Blue smile: after two and a half hours of battle, Igor Volley overcomes Monza and wins the first point in the semifinal series. Saturday evening at 20.30 (live Rai Sport HD) the second act. Among the blue ranks, in a choral context of the highest level (and with the stain of only two empty passes, at the start of the second partial and in the final quarter), the performance of Nika Daalderop stands out, 20 points and top scorer of hers, awarded MVP of the match.

Igor on the court with Smarzek opposite Hancock, Chirichella and Washington central, Daalderop and Bosetti spikers and Sansonna free; Monza with Orro in the direction and Van Hecke diagonally, Heyrman and Danesi in the center, Meijners and Begic in the band and Parrocchiale free.

Head-to-head from the start, with Chirichella on the ball (3-3) and the errors of Begic and Meijners to launch the Azzurre to 10-7, with Parazzoli (called to replace the unavailable Gaspari on the bench) forced to stop the game. Monza comes back (11-10, Danesi’s ace) and Heyrman equalizes on the block (12-12) while Novara relies on Bosetti (16-14 on the block, then 18-16 diagonally) before Meijners’ pipe that is worth 18-18. After Lavarini’s timeout, Daalderop makes it 21-19 and at 22-20 Tajè enters the serve, with the Novara woman propitiating the decisive break sealed by Daalderop’s 24-20 in parallel after an endless exchange. The Dutchman closes 25-21.

Monza raises the bar in serving and immediately goes to 0-6 with Meijners’ ace, with the Brianza who continue the escape until 1-10 with Heyrman’s block; Lavarini stops the game twice, Bosetti reacts (4-10) and Daalderop’s ace is worth 10-15 with Monza losing the rhythm, while Novara returns 14-16 with Washington’s winning serve and then 17-18 with Chirichella’s winning touch. A serious referee oversight propitiates the next break (17-21, diagonal by Begic), but Novara returns again to -1 (21-22) and then gives in, with minimal difference, on Van Hecke’s parallel (23-25).

Novara reacts and starts 4-2 with Bosetti’s great block, Begic mends the tear (5-5) and Orthmann does the same at 8-8, then propitiating 8-10 with an ace by Begic and a block by Heyrman; Lavarini stops the game, Washington comes back and then breaks at 13-11, forcing Parazzoli to timeout. At 18-16, again space for Tajè, who “jumps” the guest reception and launches the Azzurre to 23-16 (first half of Washington) with Daalderop who closes a spectacular exchange and the set (25-17) in maniout.

Novara keeps the pace high, Begic (7-8) duels with Smarzek (9-8) but the Polish serves the ace of 12-10, to which Meijners replies with the “lob” of 13-13; the Azzurri flee at 17-13 and again at 19-16, but three blocks in a few exchanges by Danesi mend the tear (19-19) and Meijners signs the overtaking of 20-21 in the pipe; Monza escapes up to 21-24 (Van Hecke) and after two set points canceled by the Azzurre comes Heyrman’s fast (23-25) which sends everyone to the tie-break.

The first break is Monza’s (Heyrman’s block on Bosetti) at 3-5, but Hancock goes to serve and overturns everything, propitiating with an ace the 5-0 that sends the teams to the change of court at 8-5 for the Azzurre. Orro does not give up (8-7), at 10-8 Tajè propitiates the minibreak that is worth 12-8 and shortly after Washington sends the teams to match point: Bosetti closes, diagonally, after a great defense of the newcomer Herbots.

Stefano Lavarini (coach Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “It was a match of many emotions, we never gave up and I think we had good quality in the first touch and, after the first set, also in the serve. Beyond a few attacking choices that we could have done better, we were good and had the courage to risk some plays that we don’t always risk. We start again from 0-0 but with the awareness of having played a match collecting the maximum possible”.

Sara Tajè (middle blocker Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “It was important to win the first point of the series, we did it with a high-level, hard-fought game. I am happy to have had space and to have managed to be incisive with my lines, giving my contribution to the team. Now a trip to Monza awaits us, the bar will be raised but we will be ready”.

Igor Gorgonzola Novara – Saugella Monza 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-17, 23-25, 15-10)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Herbots, Napodano (L) ne, Zanette, Battistoni ne, Bosetti 17, Chirichella 8, Sansonna (L), Hancock 2, Bonifacio ne, Tajè, Washington 16, Smarzek 13, Bolzonetti ne, Daalderop 20. Coach: Lavarini.
Saugella Monza: Carraro ne, Squarcini, Heyrman 13, Van Hecke 22, Orro 2, Begic 16, Danesi 9, Orthmann 2, Meijners 9, Obossa ne, Davyskiba, Parrocchiale (L), Negretti (L) ne. Coach: Parazzoli.
MVP Nika Daalderop