Conegliano to thrill, Novara privateer in Poland
Two wins and one loss on the first day of European Cups 2025-26 for Tigotà’s Serie A1 teams.
Simply crazy match at Palaverde, which will certainly enter the instant classics of this season. After more than two and a half hours of stellar play, the first match of Pool D of the CEV Champions League against the freshmen of Zeren Ankara Sport Kulubu ended 3-2 in favor of the reigning champions of Prosecco Doc A.Carraro Imoco Conegliano. Few words are available to describe a match that marks the panthers’ 23rd consecutive European victory: the tie-break, which ended 20-18 with five match balls cancelled to the Turks ahead 11-14 one step away from celebration, would be enough. But in between there was also a real, tough match, with the guests excellently led by former Malinov and center Aleksic (19 points), admired in Serie A, a thorn in the side of the Trevigiane together with Lazareva (18) and the effective Uzelac (24). But on the other side were the European queens, two-time champions of the last two editions, who were down 1-2 in front of their own audience and found the strength to even the score and then push on to success thanks to De Gennaro’s defenses, the attacks of the usual Haak, 29 points and decisive in the tie-break, and the contributions of Gabi, MVP with 21 points and a lot of dirty work, Daalderop, (17) and Fahr (12).
Lorenzo Bernardi’s Igor Gorgonzola Novara’s European adventure begins with a three-point victory, winning 1-3 in Lodz on a comeback, at home to Budowlani, and thus getting off to the best possible start in Pool B of the CEV Champions League, where in turn Fenerbahce won the first at home against Benfica. MVP for Lina Alsmeier, kept at the start at rest and decisive then taking over from the bench; top scorer of the match Tatiana Tolok, who scored 25 points during the challenge.
An unlucky debut instead in Greece for Megabox Ondulati del Savio Vallefoglia, which paid for its inexperience at the European level coming out defeated in four sets by AEK Athens in the first leg match of the CEV Challenge Cup round of 16. Down 2-0, Coach Pistola’s girls are good at reopening the challenge in the third set, but then capitulate under the blows of the yellow-and-white women, dragged by Turkish Yüzgenç, 19 points, and Romanian Burtea (14). Only Bici (12) was in double figures for the green-and-whites. To pass the round, the Tigers will have to win with full points the return match next Wednesday, December 3, and play everything in the eventual Golden Set.
