Rebecca Piva doesn’t give up despite 2-0 loss to Conegliano
Rebecca Piva, setter for Numia Vero Volley Milano, does not give up despite the 2-0 loss to Conegliano: “The series is not over yet and this is the starting point. For sure it will not be easy: it was very important for us to do well in this match but it was difficult because they played perfectly and we certainly could have done more. I think the things we lacked the most were wall and defense, fundamentals in which in Game 1 we played on par with them. We will have to study Game 3, which will be decisive.”
The chronicle says Conegliano starts off strong and immediately goes ahead 0-3. It’s back in balance at 5-5, but it’s still the host lineup – with Chirichella – that finds the lead break. It is Gabi who leads Conegliano, with the Brazilian’s wall making it 9-13; Numia tries to stay in the slipstream, but Haak says no to Lanier and gives her the 10-15 ball that forces Lavarini’s bench to time out. The Danesi-Piva duo tries to keep Milan in touch: it’s 13-17, but Haak’s ace scores another breakaway (13-19). Diagonal change for the Rosablu who, with Sartori’s winning serves and Akimova’s monster block, try to stay in the slipstream (19-21), but it’s Prosecco Doc that earns four set balls and closes 21-25.
The second partial also opens in favor of the Panthers who, with Haak and Zhu, fly on 0-4. The hosts tried to close the gap (4-6), but were forced to chase a Conegliano determined to take the match home. A super Fersino in the second line drops nothing and the exchange finalized by Lanier allows Numia to get back in touch (8-9). The Venetian women try to escape (8-11) and the home bench interrupts the game, but when they return to the court it is the guests who lead the match (11-16). Conegliano, thanks to a few too many errors by Milan, stretches to 13-20, but Danesi’s two consecutive monster blocks make it 16-20 and time out for Santarelli. Pietrini’s ace gives hope to Vero Volley (-3 and 18-21), but once again it’s Imoco to win the set (19-25).
Egonu takes the lead in the third set, with Milan trying to change face, and on 5-3 comes the first Rosablu advantage of the match. Kurtagic also responds and scores the first points of her match; on 8-8 Conegliano finds parity and it continues point to point. A Haak on the shields scores the ball that is worth Imoco’s overtake on 11-12; De Gennaro is the protagonist in the second line and the 0-3 partial for the Venetian marks 13-16. It keeps the three-length margin Prosecco Doc (16-19) and Milan is called to respond to try to extend the game. The rosablu reaction does not come and they see the guests run away: 18-24 and six match balls. Fahr’s first half (18-25) closes the game, giving the Panthers Game 2 as well.
