Milan, big match without Paola Egonu
Milan-Novara
Third match of the week for the girls of Numia Vero Volleyball Milano. After the victory in the’advance of the thirteenth day of the first leg against Chieri, the team of coach Lavarini returns to’Allianz Cloud, Sunday, Oct. 20 at 16.00 (live VBTV), to face Igor Gorgonzola Novara in the big match valid for the third day of the first leg of Serie A1 Tigotà.
After facing each other twice in the pre-season (one win each), the two teams take the court for the first official meeting of the season. Orro and her teammates, who come from a week full of commitments and two wins against Roma and Chieri precisely, take on a Novara strong from their 3-0 victory in the Piedmont derby against Wash4green Pinerolo, which allowed them to gain their first success of the season.
This is the 23° confrontation between the two teams, with 10 wins for the meneghine against Novara’s 12. There are many former players in the match, starting with coach Lavarini, leading Igor for three seasons, from 2020 to 2023. Among Milan’s ranks are Daalderop (2020/2021-2021/2022), Danesi (2022/2023-2023/2024), Egonu (2017/2018-2018/2019) and Guidi (2023/2024) who have worn Igor’s blue jersey, while old acquaintances of Milan are Orthmann (from 2017/2018 to 2020/2021) and powerhouses Squarcini and Mazzaro, in Milan in 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2015/2016, respectively.
After winning the CEV Challenge Cup last February, Novara – in its 12th consecutive season in Serie A1 – takes the court with a renewed lineup. The setter’s department is confirmed with the captain Bosio and the young Bartolucci, as well as the libero department with Fersino (currently out due to injury, in her place the Slovenian new entry Mazej) and De Nardi. Also confirmed in place 2 for Akimova, this year flanked by U.S. Mims, in the center for veteran Bonifacio and in the band for the returning Orthmann. Almost completely retooled the women’s slappers’ department, with the additions of Ishikawa, Alsmeier, Tolok and Villani. News at center with world champion Aleksic and Italians Squarcini and Mazzaro. Sitting on the bench for the second consecutive season is Olympic champion Lorenzo Bernardi.
