Mission accomplished for Stefano Lavarini’s Igor Volley, which completes the string of victories in its group and, overcoming the hosts of the Police 1-3, conquers a place among the seeded teams in view of the draw for the quarterfinals scheduled for Friday 12 February. A close battle that closed Pool E, in which the Azzurre unleashed a choral performance made of sacrifice and lucidity in key moments, with director Hancock author of 8 points (including 4 blocks!) and awarded MVP of the match with merit. Also worth mentioning is the performance of Daalderop, who came off the bench and was decisive in the comeback made in the third set and then in the decisive “break” of the fourth.

Police on the field with Kowalewska in the direction and Brakocevic diagonally, Wasilewska and Kakolewska in the center, Grajber and Strantzali in the band and Maj libero; Igor with Smarzek opposite Hancock, Chirichella and Washington central, Herbots and Bosetti spikers and Sansonna free.

Novara starts strong in serving (2-5, Bosetti’s ace), while Police raises the pace in defense and mends the tear at 10-10 with Strentzali’s lob on target. Chirichella makes the break at the wall after a great defense by Bosetti (10-12), Smarzek imitates her for 11-15 and after the timeout of the Poles, two points in a row by Washington are worth 14-18. Bosetti extends the break (14-20), Chirichella keeps his distance at the wall (16-22) and then goes wild in attack, alternating fast and first half for 18-24. Closes a diagonal score by Herbots, 19-25.

Novara makes a mistake (3-1) but gets up quickly and with two points from Hancock puts the arrow (6-7) before Bosetti’s block which is worth +2 and forces the Police to timeout. The tape saves Kowalewska (9-9, ace) and propitiates the break of the hosts who go 12-9 while Lavarini inserts Zanette, immediately scoring at 13-10. Police ahead until 21-15 despite the entry of Daalderop and the reaction to the wall of Chirichella, but after the blue timeout Washington and Daalderop reopen the contest at 21-18; shortly after it is Hancock who makes the big voice at the wall (23-21) with Bosetti who closes an endless exchange diagonally and finds the -1. With a bit of luck (a daring attack and an invasion), however, Police closes the set at 25-22 taking it to a tie.

The Police tries everything and, thanks to some incomprehensible referee calls, leads first 6-3, then 8-4 while Lavarini sends Daalderop back to the field in the band. On Smarzek’s serving turn, the Azzurre overturn everything: from 8-5, thanks to an ace and three winning blocks, Novara goes 8-13 while the Poles stop the game in vain. Washington finds two aces that mortgage the set (11-19) and after Wasilewska’s reaction (fast, 16-22), Novara closes with momentum with Daalderop’s diagonal that is worth 18-25.

The Dutchman starts again and after the initial 3-0 for the Police, it is Bosetti (an attack and a block) and Smarzek (two winning attacks) who overturn the score to 3-5; Strantzali sends out the attack of 4-7, Daalderop realizes a great defense of Washington (6-10) and Hancock makes a +5 block, directing the set. Novara administers the advantage, Smarzek closes an endless exchange (9-15) and paves the way for the Azzurre who with Bosetti’s ace (10-17) and Daalderop’s shots bring it to 13-21, while Sansonna exalts himself in defense. In the final, without history, it is an ace by Hancock with the complicity of the tape to close the accounts at 16-25.

Stefano Lavarini: “We are happy, we won a good match and we had the ability, after the second set, to have more patience. We started very well, it was a very orderly and well-played first set, then we were in a bit of a hurry and in the face of their quality we lost a bit of confidence, an aspect we will have to work on. Confidence that we then found during the third, and then managed the last two sets in the best possible way, winning and winning a place among the seeded players for next Friday’s draw”.

Malwina Smarzek: “I am as happy as I am proud of the work done, this tournament was not easy and we faced teams of the highest level, who gave their best to put us in difficulty. We expected it and net of some difficulties in the end we managed to get the most out of it, so I congratulate the team and staff: we deserved it. For me it was a special week, even if for a short time and even if without an audience, it was nice to feel the air of home “.

Enrico Marchioni: “We are really satisfied with what we have achieved, I think it was really difficult more than that. We won one of the toughest groups in the tournament, winning six and finishing as top seeds. To understand the level of our group, it is enough to say that Kazan, a team that is dominating the season in Russia having already won the Super Cup and the National Cup, has been eliminated, winning only two successes. I would like to congratulate the Police company, which organized the event in the best possible way and as a host company was truly impeccable. We return to Italy with three more battles in our legs which, I am sure, will help us grow”.

Grupa Azoty Chemik Police – Igor Gorgonzola Novara 1-3 (19-25, 25-22, 18-25, 16-25).
Grupa Azoty Chemik Police: Grajber 6, Kowalewska 2, Kakolewska 9, Brakocevic 13, Baijens 1, Wasilewska 8, Lukasik 1, Strantzali 11, Maj (L), Medrzyk 3, Zurawska (L) ne, Baldyga, Kubacka ne. Coach: Akbas.
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Populini, Herbots 2, Napodano (L), Zanette 1, Battistoni ne, Bosetti 15, Chirichella 11, Sansonna (L), Hancock 8, Bonifacio ne, Tajè ne, Washington 16, Smarzek 10, Daalderop 13. Coach: Lavarini.
MVP Micha Hancock