Despite Antropova’s 30, the world champions lost the direct clash for supremacy 3-1, while the Piedmontese won 3-0 against Benfica, reaching second place in the group
BENFICA-NOVARA 0-3 (20-25, 15-25, 29-31)
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Complete victory for Novara on the Benfica pitch, where they achieved a 0-3 against an untamed opponent. Bonifacio and her teammates are not always brilliant, but they find yet another great performance from Tatiana Tolok (25 points) and are carried away by the Russian opposite. Bernardi starts the new arrival (from Busto) Silke Van Avermaet, in the department together with Bonifacio in the starting 6+1 which also sees Cambi-Tolok diagonally and Ishikawa-Alsmeier in the band with Leonardi libero. Furtado Pereira responds with Mariana Garcez as director, Ubavic as opposite, Cetin and Holt as spikers, Dokic and Dillon in the center with Rizzo as libero. The Portuguese champions start well, with a reception that holds (and Igor too ineffective from 9 metres), so the Piedmontese, despite high offensive numbers (61%, with Tolok at 7/12), only break away at the end, from 18-19, with Alsmeier favoring the decisive sprint that leads to 20-25. The second set is a completely different story, with Novara immediately running away (5-15). The hosts reorganized themselves, starting from the block (6 in the half), shortening to 11-16 despite the struggles in attack. Squarcini (in for Bonifacio) makes himself felt immediately and Igor quickly resumes their march until 15-25, with Tolok already at 14 with 59% in attack. Bernardi gives space to the reserves (also including Carraro and Melli), and Novara starts well (9-14), but Benfica does not give up, because the wall (another 4) and defense manage to contain the opponents apart from Tolok (11 in the half). The tie only comes at 24, when Igor has already seen two match points canceled out, and the match becomes spectacular with powerful attacks (Holt on the shields in the final for the locals) and incredible defenses. At the eighth attempt Bernardi’s team prevailed (29-31), thus achieving second place in the group.
Benfica: Holt 12 points, Muri team 12, Ace team 2. Novara: Tolok 25 points, Muri team 5, Ace team 2.
Savino Del Bene Scandicci-Vakifbank Istanbul 1-3 (24-26, 22-25, 25-17, 21-25)
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The fight for dominance in group A of the Champions League sees Vakifbank smiling after the victory obtained at Savino Del Bene. Better start for the Turks who go 2-5, but Scandicci does not fall apart and immediately returns to the match. Antropova’s moment takes off immediately as she scores three aces in a row (8-6). Markova keeps the Vakif afloat with her big arm. The epilogue of the first set was incredible: Scandicci even took the lead at 24-21, but had three set points canceled out, only to then lose with the advantage (24-26). Özbay’s serve was decisive and put the home team’s reception in serious crisis, even if the last point came with Markova’s block on Antropova. Shocking start to the second set (0-5). At 11-15 the game was interrupted due to an illness suffered by a spectator (fortunately nothing serious). The break, however, damages the Turks and Scandicci comes back from behind (16-17). The Tuscan team not only manages to connect but even moves forward after a block from Antropova on Markova. An advantage that doesn’t last long: for Guidetti & co. the victory also arrives in the second set thanks to Boskovic’s attack which breaks down the opponent’s wall (22-25). Gaspari decides to remove Nwakalor and Bosetti for Graziani and Franklin respectively. With her serve, Savino manages to open a nice gap with her opponents, with the new players as protagonists (an ace for the central team and two with the American) for the 16-11 which forces Guidetti to call a time out. Nothing to do though, this partial is all downhill for Scandicci. There is Skinner’s signature on the 25-17 point which is worth the new change of court. There were also many emotions in the fourth set, where the two teams certainly did not hold back. Markova and Boskovic, however, make the difference by shooting like crazy from both the first and second lines. Antropova is the last to give up, but this evening she lacked a second fiddle at her side who could counter the strength of her opponents who closed at 3-1 thanks to an ace from Özbay who took advantage of Skinner’s bad day in reception (21-25). Vakif is first with full points after three games (nine points), Savino Del Bene is behind with six and will look for redemption on January 14th against Le Cannet.
Scandicci: Antropova 30 points. Team Aces: 9. Team Blocks: 14.
Istanbul: Boskovic 24 points. Team Aces: 5. Team Blocks: 11.
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