: Malual 24 points, team blocks 12 (5 left-handed), team ace 2.

Bergamo: Cese Montalvo 26 points, team blocks 10 (6 Manfredini), team aces 5.



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