Champions League, all easy for Milan as it flies into the quarterfinals

Champions League, all easy for Milan, which flies into the quarterfinals

Perfectly hit goal for Numia Vero Volley Milano, which in front of the audience at the Opiquad Arena in Monza, overcame in three sets (25-18; 25-21; 26-24) the German SSC Palmberg Schwerin, thus gaining a precious passage to the quarterfinals of the CEV Champions League 2024/25. Milan è always been in full control of the challenge, despite an attempt by the opponents in the third partial to extend the match. Ample turnover for coach Lavarini who fielded almost all his players. MVP of the match, for the first time in a Vero Volley jersey, Anna Smrek; the Canadian opposite player è was the protagonist especially in the second fraction and put down 10 points. Top scorer of the evening Helena Cazaute, with 12 ground balls. For Numia Vero Volley è it is immediately time to get back on the court: on Sunday, February 23 at 6:00 p.m., Orro and her teammates will be on the court of Pala Megabox in Pesaro for the confrontation with Megabox Ondulati del Savio Vallefoglia, in the 11th day of the return match of Tigot&agrave Series A1. In Europe, however, next opponents are the Turks of Eczacibasi Spor Kulubu. 
 
THE MATCH
For this return challenge, coach Lavarini will line up Orro-Egonu in diagonal, Sylla and Daalderop pair of setters, Kurtagic and Heyrman in the middle, while Gelin in the role of libero. 

FIRST SET
After a sprint start to the match for Schwerin (2-4), Numia Vero Volley led by Egonu regained parity and on 8-6 took the lead in turn. Heyrman’s ace and Kurtagic’s monster block give the score 11-7 and Milan stretches the lead. Coach Koslowski then calls back his girls, who upon returning to the court first recover a break and then find – 1 (12-11). The hosts try to break away, but again the German lineup gets back in touch (15-14) and soon after in parity;. Heyrman sounds the charge and on 18-16 new time-out for the Schwerin bench. The Konstantinidou-Smrek double change is immediately felt with the Canadian opposite player scoring three consecutive times and Milan leads 23-17. Sylla finds the first (of seven) set point, but Kohn cancels it (24-18). It then takes Heyrman’s monster block to close the score and file the first partial (25-18).

SECOND SET
Confirmed Smrek on court in place of Egonu, protagonist of the first three points of the fraction for Milan (3-3), while Kurtagic's ace is worth the 5-3 break. Schwerin has no intention of letting the meneghine escape and on Grozer’s service turn they grab parity at 7-7. German attack tries the breakaway, forcing coach Lavarini to suspend at 9-12. On the return to the court, Pietrini makes her entrance and Milan led by Smrek recovers up to 13-13. Pietrini and Cazaute break the balance and the hosts fly to +4 (18-14). Schwerin attempts a counterattack and pulls back to within -1 (19-18), but Cazaute’s response is not long in coming. With Orro Milan puts the margin back and Smrek finds set point at 24-20. Kohn cancels it, but again Orro with a second touch puts her signature on the partial: 25-21 and 2-0. Numia Vero Volley Milan è officially qualified to the Quarterfinals. 

THIRD SET
Turnover at the start for coach Lavarini who also inserts Guidi and Fukudome. Balance between the two formations with none taking the lead (4-4). Schwerin tries at 4-6, but Kurtagic and her monster block brings everything back to even. The Serbian powerhouse scores the 8-7 ace that tries to give margin, but no dice (10-10). The point-to-point continues until 14-16, when Schwerin scores the break that gives them the stretch. The guests widen the margin again and on 16-20 comes the suspension for the Milan bench. On resumption, Guidi’s wall tries to sew up the disadvantage (18-21), but now è the opposing lineup calls the 30". Again a monster block by Guidi scores 21-21 and Milano canò now restart. Cazaute’s power puts down 23-21, but the Germans find the 23-23. The transalpine dunker finds match point, but it goes on. New chance for Milan, which closes with Kurtagic’s monster block (26-24). 

POST MATCH STATEMENTS
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Ludovica Guidi, center Numia Vero Volley Milano: "Today we started very well, but we knew that Schwerin would not give up easily. Especially in the second set they were very effective in the wall-defense system and this allowed them to get ahead in the score. We were good: once we won the first two sets we played more carefree. Now we enjoy this beautiful finish”. 

Numia Vero Volleyball Milan-SSC Palmberg Schwerin 3-0 (25-18; 25-21; 26-24)

Numia Vero Volley Milan: Cazaute 12, Gelin (L), Guidi 2, Heyrman 4, Pietrini 4, Orro 3, Konstantinidou, Fukudome (L), Kurtagic 9, Smrek 10, Sylla 5, Egonu 2, Daalderop 5. N.E. Danesi. All. Lavarini.

SSC Palmberg Schwerin: Wolowicz 3, Stuut, Grozer 9, Kohn 6, Llabres (L), Dambrink 7, Hanle 3, Keene 4, Kokram 10. N.E. Antunovic, Holzig, Frommann. All. Koslowski

NOTES
Referees: Kenneth Aro, Oliver Guillet

Set duration: 26', 29', 32'. Tot: 1h27'

Spectators: 1813

Numia Vero Volley Milan: winning strokes 5, wrong strokes 10, walls 12, errors 21, attack 33%
SSC Palmberg Schwerin: winning strokes 3, wrong strokes 7, walls 6, errors 20, attack 30%

MVP: Anna Smrek (Numia Vero Volley Milan)

Facility: Opiquad Arena – Monza