Debut worth remembering for Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 in the Serie A1 Tigotà Playoffs.
At the end of a fluctuating and exciting derby, Novara’s PalaIgor won 2-3, the same score but with the roles reversed as the first match of the play-offs which already pitted Novara and Chieri in the quarter-finals of the championship table a year ago.
In the fourth derby of the season Novara and Chieri played a match made up of actions of the highest technical level, now played more on nerves. Bregoli’s girls won the first, third and fifth sets, displaying the qualities necessary to close the match positively. A true team victory. Captain Grobelna, driving force and top scorer with 23 points, received a well-deserved MVP award like the previous week in the CEV Cup final.
Now for Chieri qualification for the semifinals of the playoffs is one victory away. Saturday (8.30 pm) at the Pala Gianni Asti in Turin is the first opportunity to close the series.
The news
First set – At 4-5 Chieri extends with Zakchaiou and Skinner (5-8). It’s the break that actually decides the set. The blue and whites continue with great aggression on serve and in attack and impeccable attention in the other fundamentals. The score always remains under control and on the first set ball, due to an attacking error by Bosetti, the fraction ends 18-25.
Second set – After an encouraging start for Chieri (2-4, Skinner) the entry of Szakmary for Markova begins to turn the set in favor of Novara who draws at 10 and immediately after takes the lead for the first time with the new entry (11-10). Szakmary again with a block scores the 14-11. Grobelna’s 17-16 is Chieri’s last chance to reopen the set. Akimova and Danesi score 19-17, then the Gaudenzians run away and close 25-17 easily with Szakmary.
Third set – Chieri starts again with the aggression of the first set (3-6, block by Zakchaiou). The hosts return with Akimova (7-7) and go on to lead 9-8 with Bosetti. Chieri doesn’t agree and goes back ahead 11-13 (Grobelna), Novara responds by counter-overtaking with Bosetti (20-18). Chieri returns to a tie at 21 with Zakchaiou. Bernardi’s team maintains half a point of advantage by arriving first at set point with Akimova. The blue and whites cancel this and two subsequent ball sets with Grobelna and Zakchaiou. At 26-26 Grobelna serves and two clever serves lead to Zakchaiou’s 26-27 and the captain’s 26-28.
Fourth set – We start with a 3-1 scored by Akimova and Szakmary. Novara’s lead increases to 4 points at 6-2 (block by Danesi) and 5 at 12-7 (Szakmary). After the entrances first of Morello and Anthouli (13-9) then of Omoruyi (17-13) Chieri limits the deficit by going back to 18-17 (Omoruyi). Gray’s service error, Bonifacio’s ace and Szakmary’s attack restore the distance (21-17). Novara gains the first set point with Bonetti (24-19) and takes the match to a tie-break thanks to Szakmary’s immediate ace (25-19).
Fifth set – Gray and Skinner’s blocks on Akimova open the tie-break (0-2). With great aggressiveness in the ball exchange Chieri maintains the advantage which reaches 4 points at 2-6 with an ace from Grobelna helped by the tape. Another ace, from Skinner, brings the blue and whites ahead 3-8 at the change of court. Zakchaiou’s subsequent block sends Chieri to 3-9 and forces Bernardi to run out of time-outs. The blue and whites get the first match ball at 8-14 on Akimova’s attack. In the following exchange Skinner closes from place 4: it ends 8-15.
The comment
Kaja Grobelna: «It was a pretty tough battle. I’m very happy that in moments of difficulty we remained focused and never gave up: this made a bit of a difference. In the third set I thought whoever won that set would win the match. In the tie-break we let go of what happened before, we were focused on every ball, one point at a time, we gave all our energy and I think it showed. We’ve taken the first step, but let’s be calm: we haven’t done anything yet».
Igor Gorgonzola Novara 2
Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 3
Parzilai (18-25; 25-17; 26-28; 25-19; 8-15)
IGOR GORGONZOLA NOVARA: Bosio 1, Akimova 7, Danesi 13, Bonifacio 10, Bosetti 18, Markova 2; Fersino (L); Bartolucci, De Nardi, Chirichella, Szakmary 13. N. e. Buijs, Kapralova, Guidi (2L). All. Bernardi; 2nd Baraldi.
REALE MUTUA FENERA CHIERI ’76: Malinov 3, Grobelna 23, Gray 9, Zakchaiou 12, Kingdon 8, Skinner 16; Spirit (L); Morello 1, Weitzel 1, Rolando, Anthouli 3, Omoruyi 3. N. e. Jatzko, Kone (2L). All. Bregoli; 2nd Daglio.
REFEREES: Carcione from Rome and Florian from Altivole.
NOTE: 2500 spectators present. Set duration: 26′, 24′, 34′, 24′, 14′. Batting errors: 15-11. Ace: 4-9. Positive reception: 43%-52%. Perfect reception: 24%-22%. Positivity in attack: 8-12. Errors in attack: Winning blocks: 9-12. MVP: Grobelna.
