Ninth consecutive success for Stefano Lavarini’s Igor Volley, which conquers three heavy points at home to Vallefoglia and finds itself in first place alone in the standings, although with one match less than Conegliano and two less than Monza, direct pursuers of the Azzurre one point away. MVP of the match was the Belgian Britt Herbots, scoring 18 times and precious on several occasions in the decisive moments of the various sets.

Vallefoglia on the field with Bjelica opposite Berasi, Jack-Kisal and left-footed in the center, Newcombe and Carcaces in the band and Cecchetto free; Igor with Hancock in the direction and Montibeller diagonally, Bonifacio and Chirichella central, Herbots and Bosetti spikers and Fersino free.

Montibeller finds the first break (1-3) and Chirichella extends 2-5 at the net, before the block of Jack-Kisal (5-6) that brings the Marche closer before the new blue partial that at 7-11 forces Bonafede to timeout. Ace by Hancock (7-12) but Bjelica takes his own on his shoulders (block, 14-16) and with two “blocks” in a row Vallefoglia impacts at 18 while Lavarini inserts Karakurt in the main diagonal; the Turkish puts her head ahead (18-19) but then messes up at 23-22 (attack out), while Daalderop enters and cancels a set ball (24-24). Novara also wastes one, then Carcaces makes it 26-25 and Bonifacio cancels again, before a mistake by the Cuban (26-27) propitiates Herbots’ closure, with the “lob” of 26-28.

Jack-Kisal raises the pace at the net (4-3), Chirichella scores twice in a row and breaks (6-8) and after Mancini’s block (10-9) it is Herbots who gives the new break to the Azzurre for 12-14. Montibeller (8 points in the set) keeps his distance (13-15, winning diagonal) but Jack-Kisal mends the tear (16-16) while Lavarini changes diagonal, in vain. The middle of Vallefoglia “stops” Karakurt for 19-17 and then signs the 20-17 at the net, Hancock reopens the contest with the ace of 22-21 but the hosts accelerate again and make it 25-21 with Mancini’s block.

Lavarini starts again from Karakurt and Washington, Chirichella in the first half makes it 3-4 and shortly after Hancock finds the break at the net for 7-9, but thwarted by Bosetti’s error in attack (9-9) who inaugurates a tight point to point, broken only by Karakurt’s ace at 12-14. Herbots realizes a great defense by Fersino (15-17), Carcaces cancels the gap (17-17) but it is still the Belgian to make 18-20 with Karakurt who forces the Marche to timeout at 18-22. Washington makes himself felt at the wall (18-23), Karakurt first wins the set ball (19-24, maniout) and then signs the ace of 19-25 which is worth 1-2.

Vallefoglia starts strong again at the wall (5-3), Novara relies on Herbots’ pipe (6-6) but it is always at the wall that the hosts make the difference, with Bjelica stopping Karakurt at 9-7; the Turkish raises (10-9, winning diagonal), Bjelica shoots out the 10-11 but Newcombe and Carcaces reverse the inertia signing the break of 15-13 while Lavarini herds the game. Chirichella in the first half brings his team closer (17-16), Novara remains in the wake of the Marche and then overtakes with Washington’s fast on 21-22, with Bonafede taking advantage of the timeout. Newcombe is the last to surrender (23-23, maniout), then Carcaces shoots out 23-24 and at the first match ball it is the newcomer Daalderop who closes the accounts with the diagonal that is worth 23-25 and 1-3.

Britt Herbots (spiker Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “I think it is right to congratulate Vallefoglia for playing an excellent game: they played very well with the wall-defense, making life difficult for us in attack, and they never gave up until the last ball. We are happy with the three points which are very important for the standings. We took advantage of the week without commitments to load in the weight room and today we showed once again that even in difficult moments we know how to get out of it as a team”.

Megabox Ondulati del Savio Vallefoglia – Igor Gorgonzola Novara 1-3 (26-28, 25-21, 19-25, 23-25)
Megabox Ondulati del Savio Vallefoglia: Fiori (L), Cecchetto (L), Carcaces 15, Jack-Kisal 15, Alanko, Bjelica 15, Mancini 9, Botezat ne, Newcombe 10, Berasi 3, Kosareva, Tonello. Coach: Bonafede.
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: (Imperiali (L) ne, Herbots 18, Montibeller 13, Battistoni, Fersino (L), Bosetti 5, Chirichella 9, Hancock 4, Bonifacio 3, Washington 5, Costantini ne, D’Odorico, Daalderop 2, Karakurt 21. Coach Lavarini.
MVP Britt Herbots