Volleyball, Novara lands in the semifinal where Monza is

Novara-Cuneo 3-0 (25-23, 25-12, 25-23). The Igor Gorgonzola chases away the ghosts, conquers the “beautiful” with Cuneo and reaches Monza in the semifinal. But a result that, on paper, might have seemed obvious, was terribly more complicated to hit than it might seem when reading the final result. Pistola’s team was not able to repeat the “miracle” of race two, but they still unleashed another performance of great character, ready to expose all the difficulties of an Igor far from her top. The start of game three seems to be the continuation of the Cuneo challenge, with Pistola’s team beautiful and bold, aggressive with service and block, and Novara gripped by tension and not very lucid in its choices. The 3-6 run is a logical consequence and Bosca remains in control until 9-12, forcing Lavarini to the first time out. Igor has the first real reaction with the Karakurt block and the ace of captain Chirichella, but again Cuneo with two consecutive blocks on Daalderop escapes on 12-15.

Reaction

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Inside Herborts for the Dutch. Novara once again reacts with Bosetti and the ace of Washington for the new equal. Chirichella on the wall gives the first advantage to the blues (17-16) and this time it is Pistola who stops the game. Herbots finds the break of 20-18, after a “magata” by Karakurt and two consecutive mistakes by the guests allow Igor to stretch on 22-19. Again the Turkish opposite (5 so far) wins three set balls (24-21): Cuneo cancels the first two and would also have the ball to reopen the set, but Degradi shoots out this time for 25-23. It is an Igor with a different face who returns to the field and opens the second set with a partial 5-1 (ace from Karakurt, super Washington). On the other hand, Cuneo, on the other hand, seems to have lost a bit of its light-heartedness, put under pressure by the Novara serve, which forces it to force more attacking choices. Hancock, on the contrary, has more the ball in his head and manages to trigger his power plants too (9-4, Chirichella). Igor doubles the guests on 12-6 and Pistola plays the double change, inserting Agrifoglio and Zanette diagonally. It is not enough to change the inertia of a set that Novara controls with authority, touching the double-digit advantage over 21-11 (great wall Chirichella), before going to close 25-12. Two sets ahead and Novara starts with his head down, with a 4-1 that seems to remove all fear. Pistola’s team, however, has the character to remain hooked in some way to the game and on Degradi’s turn they also find a double break that is equal to an altitude of 8. Novara re-stretches on 12-9, but again the mechanic it jams and with two mistakes by Karakurt comes the overtaking of Bosca at 12-13. Two blazes from Herbots put Lavarini’s team back on track, down a couple of gears and resumed racing with the fast in Washington for 16-14. Cuneo, however, proudly returns again and finds the overtaking, taking advantage of a sensational black out, born from a very bizarre choice of the Novara bench (21-22). The joke becomes decisive: Gicquel sends his on the net, Chirichella finds the ace and for Pistola it is time out at 23-22. Upon returning, Chirichella sends the service halfway through the net but Herbots, unquestionably MVP of the match, wins the ball that is worth the qualification: Washington closes it with the block on Degradi for 25-23. (Andrea Crippa)