Milan closes series with Scandicci and goes to final
In front of a still sold-out Allianz Cloud, Orro and her teammates won the third challenge against the Tuscans in a comeback, breaking the ticket for the Scudetto Final. Cazaute: “I saw a team very charged and capable of expressing a good game”.
Milan Numia Vero Volleyball, after a one-year absence, is back again in the Scudetto Playoff Final. In front of an’Allianz Cloud still sold out, Orro and her teammates closed the Semifinal Series against Savino Del Bene Scandicci without hesitation, thus gifting themselves the passage to the final phase of the competition. Also in Game 3 – won in a comeback in the fourth set with the score of 16-25; 25-22; 25-22; 25-17 – the meneghine played a solid team performance, repelling ball after ball the comeback attempts of the Tuscan lineup. After an aggressive start that allowed Scandicci to take the first set, Milan took the lead and – pushed by the entrance of Cazaute, MVP of the match – won a match with a special flavor. Scandicci until the end tried to give the hosts a hard time, but Milan’s 16 walls and Egonu’s 25 points left no way out for the Tuscans. For Numia Vero Volley Milano, it is now time to sit back and wait for the outgoing winner of the match between Conegliano and Novara; the Panthers currently lead the Series 2-1 and on Wednesday, April 9 at 8:30 p.m. at the home of the Piedmontese will have the opportunity to close out the file. Instead, Game 1 of the Final is set for Wednesday, April 16 with time and place yet to be determined.
The MATCH
For the third challenge of the Semifinal against the Tuscans, coach Lavarini decides to start with Orro-Egonu in the diagonal, Sylla and Daalderop pair of setters, Kurtagic and Danesi in the center and Fukudome in the role of libero.
First SET
An aggressive start by Scandicci, immediately forces Numia Vero Volleyball to chase (0-3). The first point for Milan is scored by Egonu (1-3), which, however, is not enough to try to hook the Tuscans. The guests pushed by Antropova fly on 3-7, then Sylla tries to shorten with 5-8, but on 5-10 coach Lavarini spends the first time-out of the evening. Numia immediately makes its presence felt with Danesi, but Savino del Bene with Nwakalor’s ace increases the lead (6-14) and after Mingardi’s winning run on 8-17 another suspension for the Milan bench. At the resumption, Kurtagic and Daalderop also light up for the 11-18, with Cazaute’s entry on the court proving invaluable: the transalpine closes the very long exchange of 15-20 and pushes coach Gaspari to call back his girls. Sylla tries to shorten, but the Tuscan wall leaves no chance for the meneghine and 16-24. Mingardi closes the partial at the first opportunity (16-25).
SECOND SET
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Milan immediately tries to leave the previous fraction behind and with Sylla takes the break on 4-2. Despite the immediate suspension for the Scandicci bench, Danesi confirms the lead for Numia (6-2). A double monster block gives the meneghine the 9-4 lead and once again confirms Milan’s great solidity in this fundamental. Egonu’s ace on 12-5 increases the gap on the Tuscans and coach Gaspari calls time-out again. A string of four points tries to bring Savino Del Bene closer, but Numia’s response is not long in coming and 14-9. Milan keeps the lead and, despite attacks by Antropova and Nwakalor, finds 20-14 with Kurtagic’s wall. Scandicci becomes threatening (22-19) and coach Lavarini prefers to stop the game. On resumption, the host team finds -1 (22-21), but Egonu twice punishes the opponent’s defense and set point Milan: 24-21. Ognjenovic cancels the first, but again Egonu closes the partial (25-22).
THIRD SET
It’s captain Orro to open the fraction, with walls by Danesi and Sylla to seal the 4-1. As in the previous partial, Milan immediately tries to escape, but Scandicci stays in the slipstream (6-5) until parity at 7-7. The point-to-point breaks momentarily at 9-11; Egonu in fact quickly brings the game back into balance and it’s back on (11-11). Egonu again finds a precision lungolinea that gives her team the break at 16-14 while Cazaute’s winner makes it 19-16. A wild Sylla-Egonu pair pushes Milan ahead again, thus touching 21-17. The time-out called by coach Gaspari does not seem to help Scandicci, which cannot prevent Numia from finding set point (24-19). The Tuscan women, however, cancel three precious chances, but Milan manages to win the partial again 25-22.
FURTH SET
Still balance at the start between the two formations (5-5) to the break for Milan on 9-7, thanks to Kurtagic’s monster block. Continuous changes: Scandicci wants to sell its skin dearly and quickly regains parity, but Numia restarts decisively and dragged by Egonu re-along 16-11. The Tuscans get dangerously close again and on 18-16 coach Lavarini calls for the 30″. At the resumption, Milan is not intimidated by the comeback attempt and with a double monster block first by Kurtagic and then by Orro goes back ahead (20-16). Vero Volleyball sees the goal getting closer and with yet another wall ’by Danesi this time – it finds the 23-17. Kurtagic’s winning serve gives Numia Vero Volley Milan the match and access to the Final.
Post-match statement
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Helena Cazaute, setter Numia Vero Volley Milano: “We are very happy with the victory; it was not obvious to close the Series in three matches, and I am very happy for reaching the Final. Tonight I saw a team very charged and able to express a good game; I am looking forward to the Finals. Starting from the bench is never easy, but today I entered the court with a lot of grit and energy, giving everything I could from the start. I’m really happy with this result.”
Numia Vero Volley Milan – Savino Del Bene Scandicci 3-1 (16-25; 25-22; 25-22; 25-17)
Numia Vero Volley Milano: Cazaute 11, Orro 8, Danesi 11, Konstantinidou, Fukudome (L), Kurtagic 6, Smrek, Sylla 12, Egonu 25, Daalderop 1. N.E. Gelin (L), Guidi, Heyrman, Pietrini. All. Lavarini.
Savino Del Bene Scandicci: Ribechi, Herbots 4, Castillo (L), Ruddins, Ognjenovic 2, Bajema 2, Graziani, Nwakalor 14, Ana Carolina 9, Antropova 20, Mingardi 11. N.E. Mancini, Parrocchiale (L), Ung Enriquez. All. Gaspari.
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NOTE
Referees: Dominga Lot, Luca Saltalippi
Spectators: 5240
Set length: 25′, 28′, 32′, 24′. Tot: 2h02′
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Numia Vero Volley Milan: winning strokes 2, wrong strokes 14, walls 16, errors 24, attack 44%
Savino Del Bene Scandicci: winning strokes 5, wrong strokes 9, walls 12, errors 17, attack 33%
MVP: Helena Cazaute (Numia Vero Volley Milano)
Plant: Allianz Cloud – Milan
