Stefano Lavarini’s Igor Volley returns to success, overcoming Scandicci 3-0 and winning three very heavy points for the standings: thanks to a high-level choral performance, embellished by the highs of some singles, among which the return to the sextet of Haleigh Washington stands out, awarded with merit MVP of the match.

Novara starts with Hancock in the direction and Smarzek diagonally, Washington and Chirichella in the center, Bosetti and Herbots in the band and Sansonna free; Scandicci in full force, with Stysiak opposite Malinov, Lubian and Popovic central, Vasileva and Pietrini spikers and Merlo free.

Scandicci starts strong, with Pietrini scoring first for 2-4 and then with the parallel of 5-8, before three points in a row by Washington (including two blocks) bring the teams back to parity at 8-8. Smarzek puts the arrow (13-11), Scandicci stops the game but on Bosetti’s serving turn the Azzurre go 16-11 before the guest reaction that at 18-16 forces Lavarini to timeout. Stysiak signs the tie (20-20), Popovic the overtaking (20-21) while Lavarini sends Daalderop to the field who immediately signs the tie before two Tuscan errors lead to the set ball at 24-22. Herbots closes diagonally, at the first useful attempt.

Novara restarts from the attacks in the center of Chirichella and Washington (5-3), while on Herbots’ serve two aces by the Belgian set the score at 10-5. Barbolini inserts Lucia Bosetti, Scandicci returns to 17-16 with a block by Popovic and then impacts on 19-19 with a winning diagonal by Stysiak; Bosetti plays cunning (20-19), but Lubian finds the break for the guests who go 20-22 while Lavarini stops the game. It’s up to Smarzek to sew up (22-22) in maniout, then Populini enters the serve and propitiates the decisive break materialized by a maniout by Smarzek after an endless exchange and by an attack out by Stysiak (25-23).

Vasileva puts her head ahead (2-3, ace), Herbots and Stysiak duel (5-5) but an endless exchange closed in her favor by Bosetti and a maniout by Herbots give the first break of advantage to the Azzurre, at 13-11. Scandicci responds (16-16, diagonal by Stysiak) and overtakes with Vasileva, Bonifacio enters and nails the first half (17-17) and then draws the ace of 20-19 while Barbolini changes the sextet in vain. Washington in fast stretches (22-20), Hancock makes 23-21 and after Scandicci’s timeout it is Bosetti who wins the match ball diagonally: Washington closes, with the ace of 25-22.

Malwina Smarzek (opposite Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “We wanted to win and get up after the bad test against Monza and I think we succeeded, against an opponent of the highest level. For us it is an important victory, also as a viaticum in view of the Champions League, a goal we care a lot about. It will be nice for me to return to Poland, it’s the first time I’ll play there as an opponent, and I expect three very tough matches: we, however, will do everything to win the passage of the round”.

Stefano Lavarini (coach Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “We offered an important performance and response, after the defeat against Monza. We still have margin but I think we have rediscovered some of the characteristics that have been typical of this team, since the beginning of the season, especially in terms of offensive aggressiveness. Now comes the Champions League, it will be necessary for us to raise the bar again because we are aware that, to move forward, what we did in the Novara group is only a starting point”.

Igor Gorgonzola Novara – Savino Del Bene Scandicci 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-22)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Populini, Herbots 15, Napodano (L) ne, Zanette, Battistoni, C.Bosetti 14, Chirichella 1, Sansonna (L), Hancock 5, Bonifacio 2, Tajè ne, Washington 9, Smarzek 9, Daalderop 1. Coach: Lavarini.
Savino Del Bene Scandicci: Stysiak 16, Malinov 2, Popovic 7, Pietrini 9, Merlo (L), Lubian 6, Carocci (L) ne, Cecconello ne, Samadan ne, Drewniok, Vasileva 7, L.Bosetti, Courtney, Camera. Coach: Barbolini.
MVP Haleigh Washington