Igor Volley repeats the success of game 1 in Perugia and gains access to the semifinals of the Scudetto Playoffs: on the path of the Azzurre one between Monza and Chieri (tomorrow game two, with the Brianza who won the first challenge 3-0) with game 1 scheduled (on the calendar) for 6 or 7 April at the Pala Igor.

Host on the field with Ortolani opposite Di Iulio, Koolhaas and Aelbrecht central, Havelkova and Carcaces spikers and Cecchetto free; Novara with Hancock in the direction and Smarzek diagonally, Chirichella and Bonifacio in the center, Bosetti and Daalderop in the band and Sansonna free.

Daalderop signs the first cue (2-3) but Di Iulio and a block by Koolhaas reverse the inertia (5-3) with the Azzurre who are even -3 on 11-8 for the Umbrians; Smarzek shortens diagonally (11-10), a mistake by Havelkova triggers a head-to-head broken by two walls: first Hancock takes the inertia by “stopping” Carcaces (16-17) and then Bonifacio extends by stopping Havelkova (19-21) while Mazzanti stops the game in vain. Bosetti extends the break (19-22), Aelbrecht returns to the wall (22-23) but Bonifacio wins the set ball in the first half (22-24) that Smarzek converts by realizing a great defense by Sansonna (22-25).

It starts again with Smarzek immediately protagonist on the block (2-3) and Chirichella scoring twice in the first half (5-7) while Perugia struggles to react and is down 7-10 on Smarzek’s maniout, with Mazzanti stopping the game. Novara does not stop with two points in a row by Daalderop (7-12), the Umbrians change direction but the Azzurre further raise the bar with Bosetti’s point which is worth 10-17; Bonifacio keeps his distance by “blocking” Aelbrecht (12-19), then Bosetti increases the pace (14-24, ace) and Carcaces shoots out 14-25.

With their backs to the wall, Perugia reacts and immediately goes 6-3 with Carcaces, while Havelkova shortly after makes it 8-4 in the pipe with Lavarini forced to timeout. Smarzek drags the Azzurre (8-6, then 9-8 and 10-9) but Di Iulio’s serving turn brings his back to +3 (12-9) with the Polish opposite still at the forefront of the Novara comeback thanks to the ace of 14-14. At 17-17, Hancock’s ace (17-18) is the prelude to a counterbreak of the Umbrians who first overtake the wall (19-18) and then extend with Havelkova (22-19); it closes 25-20 with Carcaces scoring diagonally.

Perugia starts again with Casillo (who took over in the first set) in the sextet, while Lavarini takes advantage of both free throws, deploying Napodano in the defense phase and Sansonna in the receiving phase. The formula works, with the Azzurre immediately ahead 1-5 before the Umbrian reaction (5-7) that brings the hosts to 7-8 with Carcaces. Daalderop makes it 9-12, then takes advantage of a great defense by Napodano for the 10-15 attack while the teams proceed in “snatches”: Smarzek finds the ace of 10-17, Havelkova that of 13-17, Chirichella makes 13-20 in fast and again Ortolani signs the 17-20 diagonally. Lavarini inserts Tajè who finds the ace of 17-22, Perugia comes back up to 21-23 but then a block by Bonifacio (21-24) is worth the match ball: he closes an error by Carcaces in the serve, for 22-25.

Caterina Bosetti (spiker Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “The playoffs are lived game by game, so we haven’t thought about the semifinal yet but we were focused on the match in Perugia. We showed that we were there, even net of some blackouts felt during the match. It was important to win to close the series, we did it and for this we are proud. We are back from three weeks that have been complicated to deal with mentally, because defeats have come that have cost us elimination from two competitions but it is water in the past, we have put them behind us. Now we are preparing for the Scudetto semi-final, waiting to find out who our opponent will be.”

Bartoccini Fortinfissi Perugia – Igor Gorgonzola Novara 1-3 (22-25, 14-25, 25-20, 22-25)
Bartoccini Fortinfissi Perugia: Casillo 3, Carcaces 16, Agrifoglio, Scarabottini ne, Cecchetto (L), Di Iulio 2, Rumori (L) ne, Mlinar, Koolhaas 8, Ortolani 9, Angeloni 1, Havelkova 15, Aelbrecht 3. Coach: Mazzanti.
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Herbots, Napodano (L), Zanette, Battistoni ne, Bosetti 14, Chirichella 5, Sansonna (L), Hancock 4, Bonifacio 10, Tajè 1, Washington ne, Smarzek 16, Daalderop 14. Coach: Lavarini.
MVP Caterina Bosetti

Photo Maurizio Lollini – Bartoccini Fortinfissi Perugia