Playoffs scudetto, in game-1 of the quarterfinals Milan leaves no room for Vallefoglia
Schudetto playoffs, in game-1 of the quarterfinals Milan leaves no room for Vallefoglia
Numia Vero Volleyball Milano’s run to the Scudetto began with a clear victory. In the setting of Milan's Allianz Cloud, Orro and teammates opened the Quarterfinal Series against Megabox Ond. Savio Vallefoglia with a nice 3-0 (25-22; 25-16; 25-16), thus winning Game 1 in an hour and a half of play. Once again a solid performance at the wall for the Consortium formation, which, after a hard-fought first set, left little room for its opponents. In the second and third set, in fact, the meneghine always maintained the lead, containing the Tigers’ attempts to come back. Of note in the first fraction, the intense 17-12 exchange closed by Egonu’s monster block. MVP of the match was central Hena Kurtagic, who scored 6 of the 11 team walls; also Egonu – 17 points for her and top scorer of the evening – and Sylla with 13 ground balls. Mortgaged the first challenge, for Numia Vero Volley Milano è already time to look at Game 2, scheduled for Sunday, March 16 at 4:30 p.m. at the Vitrifrigo Arena in Pesaro. In between, another important date awaits the meneghine: on Thursday, March 13 at 4 p.m. Italian time, they will be on stage in the den of Eczacibasi Dynavit Istanbul for the return match of the Champions League Quarterfinals. An inside or outside confrontation that puts a pass to the Final Four in Istanbul up for grabs.
THE MATCH
For Game 1 of the Quarterfinals, coach Lavarini confirms his choices and relies on Orro at the direction with Egonu on the diagonal, Sylla and Daalderop as setters, Danesi-Kurtagic pair in the center and Gelin in the role of libero.
FIRST SET
It's Egonu who opens this match, giving Numia Vero Volley a 2-0 lead that immediately becomes 3-0 with Sylla's winning attack. Vallefoglia regains a break, but Kurtagic’s monster block puts the hosts back ahead (6-3). The Tigers sew up the disadvantage and the set returns to even; 6-6. Kurtagic and Daalderop try to pull away from Milan, but Vallefoglia stays in the slipstream (11-10). Sylla's ace sanctions +4 Vero Volleyball and coach Pistola spends the first time-out of the evening. On the return to the court, the Marche women recover two points with Weitzel’s winning serve, but Egonu’s monster block ends an intense exchange worth 17-12 for Milan. Another run for the guests that forces coach Lavarini to the suspension: 17-15. The break gives momentum to Vallefoglia, which finds -1, but Daalderop surgical in attack and serving pushes Milan ahead by three again (20-17). The guests get close again at 21-20, but Sylla and Danesi sign the lead for the meneghine (23-21). Egonu finds the first set point on 24-22, and to close è Daalderop’s monster block.
SECOND SET
Milan immediately takes the lead at the start of the fraction and comes the'immediate suspension for Vallefoglia (3-1). At the resumption, Sylla starring on serve drags the home team to 5-1, while Orro’s point on defense lights up the whole Allianz Cloud (8-2) and another time-out for coach Pistola. Back on court, but the run is not reversed: Kurtagic's monster block marks the 11-4 for Milan. Maximum lead for Numia, which sends its opponents into confusion and runs ahead +8 (14-6). Vallefoglia is not up for it and recovers three precious points, with the Milanese bench taking refuge in the time-out. On the return, the hosts reassert themselves and find 18-12. Two consecutive walls by Egonu drag Milan to 22-15, with the opposing player's winner then finding set point (24-15). Lee nullifies the first, but Sylla signs the partial and the 2-0 for Numia Vero Volley.
THIRD SET
After a sprint start for Milan (2-0), Vallefoglia quickly brings the balance back to 3-3. Egonu's ace tries to break away from the hosts, but Bici makes her presence felt and nothing to do: 6-6. Kurtagic’s wall gives the break and on 9-6 Coach Pistola calls the 30". It’s back to the court, and despite Vallefoglia’s attempt at a rapprochement, Numia stays firmly in command (14-9). Milan stretches again and on 18-13 another suspension for the Marche bench. On the resumption Sylla knocks down 19-14 and with a few too many inaccuracies by the opponents, the meneghine touch 23-15. Danesi’s monster block gives the match point to Milan, which closes at the second chance and takes a precious victory in Game 1 of the Playoff Quarterfinals.
POST GAME STATEMENT
Alessia Orro, setter Numia Vero Volley Milano: "&It was very important to win this match, also in view of the return match of the Champions League Quarterfinals that awaits us on Thursday in Istanbul. We wanted to avoid going to the tie-break with them again. We played well, but we can do it even better. I am happy with the result and the fact that we brought it home in three sets".
Numia Vero Volley Milan – Megabox Ond. Savio Vallefoglia 3-0 (25-22; 25-16; 25-16)
Numia Vero Volley Milan: Cazaute, Gelin (L), Orro, Danesi 7, Konstantinidou, Kurtagic 11, Smrek, Sylla 13, Egonu 17, Daalderop 8. N.E. Guidi, Heyrman, Pietrini, Fukudome (L). All. Lavarini.
Megabox Ond. Savio Vallefoglia: Bici 10, Feduzzi, Michieletto, Giovannini 2, De Bortoli (L), Candi 6, Perovic 2, Kobzar, Weitzel 8, Lee 11, Lazda 2. N.E. Torcolacci, Sordoni (L), Carletti . All. Pistola.
NOTES
Referees: Serena Salvati, Massimiliano Giardini
Spectators: 3623
Duration sets: 30', 25', 22'. Tot. 1h31'
Numia Vero Volley Milan: winning serves 5, wrong serves 9, walls 11, errors 13, attack 50%
Megabox Ond. Savio Vallefoglia: winning strokes 4, wrong strokes 7, walls 4, errors 19, attack 33%
MVP: Hena Kurtagic (Numia Vero Volley Milan)
Facility: Allianz Cloud – Milan
