Guests ahead, then the comeback of the home girls, who take the match to the fifth set. In the pre-match, performance by Sangiovanni, in perfect Superbowl style
MILAN-NOVARA 2-3 (20-25, 25-27, 25-17, 25-17, 11-15) Novara conquers the Forum, winning 2-3 in a crazy match against Numia Milano. Unpredictable match with many variations on both sides, but towards the end Bernardi’s girls found the key plays for success from Herbots. Milan instead stops at the best moment: an incredible comeback (locals down 0-2) from the entry of Kurtagic in the third set who went around the home defense wall, and Egonu‘s 31 points were enough for nothing. It was the record-breaking match, the most watched live in the history of Italian women’s volleyball, with 12,667 spectators than at the Assago Forum.
SHOW ALL’AMERICANA
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However, enjoying an all-round event (in the pre-race, a Superbowl-style performance of Sangiovanni), for the first time organized jointly by the two companies, who shared the burden and honours, with sponsors and speakers from both. An event to look at the future of the movement. Lavarini starts with Bosio-Egonu in diagonal setter-opposite, Lanier and Piva in the gang, Sartori and Danesi central with Fersino libero. Bernardi responds with director changes, Mims opposite, Alsmeier and Ishikawa at the back, Bonifacio and Baijens in the center and Leonardi libero. Always a balanced start, with Milan containing the errors in the serve, and Novara accelerating when it can. Bosio is inspired like Piva, unlike Egonu and Lanier with zero efficiency (both replaced at the end). From 20-18, however, the home attack dies down, thanks to Igor’s block which increases in tone, and the guests close with a break of 0-7 and take a lead of 0-1 (20-25). Numia feels the pinch, and with Baijens furious Novara tries to escape 2-5. The local teams are struggling, but remain attached, with Piva still valuable and Lanier and Egonu growing. The draw reaches 10, then teams arm in arm until 18-17, when 3 consecutive points from Ishikawa separate the Piedmontese team. Milan responds, and overtakes at the best (24-23) but wasting two set points. Herbots (in for Cambi) and Bonifacio’s block on Egonu turn the situation around for 0-2 (25-27). It is the home captain who leads the charge (4 points on 9 all). Numia finds the wall together with the return (from the beginning of the half) of Kurtagic, the defense holds up more and more with Piva omnipresent, while the guests have quality in attack only from Ishikawa, with Mims giving way to Herbots. From 14-15, however, Milan’s attitude changes from 9 meters and with Lanier, the usual Egonu and 2 aces from Bosio escapes closing 25-17 (1-2). Inertia reversed and Milan took advantage of it, dominating the block: there were 4 in the 9-3 start with which Bernardi ran out of timeouts. Shock from Novara (13-9), but 4 aces from Egonu, with Novara at the top in reception, send the match to a tiebreaker (25-17). With Herbots starting, Novara gets back on track and the fifth set starts with the teams arm in arm, but from 9 all the Belgian spiker with 3 consecutive points breaks the balance, with Milan dropping in reception. Igor manages the advantage (11-15) and takes the success that brings her closer to the top.
Milano: Egonu 31 points, Muri team 11 (Danesi and Kurtagic 4), Ace team 7 (Egonu 4).
Novara: Herbots, Ishikawa and Baijens 13 points, Muri team 11 (Bonifacio 4), Ace team 1. Rodolfo Palermo