Three-point victory in Florence for Igor Volley, which in the recovery of one of the matches postponed to a later date due to the high number of Covid-19 infections among the blue ranks wins a tight match after two hours of battle. Among the blue ranks, the contribution of the usual Karakurt (30 points) but also of the Herbots-Washington pair (37 in two) was decisive.

Florence on the field with the former Cambi in the direction and Nwakalor opposite, Belien and Graziani central, Enweonwu and Van Gestel spikers and Panetoni free; Novara with Karakurt opposite Hancock, Chirichella and Washington in the center, Herbots and Bosetti in the band and Fersino free.

The first break is Florence’s, which makes 2-0 and then 5-2 with Enweonwu, while Washington shortens the block (5-4) and then favors the overtaking, propitiating Karakurt’s 9-10 in the pipe; it is again the American who digs the furrow with the attacks of 14-15 and 14-17, while Bosetti extends the break up to 16-21 which forces Bellano to timeout. Karakurt in the pipe approaches the finish line (18-24), Bosetti closes the partial diagonally on 19-25.

Herbots (lob, 2-4) is answered by Nwakalor (diagonal, 5-5) and engages a point to point broken by Washington’s ace (7-9) and promptly re-established by Graziani, blocking Karakurt (11-11); Novara tries again to stretch to 12-15, but after Bellano’s timeout Florence still returns to the wall (15-15) and history repeats itself shortly after, from 15-18 to 18-18. Sylves enters and finds the ace of the overtaking (22-21), even better does D’Odorico who as a substitute signs the 22-23 and then propitiates the 22-24 of Herbots with Florence who cancels three set balls before capitulating on 25-27 with a construction error.

Novara raises the pace (0-3, Bosetti) and immediately tries to mortgage the partial with Washington (4-7) but Florence responds blow by blow and first shortens 9-10, then, after Lavarini’s timeout, overtakes 11-10. Novara puts its head back ahead and maintains favorable inertia until 19-21 signed by Chirichella on the block, then the point to point continues until the advantages, when a great block by Graziani, after two blue match balls, closes the set on 31-29.

Florence tries to extend the match but Herbots, awarded with merit MVP of the match, raises his voice (1-3) in attack, then also favors the important break in the middle of the partial with the diagonal of 9-12 followed by Karakurt’s block (9-13) which forces Bellano to timeout. Karakurt makes the void in the serve (11-17, ace), Florence does not give up and from 17-22 (Herbots scores again) returns first 19-22 and then 21-23 before the Turkish opposite takes the match ball with the diagonal of 21-24. On the second attempt, Herbots closes on 22-25.

Cristina Chirichella (central Igro Gorgonzola Novara): “It’s an important victory, as a team we just have to find a bit of serenity in what we do. We still make too many mistakes but I would say that we are there, also because we have been stopped for quite a while and this has not helped and now we are putting all the good will to get the best from here to the end. We are aware of our value, what we showed on the field before Covid-19 hit us hard. Now we just have to get back into our rhythm.”

Il Bisonte Firenze – Igor Gorgonzola Novara 1-3 (19-25, 25-27, 31-29, 22-25)
Il Bisonte Florence: Sylves 6, Cambi 3, Bonciani, Van Gestel 4, Panetoni (L), Knollema ne, Belien 18, Enweonwu 13, Graziani 11, Golfieri (L) ne, Nwakalor 14, Lapini, Diagne ne. Coach: Bellano.
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Imperiali (L) ne, Herbots 21, Montibeller ne, Battistoni ne, Fersino (L), Bosetti 13, Chirichella 8, Hancock, Bonifacio ne, Washington 16, Costantini ne, D’Odorico 1, Daalderop, Karakurt 30. Coach: Lavarini.
MVP Britt Herbots