Prosecco DOC Imoco Volley Wins a Thrilling Match Against True Volleyball Milan in the Seventh Championship Final

PROSECCO DOC IMOCO CONEGLIANO – TRUE VOLLEYBALL MILAN 3-2
(23-25,25-23,23-2525-19,15-11)
Imoco Prosecco DOC: Wolosz 4, Haak 32, Plummer 15, Robinson Cook 7, Fahr 12, Lubian 19, De Gennaro, Squarcini, Gennari, De Kruijf 1, Gray, Carraro , Pericati NE, Samedy ne. All. Santarelli
True Volleyball: Orro 1, Thompson 36, Larson 11, Sylla 3, Folie 12, Stevanovic 2, Parochial, Davyskiba ne, Begic 4, Rettke 4, Negretti, Stysiak, Candi, Allard ne. All. Gaspari
Referees: Braico e Puecher
Spectators: 5344 (sold out)
Duration set: 30′,32′,33′,28′,17′
Note: bar errors Co 16,Mi 10; aces: 6-6 ; walls: 13-9
MVP: Lubian

First episode of the seventh championship final, fifth in a row, in the history of Prosecco DOC Imoco Volley which, like last year, crossed swords in the final act with Vero Volley Milano in a Palaverde full as an egg to cheer on its Panthers.
Coach Santarelli’s girls have lived up to expectations and this year they have reversed the trend compared to last year’s defeat in race 1 and prevailed after a pitched battle against a Milan peppered with fierce exes with an illustrious pedigree in gialloblù, from coach Gaspari to the veterans Miriam Sylla and Rapha Folie, who however had to give way to the reigning champions in the fifth set after more than two hours of fighting, and are now contemplating a revenge for Tuesday’s Race 2 at the Monza Arena.

In the pre-match great excitement at the Palaverde for the celebration of the 400 games with the Conegliano shirt of Moki De Gennaro, awarded by his traditional shirt sponsor Spumanti Colli Soligo and Atelier Tonini and honored by the standing ovation of the Palaverde.

The sextets of the final which begins after the notes of Mameli’s anthem played by the Conegliano Alpine Fanfare Conegliano sides with Wolosz-Haak, Plummer-Robinson Cook, Lubian-Fahr, libero De Gennaro. Milan responds with Orro-Thompson, Larson-Sylla, Folie-Stevanovic, free parish.

Rocket start of the away team that starts launched surprising the slow Panthers coming out of the blocks: 0-4, 2-7, then 6-13 with the Venetian defense that can’t find the countermeasures to the Vero Volley attacks that evidently p still in rhythm after the semifinal tirade closed only on Wednesday in Scandicci.
On the wings of enthusiasm, dragged along by an excellent defense and by the penetrating shots of Folie (5 in the set), Thompson (9 in the set!) and Larson, Milan continues to push and the Prosecco DOC Imoco despite the temporary entry of De Kruijf (in his 250th appearance in gialloblù) and Alessia Gennari continues to chase. It is a monologue from the Lombards, Thompson blocks Robinson and Alexa Gray also enters, but the music remains the same: 6-17 the merciless partial on the scoreboard. With changes and time outs coach Santarelli revitalizes his girls a bit who are giving signs of awakening going back from -11 to -8 with blocks by Fahr and captain Wolosz (11-18) and Palaverde also enters the game with his cheering, driven by the comeback. Once the rhythm was found, the Panthers began their final with a little delay and recovered in scoring by raising the pace of the defense a lot and counterattacking well with Isabelle Haak.

Captain Wolosz’s batting series and Fahr’s blocks unleash an 8-1 run that completely reopens the games and also forces Vero Volley to make substitutions (within Begic) and time outs (16-19). At -3 Conegliano is not satisfied and pushes again with Fahr and Haak, brilliant in attack: 18-21. Bella Haak unleashes her arm (8 points in the set), her ace of 20-22, then the -1 attack which makes Palaverde explode. The equalizer after a crazy run-up is by a Lubian who shows that she is in the day, Marina hits fast, but a relentless Jordan Thompson tonight (she will be the top scorer at the end of the match with 36 points) breaks the home break and brings forward 22-23 the guests. It’s only the first set of the final, but the tension is already sky high: the first set ball is from Milan (23-24), good at keeping her nerve and always closing with Thompson who scores on 23-25. Milan ahead 1-0.

In the second set the match continues with the two teams making few mistakes and the score remains in balance until a minibreak by the landlords (7-5). Haak takes advantage of the moment and extends with the +3 lob. Even Milan begins to feel the tension and there is a mistake by Stevanovic for the 10-6 which exalts the Palaverde crowd. Orro and her companions, however, remain there and get closer with the ex Sylla who unhinges the wall for -2 (12-10). We return point to point in a match where the two teams go off and on, but both show character and great resilience: an important service shift by Fede Squarcini, who entered to put pressure on the serve, gives the “terminal” Haak the possibility of a new extension: 14-11. The Swede is hot and Captain Wolosz uses her continuously, but on the other hand Thompson is always good at responding (16-13).
Milan strikes back blow by blow (with a Jordan Thompson on the shields, 9 points in the set) and the final becomes more and more on fire. Plummer suffers in reception, targeted by the guest services, but she is good at attacking, her on 18-16 who keeps Prosecco DOC Imoco ahead. Haak also scores strong (19-17), but Vero Volley replies with a block, Folie equalizes at 19. All to be redone. On 20-19 inside De Kruijf and Gennari for an exciting final sprint. The “sold out” of Palaverde explodes due to Robinson Cook’s block which forces coach Gaspari to time out on 22-20 for the Panthers. It’s up to Robin De Kruijf at the resumption of the game to materialize a great serve by Haak (23-20), then Haak (8 points also in the second set for the Swedish star, they will be 32 in the end!) in first person scores 24-21. But that’s not all, Vero Volley doesn’t give away anything and cancels two set points in serve with Begic. It takes the third attempt and a lash from Kat Plummer to close 25-23 and even the score. Sigh of relief at Palaverde on the 1-1 of character conquered by Wolosz and teammates.

After the liberating success, Prosecco DOC Imoco seems to start the third set with great spirit, finding continuity and compactness under the expert guidance of Monica De Gennaro who gives solidity to the defense (9-4). However, the advantage is not the decisive one, Vero Volley (who still keeps Sylla on the bench, alternating her with Begic) defends a lot and well, forcing Conegliano to make some mistakes that put the guests back on track. We go back to fighting point by point while the competitive spirit rises in the field. The Panthers try again (18-15), but Larson and the usual Thompson keep the Lombards in their wake (19-17).

You can’t go wrong in a top-level match, Folie places the ace of -1 (20-19), then Thompson too punishes the home reception, Conegliano creaks and Milan takes advantage of it to draw 21-21. Palaverde trembled when Begic’s overtaking on the block arrived, corroborated by Thompson’s lob. 21-23 and emergency time out for coach Santarelli after the 4-0 break in Milan which threatens to start the final sprint. Shortens Haak who tries to the end (7 points in the set), then invasion of Milan for the new draw: 23-23, the building is a bedlam. But for the Gialloblù fans it’s just an illusion. Thompson again (another 8 points in the game in the set) scores for 23-24, then a bloody mistake in attack by the Panthers and in the first set ball Vero Volley prevails 23-25, muting Palaverde with the overtaking: 1-2 .

The beginning of the fourth set sees Prosecco DOC Imoco continue its difficult evening, knocked down in morale by the KO in the previous partial which brings back the ghosts of the first match played at Palaverde last year between the two teams.
Larson and his teammates take advantage of it and leave quickly, playing orderly and making good use of some inaccuracies of the Panthers, fouled at the start: 4-8. Immediate signs of awakening come from Kat Plummer (6-9), but first Rapha Folie continues to annoy her former fans in the center, then Thompson continues to hammer (7 points in the set) and Vero Volley keeps its head ahead.

Following the example of a moving Monica De Gennaro who fights for all the balls and asserts her exemplary leadership, the home team equalizes with a good rush from Fahr and Plummer (9-9), this time the time out is from Milan . With a lot of grit (and the block) the Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano also tries to overtake decisively (14-11). The Panthers seem to have finally got into the right gear, Asia Wolosz raises the pace as only she can and serves Marina Lubian for 16-12 who brings enthusiasm back to Palaverde. Again the central Piedmontese, rookie at the level of the championship final, places textbook shots for the further break. Two aces in a row of a great Lubian protagonist of the match (7 points in the set with 71% in attack!) launch the reigning champions towards the tie break: 19-13. The road seems smooth, but Parochial and companions still fight and go back (22-18). De Gennaro and his companions, however, this time do not want to take risks and do not let go until closing 25-19 with Folie’s mistake… we go to the tie break!
The fifth set decides game 1: the first Gialloblù advantage is propitiated by Isabelle Haak, also in her first final in Italy, for 2-1, then Lubian “on fire” replies to Thompson: 3-2. We travel point to point, with Lubian turning everything it touches into gold: 4-3. But Milan, as predicted, never gives up and goes back forward, then Stevanovic blocks for +2 (4-6). These are thrilling moments, Fahr blows up Palaverde with the 6-6 block, but Larson then keeps the guests ahead. The field changes on 8-7 signed by Haak, but Thomposon equalizes immediately.

The tension is palpable, Sarah Fahr (in double figures at 12 points!) however she has ice in her veins and closes in the middle on 10-9, then Fede squarcini enters, another “deb” in the final, who shoots the ace from 11-9. Time out of Milan. Bella Haak takes on the role of the driving force, her 12-10 which unleashes the enthusiasm, then the block of a super Lubian launches Conegliano: 13-10. Marina Lubian closes with a…pure forward dunk, the culmination of a game 1 that saw her deserved MVP (19 points, 3 aces, 1 block, 66% in attack!) and Palaverde becomes a powder keg. Prosecco DOC Imoco on the wings of enthusiasm wins an epic race 1 comeback, which started in the best way a final series that promises to be spectacular and hard-fought. 1-0!

Game 2 will be Tuesday+ in Milan, then it will return to the Palaverde for game 3 on Thursday 11 (at 18.00 or 20.30, presale active online from Tuesday evening after the second match).

MARINA LUBIAN WAS APPOINTED MVP OF RACE 1, RECEIVED A FREE MAGNUM OF PROSECCO DOC FROM NEXIDIA, SPONSOR OF THE DAY