A great victory for Stefano Lavarini’s Igor Volley, which makes the recovery of the super challenge with Conegliano its own in four sets, winning three very heavy points for the ranking. The success, the result of a choral performance of the highest level in all the fundamentals, is embellished by the performance of the hammer duo Karakurt-Daalderop (42 points in two), literally devastating for large stretches.

Igor on the court with Karakurt opposite Hancock, Chirichella and Washington central, Bosetti and Daalderop spikers and Fersino free; Conegliano with Wolosz in the direction and Egonu opposite, Folie and De Kruijf in the center, Plummer and Courtney in the band and De Gennaro free.

Daalderop makes the first break at the wall (3-2) and Bosetti finds the ace of 4-2; Novara forces the serve and Hancock first (touch at the net, 7-4) and Karakurt then (maniout, 8-4) force Santarelli to timeout with the Venetians who try to get back to 10-8 with Folie. Bosetti resumes the march (12-8), Hancock finds the ace of 14-9 but the usual Egonu drags hers to -2 (16-14, pipe) and after Lavarini’s timeout even comes the -1 with Plummer scoring diagonally (17-16). Bosetti diagonally makes it 21-18, Karakurt realizes a great defense of the same blue spiker (23-19) and Daalderop wins the set ball (24-19): Karakurt closes after another great defense by Fersino (25-19).

Head to head at the start (3-3), Bosetti exalts himself in defense and Karakurt puts his head ahead (4-3) with the Turkish who then makes the void on serve forcing the guests to timeout at 9-5 (ace). Bosetti (13-7) and Karakurt (14-7) “double” the Venetians and after Santarelli’s new “stop”, Chirichella’s first half is worth 16-9. Conegliano relies on Egonu (pipe, 18-13), Karakurt diagonally makes it 22-15 and after Plummer’s reaction (ace, 22-18), Karakurt approaches the finish line at the wall (23-18) and shortly after closes the accounts with the maniout of 25-21.

With their backs to the wall, Conegliano relies on De Kruijf (ace, 2-5) to reopen the contest but Daalderop promptly returns (6-6) and Hancock’s second magic is worth the overtaking at 9-8. It proceeds head to head with Washington who unlocks in fast (14-14) and Egonu who makes the break at the wall (16-18), promptly repelled by Chirichella (18-18) after Lavarini’s timeout. The middle blocker also signs the 20-20, Folie places the decisive break on the wall (22-24) and after the new fast of Washington (23-24) it is Courtney who extends the challenge with the maniout of 23-25.

Hancock immediately raises the pace under the net (6-4), Karakurt (8-6) is answered by the Venetians (8-8) triggering a head-to-head broken at 13-11 by Daalderop, good at realizing a great defense by Fersino in maniout. Two fasts in a row by Washington for 16-11, Bosetti makes 18-13 with an impossible parallel and two points in three exchanges by Karakurt are already worth 20-15 for the Azzurri, in full control of the set. Daalderop is unleashed, Hancock entrusts her with three attacks in succession and they all score (23-18) thanks also to three exceptional defenses of the Azzurre in the last exchange. Daalderop also finds the match ball with the help of the tape (ace, 24-18) and after the first half of Folie (24-19), it is Bosetti who closes the match with an irrepressible diagonal for 25-19.

Stefano Lavarini (coach Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “We interpreted the match well, we did a good test and we were consistent in our characteristics. We had already put in a good performance in attack on other occasions but on this occasion we were more consistent in the choice of shots and this is what can make the difference when facing teams like Conegliano. I am really satisfied with the spirit, the atmosphere and the technical quality that we were able to put on the field”.

Cristina Chirichella (middle blocker Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “We are not happy, more. It was a very important match with fundamental points up for grabs for the regular season: now we have a single goal and we try to achieve it in all possible ways. It’s a victory that is good first of all for ourselves, the exit from the Champions League was a hard blow, but now we are here: we are on track for another important goal. In the next rounds we want to win as many points as possible”.

Igor Gorgonzola Novara – Imoco Volley Conegliano 3-1 (25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 25-19)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Imperiali (L) ne, Herbots ne, Montibeller, Battistoni, Fersino (L), Bosetti 10, Chirichella 7, Hancock 6, Bonifacio, Washington 8, Costantini ne, D’Odorico, Daalderop 19, Karakurt 23. Coach: Lavarini.
Imoco Volley Conegliano: Caravello, Plummer 16, Courtney 9, De Kruijf 8, Folie 8, Munarini ne, Omoruyi ne, De Gennaro (L), Vuchkova ne, Frosini, Gennari ne, Wolosz 2, Sylla, Egonu 19, Fahr (L) ne. Coach: Santarelli.
MVP Ebrar Karakurt