women’s volleyball, Challenge Cup: Novara wins in Germany and flies to the final

VC WEISBADEN-IGOR GORGONZOLA NOVARA 1-3 (23-25, 25-22, 21-25, 21-25)

Stronger than the injury emergency and the fatigue of a very tight calendar, Igor Gorgonzola snatches the pass to the final of the 2024 Challenge Cup, where the French side Nantes are waiting for her, who overcame Bursa in the afternoon. The Weisbaden obstacle was certainly not one to make the wrists tremble, but after the difficult 3-1 in the first leg and with the squad reduced to the bare bones given the absence of a leader like Caterina Bosetti, for the team Lorenzo Bernardi the risks of having his task complicated were real. The Italians suffered, leaving the second set to the German hosts, but when it counted they were able to raise the level of their game, with the star Akimova (23 points after two very foul sets and a stunning third) and with the Danish powerhouses (7) and Bonifacio (10). Obligatory choices for Bernardi, waiting for good news from the market, with the Russian Markova who seems one step away from landing in the blue jersey, with only one run-off in the centre, won by Danesi, preferred to Chirichella, alongside the now immovable Bonifacio . The first set highlights Novara’s blocking superiority, which after the initial study phases finds the break with the blocks of Bonifacio and Bosio for the lead to 6-9. These days, however, Igor doesn’t shine for continuity and an empty pass costs a 6-1 partial with which Weisbaden overturns the inertia of the set, triggering a broken head-to-head before the final sprint from Akimova (6 points but only 23% efficiency in attack) and the usual Bonifacio, who scores at 19-23, which paves the way for closing the set at 23-25.

the awakening of the akimova

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The far from exciting evening of the bomber Akimova weighs like a boulder and in directing Bosio struggles a lot to find alternative solutions. The second set immediately starts uphill, with Weisbaden who, led by Blanchfield (7 in the set) and Rapacz (8 in the set), quickly takes off, up to 15-9. Novara tries to react, coming back with Buijs and the usual Bonifacio until they catch the hosts at 21 all. Here, however, another blackout allows Weisbaden to reopen the match and qualifying discussion, closing the set 25-22. The best Akimova is needed to distance Novara from the risk of complicating the qualification issue and the Russian definitely changes gear in the third set. Weisbaden starts off strong, going up 8-5, but Igor finally manages to change pace, overturning the inertia at 13-14, and then extending to 18-21. Danesi and Bonifacio make themselves heard on the block but it is above all Akimova (9 points and 73% offensive efficiency) who chases away the ghosts and gives away the set that is worth the qualification to Novara, which ended 21-25. The match, in fact, ends here, with the fourth set which only Igor needs to certify success in the match, closed with another partial at 21.