Victory in three sets and detached “pass” for the semifinals for Stefano Lavarini’s Igor Volley, which starting from Thursday will challenge Monza in the remake of the penultimate act of last season. The Azzurre were victorious in a comeback in the first set and then always in control of the match, until the Washington wall that closed the contest after about an hour and a half of play.

Novara on the field with Hancock in the direction and Karakurt diagonally, Chirichella and Washington in the center, Daalderop and Bosetti in the band and Fersino free; Cuneo with Gicquel opposite Signorile, Squarcini and Stufi central, Kuznetsova and Degradi spikers and Spirito libero.

Cuneo starts strong, with 2 aces by Kuznetsova (2-5), then Novara mends the tear with Karakurt scoring diagonally (7-8) and a mistake by Kuznetsova that is worth the impact at 9. A block on Karakurt relaunches the Cuneo (9-12), Chirichella’s ace brings Igor closer (11-12) but it is the entry of Herbots (100% in attack in the set and in the next) that changes the inertia of the match, with the Belgian who stitches from 12-15 to 14-15 in the pipe and then signs the extension on 20-18, in maniout. Cuneo stops the game in vain, Novara arrives at the set ball (24-21) and after two canceled by Cuneo, comes the sensational error of Degradi at the net that is worth 25-23.

In the two sextets there are the novelties Herbots and Giovannini, Novara starts strong with Karakurt’s ace (4-1) and Washington’s maniout (8-4) with Chirichella who nails the first half twice, on 9-4 and then on 11-6. Cuneo does not react despite the changes of Pistola, Herbots and Bosetti are unstoppable (both 100% in attack in the set, as well as Washington) and the Italian spiker launches Igor on 19-10 with two points in succession, while her defense is best realized by Herbots (23-12). Herbots wins the set ball (24-12) and Karakurt closes the block on Kuznetsova (25-12).

Cuneo with Kuznetsova in the sextet but Novara immediately escapes 4-1 with Karakurt diagonally, while Degradi propitiates the comeback (ace, 8-7) finalized by Squarcini’s block: 8-8. Cuneo even puts his head ahead at 12-13 (Karakurt’s error in attack) but Novara overtakes with Washington in fast (16-14) and Degradi’s error in attack (17-14). Gicquel tries everything (maniout, 18-18) and Squarcini blocks Bosetti (18-19) while it is Chirichella’s ace to bring the Azzurre back ahead at 23-22; shortly after it is Herbots who wins the match ball (maniout, 24-23), then Washington blocks Degradi and sends the Azzurre to the semifinals: 25-23.

Stefano Lavarini (coach Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “We had a different approach from that of game two, for two sets and a third we kept that attention and lucidity necessary to get the better of a tough opponent against Cuneo. Our opponents crowned a season of great quality and great pride, but we found ourselves on some important aspects and managed to pass the round, which was the goal. In the semi-finals there will be Monza and it will be very difficult: we will work to further increase our level, because there will be a need”.

Britt Herbots (spiker Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “We are happy, we wanted to react after the bad performance in Cuneo and we did it against a team that did everything not to give us anything. They defended a lot but this time we kept our composure in the decisive moments and in the end we reached the semi-finals. Now other battles await us, we will be ready”.

Igor Gorgonzola Novara – Bosca San Bernardo Cuneo 3-0 (25-23, 25-12, 25-23)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Imperiali (L) ne, Herbots 12, Montibeller ne, Battistoni ne, Fersino (L), Bosetti 5, Chirichella 9, Hancock 2, Bonifacio ne, Washington 11, Costantini ne, D’Odorico, Daalderop 1, Karakurt 13. Coach: Lavarini.
Bosca San Bernardo Cuneo: Kuznetsova 6, Degradi 11, Squarcini 10, Spirito (L), Giovannini 1, Zanette 2, Agrifoglio, Gicquel 9, Signorile, Caruso ne, Jasper, Gay (L) ne, Stufi 6. Coach: Pistola.
MVP Britt Herbots