Milan enterprise, Paola Egonu and teammates beat VakifBank
Enterprise Milan, Paola Egonu and teammates beat VakifBank
Find redemption and victory for Numia Vero Volley Milan, which, in front of more than 4,000 fans who flocked to the Palalido, overcame the Turkish battleship VakifBank Istanbul 3-1 (25-21; 16-25; 25-22; 25-19) on the last day of Pool C of the CEV Champions League. The Milanese lineup, which had surrendered 0-3 in the first leg in Turkey, can thus celebrate at home, but only halfway: thanks to today’s success, the two teams are tied on points, but having surrendered the second set (16-25) to the guests, the meneghine cannot directly enter the quarterfinals of the competition, thus having to play an additional round against the German Palmberg Schwerin. The Consortium’s first women’s team put in a fine performance, and with grit and determination won the first partial 25-21; in the second set the Turks found the right rhythm to break away from their opponents and even the score (16-25). Dominance by Milan that in the third and fourth fraction left no room for the guests and led by Daalderop and Sylla put a point to the challenge. MVP of the evening Captain Alessia Orro, who sent no less than four athletes into double figures: Egonu (20), Daalderop (16), Sylla (15) and Danesi (10). Just enough time to celebrate and coach Lavarini’s girls are already called to return to the court: on Sunday, January 26 at 5:00 p.m. they will be at the E-Work Arena for the match against Eurotek Uyba Busto Arsizio, valid for the seventh day of return of Serie A1 Tigotà.
Tried-and-true sextet for coach Lavarini, who lines up Orro-Egonu in diagonal, Sylla and Daalderop as setters, Danesi-Kurtagic pair in the center and Gelin in the role of libero.
È Sylla to set up the first point of the match for Numia Vero Volleyball (1-1), while Egonu’s diagonal serve does not forgive the Turks and gives the break (4-2). VakifBank quickly found parity forò at 5-5. Daalderop's ace makes the whole Palalido exult and marks for Milan a new +3 lead (9-6). Once again the Turks try to get closer, but Danesi in the center è relentless and with a monster block keeps her ahead (13-10). A hard-fought challenge from the start: again Vakif tries the hooking on 14-14, but Daalderop's response comes promptly and on 17-14 coach Guidetti calls time-out. On the resumption Kurtagic also lights up, putting down the 19-16 wall and new suspension for the Turkish bench. Sylla twice plays with the opponent’s defense and finds 22-18. Danesi signs the first of three set-points (24-21), with Daalderop immediately closing the partial 25-21.
Fiery start to the second fraction with both teams knowing what is at stake. After a sprightly start by VakifBank (0-3), Numia Vero Volley è was good at staying in the slipstream and bringing itself back to parity at 4-4. However, the visiting team managed to find the right rhythm to pull away from the opponents and take the lead at 6-11. Milan tries to respond, but VakifBank sounds the charge and stays ahead 11-17. They increase again the Turks who on 11-19 forced coach Lavarini to time-out. On the resumption the hosts make their voices heard, getting closer 16-22 and this time è Guidetti to call back his girls. Upon returning to the court, Vakif won the set 16-25.
Milan wants to leave behind the previous partial and immediately finds the lead (3-1), but the opponents do not want to stand idly by and bring the game back into balance. The parity is broken in Milan's favor on 8-6. Orro's ace at 10-7 prompts the Turkish bench to suspend. Sylla’s diagonal first and monster blocks by Egonu and Daalderop later put Numia ahead +5 (13-8), with the Dutchwoman’s ace on 17-11 forcing coach Guidetti to suspension. The visiting lineup tries to come back, but Sylla pinches the nine-meter line and knocks down 18-13. Despite attempts by the Turks, the meneghine continue to push and with Heyrman find the 23-17. There are four set points available for Milan (24-20), with Vakif però canceling the first two. Vero Volleyball canò still count on two chances and to close without hesitation è Sylla (25-22).
At the start of the fourth fraction, after the break for VakifBank, Milan finds grit and determination and takes the counter break (5-3). The hosts maintain the lead until 10-10. Captain Orro's ace brings the meneghine back ahead by two and coach Guidetti chooses to stop the game immediately. Milan, urged on by its public, shows no signs of slowing down and increases the lead margin: +5 and 20-15. Egonu dragging: she leads her to 23-18, while Danesi finds match point for Milan (24-19). To close è Daalderop thus giving the victory to Numia Vero Volley Milan 25-19.
Laura Heyrman, center Numia Vero Volley Milan: "Today we played a good game, we never gave up against a very high level team. We pass as second in a difficult round; our path in the Champions League will be a little longer than we hoped, but tonight’s performance gives us hope”.
Numia Vero Volley Milan – VakifBank Istanbul 3-1 (25-21; 16-25; 25-22; 25-19)
Numia Vero Volley Milan: Cazaute, Gelin (L), Guidi, Heyrman 9, Pietrini, Danesi 10, Orro 4, Konstantinidou, Kurtagic 2, Smrek 1, Sylla 15, Egonu 20, Daalderop 16. N.E.: Fukudome (L). All. Lavarini.
VakifBank Istanbul: Ozbay 2, Aykac Altintas (L), Van Ryk 16, Bosetti 2, Kipp, Sila 1, Yuan 12, Cebecioglu 2, Gunes 1, Akbay, Markova 23. N.E. Frantti, Uyanik, Acar (L). All. Guidetti.
NOTES
Referees: Alexandros Mylonakis, Roy Bensimon
Spectators: 4349
Set duration: 25', 26', 28', 27'. Tot 1h46'
Numia Vero Volley Milan: winning strokes 5, wrong strokes 17, walls 12, errors 28, attack 42%
VakifBank Istanbul: winning strokes 4, wrong strokes 7, walls 6, errors 14, attack 41%
MVP: Alessia Orro (Numia Vero Volley Milan)
Facility: Palalido – Milan
