Victory in three sets for Stefano Lavarini’s Igor Volley, which wins the pass for the Final Four of the Italian Cup in Rimini, scheduled for the weekend. In the semifinals, the Azzurre will challenge Chieri, who in turn overcame Trento in three sets. Between Conegliano and Monza, however, the other semifinal.

Novara on the field with the “typical” sextet, with Smarzek opposite Hancock, Chirichella and Washington in the center, Herbots and Bosetti in the band and Sansonna free; Florence with Cambi in the direction and Enweonwu diagonally, Ogoms and Alberti central, Van Gestel and Guerra spikers and Panetoni free.

Florence immediately starts strong, with three blocks by Alberti (0-5) while Lavarini immediately takes advantage of the first timeout; Novara gears up little by little and on Hancock’s serving turn (ace, 8-12) returns to the game, then shortening 13-16 with Herbots’ pipe that closes an endless exchange. Bosetti raises the pace on serve and after propitiating Herbots’ maniout (18-19) finds the ace of the equaliser, Enweonwu in parallel escapes again (19-21) while among the Azzurri there is space for Zanette. Washington impacts in fast (23-23), Novara cancels two set balls and then overtakes with Chirichella (26-25) who also resolves a spectacular exchange by signing the 28-27 block. On the fifth attempt the Azzurre close: attack on Enweonwu’s fore-end and 31-29 Igor.

Novara immediately raises the pace and goes 5-3 with Herbots’ block: the Belgian serves at 7-5 and with two aces propitiates the Italian escape, with Mencarelli’s timeout at 11-5. The break does not break the rhythm of the Azzurri, who “double” their opponents with Smarzek (14-7) and extend the escape up to 16-7 with Bosetti’s block; there are no further surprises, with Herbots making it 23-14 and then 24-15 in maniout and Bosetti closing the partial with the attack of 25-16.

Florence’s last flash is the work of Ogoms (3-5), then Novara overtakes with Washington who closes an endless exchange (7-6) with Chirichella on the block and Smarzek diagonally that stretch to 13-10. Washington realizes a magic of Hancock (14-11) in fast, with the American director who then digs the furrow in the serve, signing the ace of 18-14 and propitiating Bosetti’s parallel for 21-14. Florence tries and comes back up to 22-20 on the block, then Herbots accelerates and closes 25-21 in parallel, sending the Azzurre to Rimini.

Cristina Chirichella (captain Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “We are very happy: today’s victory allows us to go to Rimini to play for an important trophy like the Italian Cup. Florence started strong and put us in difficulty, then we were good at coming out well, playing at a good pace and closing without allowing our opponents to get back into the game”.

Igor Gorgonzola Novara – Il Bisonte Firenze 3-0 (31-29, 25-16, 25-21)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Populini, Herbots 14, Napodano (L) ne, Zanette, Battistoni ne, Bosetti 13, Chirichella 8, Sansonna (L), Hancock 4, Bonifacio ne, Tajè ne, Washington 12, Smarzek 12, Daalderop 1. Coach: Lavarini.
Il Bisonte Firenze: Enweonwu 12, Cambi, Lazic ne, Van Gestel 10, Alberti 7, Panetoni (L), Hashimoto, Guerra 12, Kone ne, Nwakalor ne, Venturi, Ogoms 7. Coach: Mencarelli.
MVP Haleigh Washington