Ready return to success for Stefano Lavarini’s Igor Volley, which overcomes Bergamo in four sets and wins three important points for its regular season. The “classic” with the Orobic is a good battle with a high competitive content, resolved by the Azzurri in the decisive moments, net of some empty passes during the match.

Igor for the first time in over a month, is on the court with Karakurt opposite Hancock, Bonifacio and Washington in the center, Bosetti and Daalderop in the band and Fersino free; Bergamo with Di Iulio in the direction and Lanier diagonally, Schoelzel and Butigan central, May and Loda spikers and Faraone free.

Novara starts well with Daalderop (4-3) and Washington (6-5) but after Bosetti’s diagonal (7-5) comes the guest break on the serve of Di Iulio, who launches hers at 7-10. The tape sends Hancock’s serve to the ground (9-10), Lanier escapes again (10-13) and Lavarini changes the diagonal while Bonifacio’s ace is worth 13-14 and Montibeller’s maniout overtakes it at 15-14. Washington does (19-16, fast scores) and undoes (19-18, attack out), Battistoni blocks May (20-18) and Montibeller does the same shortly after on Lanier, for 24-20; the Brazilian closes again with the maniout of 25-20.

Novara with Battistoni and Montibeller in the sextet but it is Bergamo who starts strong (1-4) while Bosetti carries the team on his shoulders and stitches up with the touch of 4-5 and then that of 7-7; Di Iulio serves to make it 7-10, Lavarini stops the game and Novara returns with Washington’s blocks on Loda (11-12) and Butigan (12-12) triggering a head-to-head that sees the Azzurre put their heads ahead with the returning Karakurt after a great defense by Daalderop (18-17). The Turkish then misses (19-20), Loda serves the rest with the ace of 21-23 and propitiating the block on Washington which is worth the set ball (21-24); Butigan closes the block at 21-25.

Novara restarts with Hancock and Karakurt and the Azzurre take advantage of the verve of the opposite for 8-6 while Washington’s ace is worth +4 on 10-6; Daalderop (pipe, 13-8) and Hancock (ace, 14-8) try to mortgage the partial with the Azzurre who keep the pace until 22-15. The Azzurre then mess up and Bergamo, thanks to a great serving turn by Schoelzel, reopen the contest: from 22-18 the Orobic go to 22-20 with the errors of Karakurt and Bosetti, Schoelzel makes the ace of 22-21 and May equalizes at 22; Montibeller signs the 23-22 diagonally and then finds an incredible parallel for 24-23, Karakurt returns and decides the set with two points in succession: first the diagonal of 26-25, then the block on Loda of 27-25.

The narrowly escaped danger relaunches the Azzurre, who go 4-2 with Karakurt’s ace, while Bosetti signs the 7-3 in attack and Micoli inserts Cicola in the role of libero. From 8-4, Bergamo recovers 10-9 with May’s serving turn, then a block on Daalderop is worth 12-12 which is, in fact, the last moment of balance. Washington blocks 16-12, Bergamo stops the game but after the American’s mistake (17-15), Karakurt closes an endless exchange in his favor at 19-15, effectively mortgaging the partial and the match. Bergamo always remains at a safe distance, Daalderop diagonally makes it 25-19 and gives 3-1 to his team.

Sara Bonifacio (middle blocker Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “We wanted to win to react to the European defeat and to resume the journey in the league in the best possible way and we succeeded, even at the end of a great battle. It was tough and we expected it but in the end we managed to close the match in our favor. The end of the third set? We took a risk but then the success also gave us the push to start the fourth set in the best possible way and close the match”.

Stefano Lavarini (coach Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “I am satisfied with the result, we won three points that I consider important, against an opponent who in my opinion does not deserve the ranking they have. As I have been saying since we resumed playing after the forced stop for Covid-19, it is normal at this time to expect ups and downs. Playing and winning helps us to find what our rhythm is, especially now that finally, after more than a month, we have the full team.”

Igor Gorgonzola Novara – Volley Bergamo 1991 3-1 (25-20, 21-25, 27-25, 25-19)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Imperiali (L) ne, Herbots ne, Montibeller 5, Battistoni 1, Fersino (L), Bosetti 12, Chirichella, Hancock 6, Bonifacio 9, Washington 14, Costantini ne, D’Odorico, Daalderop 13, Karakurt 18. Coach: Lavarini.
Volley Bergamo 1991: Ogoms 5, Butigan 5, Di Iulio 3, Borgo 2, Cicola (L), Turlà 1, May 11, Schoelzel 7, Faraone (L), Lanier 18, Loda 10, Cagnin. Coach: Micoli.
MVP Ebrar Karakurt