Against CSO Voluntari, fifth success in a row for the Tuscans, with an amazing result: fifteen sets won and zero lost. The Lombards win 3-0 in Portugal
CSO Volunteers-Savino del Bene Scandicci 0-3 (20-25, 16-25, 16-25)
—
Five wins out of five matches, fifteen sets won and zero lost and first place in the group, also mathematically guaranteed. The Savino Del Bene Scandicci Champions League version borders on perfection and looks like an authentic steamroller. Scandicci has the great merit of setting the match immediately on the best frequencies, those unattainable for the willing and nothing more players of the Romanian team. Ognjenovic distributes the game as he pleases and the Tuscans constantly remain four or five points ahead, never giving their opponents any hope of coming back. Carol gives Savino four set points with a simple touch at the net, but Ruddins completes the job with an ace to make it 20-25 which leads to the change of ends. In the second set, two consecutive aces from Axinte give an illusory and volatile advantage to Voluntari (3-2), but from then on the Scandi monologue starts again. Ognjenovic plays a lot with the central defenders Nwakalor and Carol and passes which is a pleasure.
the advantage grows
—
A gross error by Radosova brings the team coached by Gaspari to +6 (7-13). But this is not even the maximum advantage achieved by Savino because she manages to extend it up to +7 and more times. Antropova isn’t having a great evening, especially behind the nine meter line, but there’s no need for her deluxe version to give Scandicci the sprint. Further advantage for the guests in the final phase of the second half: 15-24 which means nine set points available. And on the second attempt Ognjenovic makes a trick of his own and with the second touch leaves his opponents stunned (16-25). In the third set, Mingardi is seen on the court in place of Antropova, in what would be her most congenial role, i.e. the opposite, instead of as a spiker as in the championship. And she immediately scores two points, just to show that she entered with the right mentality. And it is precisely after one of his blocks that Scandicci finds itself at 6-10 and Saja, Voluntari’s coach, is forced to call a time out. And halfway through the set there was also room for the second libero Ribechi, who came in for Castillo who was a brilliant interpreter of the role, as usual. It’s now a free run for Savino Del Bene who reaches 16-25 in the blink of an eye, with the last point scored by Nwakalor. Now there remains one last, irrelevant match against Bielsko-Biala to close this first phase, perhaps as the best first ever of the competition.
PORTO-MILANO 0-3 (13-25, 24-26, 16-25)
—
The hunt for first place in the Champions League group continues, as do the ups and downs in the game. Milan returns from Portugal with the result they wanted, a 0-3 victory against Porto, and will be able to attack on Wednesday 22nd at home against Vakifbank at the top of the group (a 3-0 success will be needed), a useful position for direct access to the quarterfinals avoiding the play-offs. But the Lusitanians are close to snatching the second half (which would have mathematically excluded the Milanese from the race for first place), because Numia, beyond the turnover, continues to lack continuity in the game. MVP and best scorer (13 points, one more than Eognu) is Cazaute. The home coach Miguel Coelho starts with Durao in opposite direction to Joseph, Swanson and Brianna Folashade in the center, Pinto and Hoogers in the band with Resende libero. Lavarini chooses the turnover: Konstantinidou-Egonu diagonally, Cazaute-Daalderop lateral, Heyrman-Kurtagic in the center with Gelin free. First set without history, with the hosts too timid in every fundamental despite a Numia not too brilliant in attack who however compensated with blocks and serves (4 aces) to close 13-25. The Portuguese respond by making fewer mistakes and attacking more: 17-13 and Lavarini bringing Orro back for Konstantinidou is the indicator of the Italian team’s difficulties. The first draw reaches 21 but Milan trembles and makes mistakes, Porto gets two set points (24-22) without realizing them and Numia goes on to collect (24-26). The 0-6 at the start of the third quarter then closes everything before the final 16-25. The target now is Vakifbank.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED