Champions League women, Paola Egonu and Milan finish in third place

Numberia Vero Volleyball Milano’s European journey ends with a victory; with a four-set (25-15; 25-19; 23-25; 25-18) win against VakifBank Istanbul in the final for the bronze medal of the CEV Champions League Final Four, coach Lavarini’s lineup clinched a third continental place, thus greeting the 2024/2025 season with a smile. Milan was good at quickly leaving behind the challenge in the semifinals against Conegliano, approaching the match against VakifBank with the right pace: after winning the first two partials, the meneghine between continuous changes at the lead suffered the comeback of coach Guidetti&#8217s team in the third fraction, and then controlled the fourth set and thus closed the match. Top scorer of the match Paola Egonu, scoring 21 points; good performance also from Cazaute (15), Daalderop (12) and Danesi (11). Therefore, this edition of the CEV Champions League speaks Italian: following Milan on the podium will in fact be Conegliano and Scandicci, protagonists of the final for the first two positions.

The MATCH
Also for this challenge, coach Lavarini deploys Orro and Egonu in diagonal, Cazaute and Daalderop pair of setters, Danesi and Kurtagic in the middle, Fukudome in the role of libero.

First SET
It’s Cazaute who opens this final for third place (1-0), but it is VakifBank that takes the first break on 3-5, despite Danesi and Daalderop always bringing Milan back to a tie. The Turkish lineup tries to run ahead, but Egonu shortens to -1 (7-8) while Daalderop completes the comeback on 10-10; Milan takes the lead on 13-11 and with Orro stretches again (19-13). Sylla’s entry on the court gives Numia the 20-15 lead, followed by a double ace by Kurtagic; Milan goes up 24-15 and with Sylla wins the first partial.

The second set is the first set.

SECOND SET
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Great show at the start with Milan finding the break at 5-3, but having to guard against VakifBank’s comeback attempt. The meneghine continue to lead the partial and with the’11-8 grounded by Cazaute push coach Guidetti to suspend the game. On the return to the court, the Turks try to put pressure on, but Milan doesn&#8217t stop its run and with Orro’s ace it stretches 18-13. Vakif gets dangerously close again, but Numia puts back the margin and another suspension for the Turkish bench (21-17). Daalderop rises to the top and Milan finds five set points (24-19): Sylla again signs the decisive point and Vero Volleyball wins the second partial as well.

THIRD SET
Danesi’s ace is worth the break for Numia (4-2), but Frantti leads VakifBank to overtake and on 6-7 coach Lavarini calls back his girls. Counter-overtaking Milan, which goes up 10-8 with Danesi. Boosted by the home crowd, the Turkish lineup finds the right rhythm and parity on 13-13. The point-to-point break at 16-19 and another time-out comes for the Milan bench. On resumption, Milan tries to stay in the slipstream but VakifBank finds four set points (20-24); Sylla nullifies the first, but the Turks manage to extend the challenge to the fourth set (23-25).

FURTH SET
After the break suffered in the opening, Milan tries to escape (6-3), but Markova brings parity back. Back-and-forth between the two formations until’11-13 and first time-out of the set for coach Lavarini. The meneghine re-entered the court well and got closer (13-14), finding balance again on 15-15 and then the lead on 17-15. Despite Vakif’s attempt, Milan continues to put margin on its opponents and touches 22-17. Cazaute scores for match point (24-18), while Egonu closes the score. Numia Vero Volley Milan wins the final and third place in the CEV Champions League.

POST-PARTIAL STATEMENT
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Stefano Lavarini, coach Numia Vero Volley Milano: “Today the girls approached the match in the best possible way, without dross related to yesterday’s match that undoubtedly left us unsatisfied. The fact that we immediately found the strength to get back up has a lot of value for me. Today ends a season in which in all competitions we stopped only in front of Conegliano, testifying at the moment to the great quality of the Venetian women compared to the entire world sports scene; this only increases even more our motivation to start again and try to succeed as soon as possible. All in all, therefore, I cannot be dissatisfied with our season, month after month we have had a good growth until we get to play on the field the two most important titles”.

Numia Vero Volleyball Milan – VakifBank Istanbul 3-1 (25-15; 25-19; 23-25; 25-18)

Numia Vero Volley Milan: Cazaute 15, Heyrman 1, Danesi 11, Orro 7, Konstantinidou, Fukudome (L), Kurtagic 3, Smrek, Sylla 5, Egonu 21, Daalderop 12. N.E.: Guidi, Pietrini, Gelin (L). All. Lavarini.

VakifBank Istanbul: Frantti 9, Ozbay 3, Aykac Altintas (L), Van Ryk, Bosetti 1, Caliskan, Yuan 7, Acar (L), Cebecioglu 10, Gunes 5, Markova 16. N.E. Gergef, Uyanik, Akbay. All. Guidetti.

NOTE
Referees: Agnieszka Michlic, Bernard Valentar

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Spectators: 4350

Set duration: 20′, 26′, 30′, 24′. TOT: 1h40′.

Numia Vero Volley Milan: winning strokes 5, wrong strokes 14, walls 11, errors 26, attack 46%.
VakifBank Istanbul: winning strokes 0, wrong strokes 11, walls 6, errors 23, attack 38%.

Facility: Ülker Sports Arena – Istanbul

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