In a sold-out Pala Igor, Igor Volley gains access to the Final Four of the Italian Cup after four sets of great volleyball against the Vero Volley of the many former players. The Italians were led by Mayu Ishikawa (MVP of the match) and well orchestrated by director Cambi, while among the guests Egonu’s performance was stellar (27 points).
Igor on the pitch with Tolok opposite Cambi, Bonifacio and Squarcini centrally, Herbots and Ishikawa spikers and De Nardi libero; Milan with Bosio in the direction and Egonu in the diagonal, Kurtagic and Danesi in the center, Piva and Lanier in the band and Fersino libero.
The first break belongs to Novara (2-0) but Milan reacts and runs away with Egonu who scores 7-10 diagonally and Bernardi stops the game; Squarcini tries (10-12), Tolok closes the gap at 14-15 and Novara stays in the lead until 17-18 before Danesi’s block break which is worth 18-21. Piva wins the set ball (20-24), Egonu closes diagonally tight (21-25).
Herbots puts together a great defense from De Nardi (4-3), Tolok breaks diagonally (9-7) and after the guest’s reaction (10-9), Novara extends with Ishikawa’s block (14-11) and Lavarini changes the main diagonal. Milan comes back -2 (16-14), Tolok keeps his team ahead (20-17, then 22-19) but Piva shortens in a maniout (22-21) and Lanier equalizes after a great guest defense (23-23). A parallel by Ishikawa and an error by Egonu decide the advantages (26-24).
Two aces from Tolok (there will be five in the set for her) and it’s 2-0, Piva recovers (3-3) but Herbots escapes again (6-3) while Kurtagic blocks -1 (8-7) before the Italian break which makes it 11-7 and forces Lavarini’s timeout. Another ace from Tolok (13-8), Danesi doesn’t give up (13-10) but Ishikawa keeps his team ahead (diagonal, 19-15) and Tolok makes an empty serve (21-15). In the final, an error by Sartori makes it 25-19.
We start again point by point (4-3), Ishikawa runs away (7-4) after a great Italian defense and the guest timeout arrives at 10-6; Ace changes (14-10), Herbots replies (17-11) and Ishikawa diagonally approaches the finish line at 20-15. Milan no longer reacts, Herbots wins the match point in a maniout (24-17) and Bonifacio makes the final credits roll (25-18).
Giulia De Nardi (free Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “There is a lot of pride on our part, for having played an excellent match against an opponent who is experiencing an absolutely positive moment of form and for having qualified for the Final Four of the Italian Cup. Today we played a careful and courageous match in all situations, deserving the result and reacting great to a first set in which we were unable to play loose and free. Once we won the second, we let ourselves go and grew, also putting it on the level of enthusiasm”.
Dario Simoni (assistant coach Igor Gorgonzola Novara): “I believe that today we played a truly excellent match, offering a good show to our fans and benefiting from excellent direction and a truly high level performance in all fundamentals. It wasn’t easy, we know the value of Milan and the moment they are experiencing and I believe that a victory like this should give us a lot of awareness. Let’s end the year in the best way, now let’s look ahead because other really important challenges will arrive in 2026”.
Igor Gorgonzola Novara – Numia Vero Volley Milan 3-1 (21-25, 26-24, 25-19, 25-18)
Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Cambi 3, Herbots 9, Squarcini 12, De Nardi (L), Leonardi (L) ne, Alsmeier, Ishikawa 14, Mims ne, Bonifacio 8, Carraro ne, Tolok 25, Costantini, Melli. All. Bernardi.
Numia Vero Volley Milan: Miner, Gelin ne, Bosio 1, Modesti (L) ne, Pietrini 1, Sartori 1, Danesi 6, Kurtagic 7, Cagnin, Lanier 10, Egonu 27, Akimova, Piva 8, Fersino (L). All. Lavarini.
MVP Mayu Ishikawa
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