Fourth 3-0 win in a row in the Champions League for Stefano Lavarini’s Igor Volley, who scored against Liberec on the fourth day of Pool C. The Azzurre, dragged by captain Chirichella (MVP of the match), thus move to 12 in the standings, 5 ahead of Dinamo Moscow, with two days to go.

Without Daalderop and D’Odorico, not even on the scoresheet, and with Fersino stopped by a back strain, Igor takes the field with Karakurt opposite Hancock, Chirichella and Washington central, Herbots and Bosetti spikers and Imperiali (at his absolute debut, both in the Igor jersey and in the Champions League) free; Liberec with Skrypak in the direction and Kvapilova diagonally, Blazkova and Kohoutova in the center, Sotkovska and Kojdova in the band and Kolarova free.

It starts immediately with a forfeit among the guests: on Karakurt’s winning parallel (3-2), Sotkovska falls badly and injures her ankle, being replaced by Sulcova; Novara immediately raises the pace with Bosetti (8-5) and Washington (10-5) while the guests stop the game; Novara does not slow down with Hancock scoring on the block and Karakurt in parallel (15-6) while Imperiali stands out on the block. Among the guests, Kvapilova is the last to surrender (15-8, block), but Bosetti and Herbots sign the stretch that is worth the set ball at 24-11: Karakurt closes 25-12 diagonally.

Chirichella immediately tries to stretch in the first half (2-0) and Karakurt makes it 7-2 by taking advantage of the opponent’s wall, while the Czechs rely on Blazkova’s serve to come back 9-7, before Kvapilova signs the new break that brings Liberec back to -1 with the ace of 11-10. Lavarini changes diagonal, Montibeller makes the break (15-12) but Liberec remains in the wake (17-16) and triggers a nice head-to-head, broken at first by Washington’s ace (20-17) but reopened by a couple of Azzurri errors (21-20). It ends 25-23 with two points in three exchanges scored by Washington.

Novara starts again with Battistoni and Montibeller in the sextet and it is the Brazilian who signs the escape (5-1) before Chirichella’s ace (7-1) which immediately mortgages the partial. Inside Karakurt in the unusual role of spiker receiver and Costantini in the center and Novara maintains the leadership (13-6) with the Venetian center who signs her first point as a “pro” with the 16-8 block. The rest is done by a good serving turn by Herbots (two aces, 23-12) and a winning attack by Karakurt to concretize a good defense by Imperiali, for 25-13.

Stefano Lavarini (coach Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “For us it is an important result, because we are included in a very “tough” group and having obtained the fourth 3-0 victory is the best viaticum in view of the grand final with the away match in Istanbul and then the home match against Dinamo Moscow. We did well in the first and third sets, less so in the second, but all in all we can be satisfied.”

Lucia Imperiali (libero Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “For me it was exciting to make my debut in the Champions League and I am really happy that this happened on a positive evening for the team. We did what we had to, winning 3-0 and doing very well at times. Personally, I will take this evening and all the emotions it made me feel: I work every day with the aim of being ready when my contribution can be needed”.

Veronica Costantini (central Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “After the debut in Liberec, tonight I am happy for two reasons: for having made my debut in our arena, in front of the Novara public, and for having scored my first point. Obviously I am happy with the team’s result and I am also grateful to my teammates for the support they have shown me. They were all happy for me and this shows the splendid spirit of this group, in which there is no “I” but only a “we” that goes beyond everything”.

Igor Gorgonzola Novara – Dukla Liberec 3-0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-13)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Imperiali (L), Herbots 8, Montibeller 11, Battistoni, Fersino (L) ne, Bosetti 5, Chirichella 9, Hancock 2, Bonifacio ne, Washington 10, Costantini 1, Karakurt 13. Coach: Lavarini.
Dukla Liberec: Kolarova (L), Sotkovska, Kohoutova 4, Necasova 1, Sulcova 3, Nova, Kvapilova 14, Bartosova ne, Blazkova 3, Dostalova (L) ne, Skrypak 3, Kojdova 1, Dubianska ne. Coach: Galik.
MVP Cristina Chirichella