Eurotek Laica UYBA caresses the dream, holds it in its hands for long stretches… but in the end it has to give up. Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 won the pass to the Turin Finals thanks to a 3-2 success in the quarter-final played in front of their own fans, at the end of 2 hours and 23 minutes of real battle.
For the butterflies, the pride of an extraordinary, intense performance, full of heart and courage remains. The red and whites, in fact, lead first 1-0 and then 2-1, taking the first and third sets with the same score (27-25) thanks to an almost flawless team effort.
Driven by a very inspired Obossa (23 points), by Battista (15), Parra (14) and by a solid Van Avermaet (13), Barbolini’s team achieved the feat also in the fourth set, leading in the initial phase and giving the impression of being able to definitively put the hosts on the ropes.
But Chieri, already forced in the previous sets to “sweat the proverbial sweats” to contain the determination of UYBA, finds her decisive weapon in the ex Laura Kunzler. The Swiss spiker finished with 27 points and the MVP title and led her teammates to a comeback, taking the match to a tie-break.
In the fifth set UYBA inevitably pays for the energy spent: the Piedmontese team extends their lead with shots from Nemeth (23 points on the scoresheet) and Nervini (16), setting the score at 15-8 which is worth the qualification.
The Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 therefore flies to the Turin Finals. At UYBA, however, there remains a precious awareness: with this spirit and this mentality she can put any opponent in difficulty. An emotional and technical heritage to take with you to start again in 2026 with renewed ambition in the championship.
Press room:
Alice Torcolacci: “It was a very tense and hard-fought match, we played good volleyball, as did Chieri. They made few mistakes, they were very incisive, we believed in it until the end but it wasn’t enough.”
Federica Pelloni: “We really wanted to do well, we wanted the finals, we tried with all our strength. We come away tired but satisfied from this match because we did everything to put Chieri in difficulty and for most of the match we succeeded. I am very proud of my team”.
Next match for the butterflies on Sunday 4 January at 4pm at the Pala MegaBox in Pesaro against Vallefoglia, a match valid for the fifth day of return.
The match: in the first set Chieri started well with Cekulaev’s block and Kunzler’s attack which earned the first set 7-3. Chieri is aggressive and the former Swiss UYBA again nails the 10-5, the hosts seem to own the field, but Obossa finds the 13-9 which keeps UYBA alive with Nervini who gives the 13-10 with an invasion. Kunzler continues to grind out points from place 4 (17-12), Nemeth closes the long exchange that leads to 18-13, Gray blocks the 20-15. Van Avermaet wins the face-off at the net which is worth 21-18, Nemeth shoots out at 21-19, on Obossa’s serves (6 points in the set) Parra is super for 22-21, Battista finds the equalizer (22-22). Van Avermaet overcomes with the block (22-23), Parra misses the pipe and it is 24-23, but he makes amends shortly afterwards with the attack of 24-25. The partial ends with an incorrect call by Negro on an alleged foot fault by Busto Arsizio (25-27).
Second set: the start is balanced but Kunzler attempts the first escape (6-4), but Battista picks up the pace in place 4 and keeps UYBA in his wake. Parra puts it within 2 meters and equalizes (6-6), but blocks from Gray and Cekulaev bring Chieri to +4 (13-9); Battista responds with the same coin (14-12) and then attacks 15-13, Van Avermaet and Nemeth’s error lead to 16-15, Obossa equalizes (16-16 inside Alberti for Gray). Kunzler’s ace brings strength back to Chieri (18-16), Nervini scores all the points until 23-20, Kunzler makes it 24-20, Alberti closes 25-22.
Third set: Negro confirms Alberti in the center, 2 consecutive aces from Parra get the butterflies off to a good start (3-4); Kunzler’s block overturns everything (8-6), the Swiss again extends with the attack of 11-7, Seki closes the beautiful exchange that brings UYBA under (11-9). Parra (8 points in the game) attacks continuously from all positions and keeps UYBA alive (16-14), Battista finds -1 (16-15). Obossa equalizes (16-16), but shortly after he shoots long at 17-19, Parra’s block impacts again (19-19), Nemeth shoots out at 19-20. Van Avermaet and another error from Nemeth launch the butterflies (20-22), but UYBA also gives away and it’s 22-22. Nervini overturns (23-22), Nemeth makes no mistakes this time (24-22). The butterflies cancel with Torcolacci and with another error from Nemeth, Obossa wins the set ball twice (25-26), Obossa blocks the 25-27.
Fourth set: Negro puts Gray back on the court in the center, UYBA believes in it and starts ahead 2-4 with Battista and Obossa. The butterflies force Chieri to make mistakes (3-6), Battista and Obossa push with conviction (7-10); Kunzler shortens (9-10, 10-11), Gray equalizes with a block (12-12). Kunzler extends (14-12, 15-13), Chieri pushes hard and forces Torcolacci into an error (17-14), Nervini goes +4 (19-15). In the final Barbolini gives space to Gennari for Battista (20-16), but the inertia is all for Chieri who closes 25-20.
Fifth set: Barbolini puts Battista back on the court in place 4 and as usual the start is balanced (5-5); Kunzler scores the first break (7-5) and turns his leads 8-6. Parra makes a mistake and Barbolini puts Gennari on the field in place 4 (9-7), Kunzler scores a brace of 11-7, Gennari misses the attack and it’s 12-7, Chieri is unleashed on the block and quickly flies to 15-8 with Nemeth.
The match scoreboard
Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri 76 – Eurotek Laica UYBA 3-2 (25-27, 25-22, 25-27, 25-20, 15-8)
Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri 76: Antunovic, Degradi, Kunzler 27, Spirito (L), Ferrarini ne, Bonafede ne, Alberti 2, Van Aalen 2, Nervini 16, Bah ne, Nemeth 23, Cekulaev 6, Dambrink, Gray 8. All. Negro, 2nd Mallia.
Eurotek Laica UYBA: Battista 15, Pelloni (L), Gennari 1, Metwally ne, Seki 1, Van Avermaet 13, Schmit ne, Diouf, Parlangeli ne, Obossa 23, Eckl, Torcolacci 7, Parra 14. All. Barbolini, 2nd Lualdi.
Referees: Carcione – Rossi
Note:
Durata: 32, 25, 32, 27, 24. Tot. 2h 23′
Spectators: 1358
Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri 76: Winning serves 1, incorrect serves 15, blocks 10, attack 37%, reception 73%, errors 30.
Eurotek Laica UYBA: Winning serves 2, incorrect serves 10, blocks 10, attack 35%, reception 69%, errors 31.
UYBA Press Office – Giorgio Ferrario
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