After almost two and a half hours, Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 overcame the resistance of an indomitable Eurotek Laica Uyba in a tie-break and qualified for the final four of the Italian A1 Frecciarossa Cup scheduled at the Inalpi Arena in Turin on 24 and 25 January.
The two teams play a match that, if possible, both teams deserve to win. Barbolini’s girls make the blue and whites sweat their proverbial sweats with a great job in defense, added to this are the difficulties of the Chieri wall which struggles to stem the away attack. The result was a match of great intensity fought ball by ball.
Busto wins both the first set (comeback from 21-16) and the third 25-27, while in the second set Spirito and her teammates prevail 25-22. The fourth set and in fact the match are decided when at 10-12 in the fourth set Chieri finds his block again, from then on he raises the overall quality of the game and takes the last two fractions 25-20 and 15-8.
Well deserved MVP award for Dervisaj who with 27 points is also the top scorer of the evening, followed by Nemeth (23) and Nervini (16). Four players in double figures among the busts: Obossa (23), Battista (15), Parra (14) and Van Avermaet (13).
The victorious tie-break against Busto allows Chieri to close the first part of the 2025/2026 season without defeat at home, with nine successes in as many matches played within the friendly walls of PalaFenera.
Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76-Eurotek Laica Uyba 3-2 (25-27; 25-22; 25-27; 25-20; 15-8)
REALE REALE FENER 76: Van Aalen 2 , Nemeth 23, Gray 8, Cekulev 6, Nearn 16, Devisaj 27; Spiritto (L); Amunoric, Dambrik, Alberti 2, Degradi. No. and. Ferrrini, Bah, Bonaphy (2L). Sudden. Negro.
EUROREK LAICA UYBA: Seki 1, Obossa 23, Torcolacci 7, Van Avermaet 13, Battista 15, Parra 14; Pelloni (L); Diouf, Eckl, Gennari 1. N. e. Schmit, Metwally, Parlangeli (2L). All. Barbolini; 2nd Lualdi.
REFEREES: Carcione from Rome and Rossi from Sanremo.
NOTE: 1358 spectators present. Set duration: 32′, 25′, 32′, 27′, 14′. Batting errors: 15-10. Ace: 1-2. Positive reception: 73%-69%. Perfect reception: 38%-27%. Positivity in attack: 37%-35%. Attacking errors: 14-20. Winning blocks: 10-10. MVP: Dervisaj.
The news
First set – At 4-3 Chieri makes a first breakthrough with a 6-2 run (with 4 points from Dervisaj) which brings the score to 11-5. Busto gets closer to 14-11 (Obossa) but the blue and white immediately go back to extend the lead (17-12) maintaining a 5-point lead until 21-16. Two errors from Chieri in attack and a block from Van Avermaet bring the guests back into contact who then grab the tie at 22 with Parra and go on to lead 22-23 with another block from Van Avermaet. Dervisaj scores 23-23, then Parra’s error gives a set point which however Cekulaev wastes by missing the serve. Parra redeems himself by making it 24-55, Nemeth responds and it’s 25-25. Another Chierese serving error (the fifth of the set) gives Busto a second set point. Negro stops the action by calling the video check for a foul on Van Avermaet’s service, but captain Bustocco does not step on the line and his team celebrates 25-27.
Second set – Chieri starts to find the rhythm when at 7-7 it rises to 10-7 with Nervini and Gray. At 15-11 (Cekulaev) a phase begins in favor of Busto who with Battista and Obossa equalizes at 16. Negro inserts Alberti in place of Gray and the new arrival appears with the first half at 17-16. Dervisaj’s winning serve resulted in a break point which the hosts could never recover from then on. After Dervisaj’s 24-20, Van Avermaet’s attack and an error by Neneth nullified the first two set points. Time-out for Negro and upon returning Alberti closes 25-22.
Third set – The scoring trend follows the previous set. From 7-6 Chieri extends to 11-7 and then suffers the visitors’ comeback at 16-16. At 20-20 Van Avermaet and an error by Nemeth give Busto the 20-22. Dervisaj scores 21-22, then goes into service and the points from Nervini and Nemeth give the hosts two set points. Torcolacci with a first half and Nemeth’s outside attack bring the set to the advantage. Followed by Obossa’s 24-25, Nervini’s 25-25 and Obossa’s 25-26. The next point was also scored by Obossa, making it 25-27.
Fourth set – Negro sends Gray back onto the court in the starting six. Battista and Obossa immediately signed the +2 for Busto (1-3). Chieri struggles to break through the visitors’ defense but remains in contact, until at 10-12 an attack by Dervisaj and a block by Gray give the tie at 12. Battista’s error and Dervisaj’s winning shot extend the Chieri streak to 14-13. From then on, the home team raised the level of their game, increased the lead reaching +6 at 22-16 and closed 25-20 with Dervisaj on the second set ball.
Fifth set – The tie-break opens with two blocks from Chieresi, by Nervini and Nemeth (0-2). Dervisaj’s error from 9 meters gives the first point to Busto who then draws 2-2 with Obossa and finds himself leading 2-3 after an error by Nervini. Nemeth scores the 3-3. At 5-5 Chieri regains the +2 with Nervini and Dervisaj and maintains the double advantage at the change of court (8-6). Barbolini replaces Parra with Gennari at 9-7 and after Dervisaj’s 10-7 he calls his second time-out. When the game restarts Dervisaj blocks Van Avermaet’s fast and it’s 11-7. At 13-8 Nervini wins six match balls. In the next action Nemeth rolls the credits (15-8).
The comment
Stella Nervini:They arrived here very excited, they certainly wanted redemption, we were very good at not giving up even if in some moments the situation seemed desperate. Our strength was seen and now we’re going to the final four!».
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 them until the end but it wasn’t enough».
Related News :