Igor Volley’s path in the Scudetto playoffs opens with a success: dragged by Daalderop (21 points and well-deserved title of MVP of the match), the Azzurre come back after the first set lost and win the 3-1 that is worth the first point in the quarterfinals. Wednesday in Perugia game two.

Igor with Sansonna and Chirichella “in the pits” (a blow to the wrist for the former, a muscle problem in the warm-up for the central) and goes on the court with Smarzek opposite Hancock, Bonifacio and Washington central, Herbots and Bosetti spikers and Napodano free; guests in full, with Ortolani diagonally to Di Iulio, Koolhaas and Aelbrecht central, Havelkova and Carcaces spikers and Cecchetto free.

Novara starts well with Bonifacio (4-1, first half) but Perugia comes back with some blue errors (6-6) and overtakes with Ortolani (maniout, 7-8), with the Umbrians who at 10-9 find an important break, escaping 10-15 while Lavarini stops the game and inserts Daalderop in the band. The blue empty pass continues, despite the changes, and Carcaces makes 12-20 while the new entry Mlinar signs the ace of 14-23; Daalderop is the last to surrender (17-24), then Carcaces closes with the diagonal of 18-25.

Novara with Daalderop in the sextet but it is the guests who escape 0-3 at the wall and then 3-6, while Bosetti drags his team to a draw (7-7) and triggers a nice head-to-head, broken by a wall by Washington (13-11); after the reaction of Carcaces (13-13) it is Daalderop and Hancock who sign the new blue break (17-13), while the guests grow on the wall and on Ortolani’s serving turn they mend the tear (18-18), with Agrifoglio who even finds the overtake at 19-20. In the most difficult moment, Smarzek impacts (20-20) and after a block by Bonifacio (21-20) it is two Umbrian errors that send the Azzurre to set point (24-21) with Daalderop who closes an endless exchange at the net for 25-22.

The match comes alive (3-3), Novara grows in defense and the rest is done by Daalderop (8 points and 100% in attack in the set) for the 8-6 blue; Carcaces mends (9-9), Lavarini inserts Chirichella and a block by Hancock is worth 13-11 with Perugia which, however, puts its head back ahead at 14-15. Novara counter-overtakes (17-16) and Daalderop’s serving turn digs the decisive furrow with two winning serves for 22-18, while Mazzanti stops the game. It closes without further shocks, with an Umbrian invasion for 25-20.

Novara raises the pace and immediately goes 4-0 with Bonifacio and after Mazzanti’s timeout the Azzurre extend the break with Daalderop who realizes two great defenses by Napodano, then passing on +8 (Bosetti’s winning parallel) at the halfway point (12-4). The final does not give further emotions, with Perugia unable to come back, suffering the 25-17 which is worth 3-1.

Francesca Napodano (libero Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “Maybe we should have gained a little confidence after three defeats in a row: we started with the handbrake on, then we loosened up and played our game, growing in the wall-defense correlation first and in attack consequently then. Perugia is a good team, we knew it would be difficult and they forced us to fight every exchange, as is normal in the playoffs. Now we think about game two, which will be even more difficult but in which we will try to give continuity to today’s crescendo”.

Stefano Lavarini (coach Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “I expected us to have difficulties at the start, because three consecutive defeats mark the self-esteem and confidence of any team and the rest was done by Perugia who started well and have great experience. The victory and the fact that it came in crescendo, reacting very well to the difficulties encountered, are welcome: even from the point of view of the game, I must say that the leap forward was clear from the second set onwards. On Wednesday we return to the field for game two, we have an experienced team in front of us and used to playing this type of game, an aspect that we will have to take into great consideration “.

Igor Gorgonzola Novara – Bartoccini Fortinfissi Perugia 3-1 (18-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-17)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Populini, Herbots, Napodano (L), Zanette, Battistoni, Bosetti 11, Chirichella 2, Sansonna (L) ne, Hancock 2, Bonifacio 14, Tajè, Washington 4, Smarzek 11, Daalderop 21. Coach: Lavarini.
Bartoccini Fortinfissi Perugia: Casillo ne, Carcaces 16, Agrifoglio 1, Scarabottini ne, Cecchetto (L), Di Iulio, Rumori (L) ne, Mlinar 1, Koolhaas 6, Ortolani 15, Angeloni ne, Havelkova 15, Aelbrecht 10. Coach: Mazzanti.
MVP Nika Daalderop