Women’s volleyball, match 1 championship final: Conegliano-Scandicci 2-3

CONEGLIANO-SCANDICCI 2-3 (20-25, 25-16, 22-25, 26-24, 15-17)

If this is the beginning, happy championship final to everyone. Scandicci takes game 1 at the tie break, at the end of a match in which Conegliano wastes a 13-8 lead in the final set. The match is undoubtedly the most exciting and beautiful seen at the Palaverde this season, even better than the Panthers’ matches with Vakifbank and Eczacibasi. Barbolini has to miss out on Di Iulio due to an ankle injury. The sextets are however the ones expected and seen in the playoffs. Thanks to Antropova’s 10 points, with 4 aces, almost all in the final, Scandicci wins the first partial, characterized by a great balance, which Conegliano struggles to move to their side.

the match

—

The Tuscans start well (3-6), the Panthers react with a 7-1 run which leads to 12-10. We remained point to point for about twenty rallies, not without errors, but also with spectacular plays. At 22-20 Antropova targets Plummer and then Cook. It’s Lubian’s turn to serve that splits the second set, with three winning serves that make it 9-4. Two blocks from Fahr and two attacks from Haak are added (12-6). Scandicci drops to 34% in reception and is unable to build his game, they reach a maximum of 15-12. Conegliano makes just three errors in the set and goes up to 59% in attack. Three more aces, all from Haak (10 points also for the Swede in the set), crown the tie. The inertia is all yellow and blue, as confirmed by the 6-1 that opens the third set. There are also errors from Barbolini’s team, who then relies on Zhu to stay in the race (11-10). The Chinese girl, under the eyes of Jenny Lang Ping, drags Scandicci into the point-to-point that characterizes the rest of the set. Conegliano puts his best foot forward with eight errors, of which five in service. The decisive strikes are from Carol, at the first point of her race, and from Antropova. Herbots is the protagonist after the change of direction. Many points of the 8-13 that condemn Conegliano to chase bear her signature. Santarelli inserts Bugg and Lanier and the score is 13-14.

what an ending!

—

Antropova responds, until the return of Wolosz and Haak, in the rotation that yields the 20-18. Three more times from Antropova, an ace from Diop and yet another attack from Herbots make it 23-24. Haak cancels, Lubian blocks Antropova and then Herbots and we go to the fifth. He makes little mistakes and gets hit hard (5-3), Plummer blocks Carol, Wolosz replies on Herbots (8-4). Conegliano continues to take risks on serve, but limits the damage (9-7). We return to P1 with Wolosz serving and the yellow-blue wall makes it 12-7. The Panthers waste with three errors (13-12), Antropova sends the serve into the net and then cancels the first match point. Haak wastes the second and Washington overturns the plate after a bad reception by Bardaro. Herbots closes it, keeping Palaverde silent. We return to the pitch on Saturday at 8.30pm, the same time that game 3 on Wednesday the 24th was moved.