The Imoco detaches the ticket for the Final Four. Cuneo in nine surprises for just one set

Conegliano wins his sixth consecutive Final Four of the Italian Cup and will face the winner of Scandicci-Busto on Wednesday 5 at 16.

CONEGLIANO. Conegliano uncovers the ticket for his sixth consecutive Final Four of the Italian Cup and will face the winner of Scandicci-Busto on Wednesday 5 at 16, moved to Monday 3 for Covid cases in the Tuscan group. Cuneo also had to deal with the positivity, arriving with only nine players on the scoresheet.

Pistola, with the players counted, is forced to make limited but experimental choices. The former Gicquel remains on the bench and an unprecedented formation goes on the field, without fear and awe. Santarelli shuffles the cards once again, proposing Sylla in sextet together with Plummer, with Wolosz as director, Egonu opposite, De Kruijf and Vuchkova in the center and De Gennaro free.

The departure of the panthers is at a very low pace and this facilitates the guests. The wall touches almost nothing of the Piedmontese attacks and the second line is often surprised by Degradi and Caruso. Service errors continue to be a problem (6, plus another 5 in attack) and Egonu stops at a modest 33%. Cuneo plays his game and takes the set home with merit.

Without changing the field, Santarelli tries to give a shock, after having tried unsuccessfully the changes with Frosini and Gennari in service and Courtney in reception. The listlessness suddenly disappears as soon as, trivially, the wall returns to its duty. It is Vuchkova who leads the dance, Egonu finds rhythm in attack and service, Plummer asserts physical superiority. The advantage grows visibly and Cuneo gradually disappears.

The third set, channeled on the same tracks (20-14), suddenly becomes interesting with a slow but steady recovery of Wedge jogging with Squarcini wall on Egonu (22-22), which then redeems itself and precedes the decisive wall of De Kruijf. The Piedmontese remain orderly and dangerous with all their elements and leave with a good attitude, always attacking with depth and strength. Conegliano understands that it is no longer necessary to take your foot off the accelerator and puts in a 7-0 run. Sylla begins to hammer, regaining confidence also in his own final physical recovery, of fundamental importance for the second part of the yellow and blue season.

«We knew it was a game full of risks – says coach Daniele Santarelli -, playing very badly in the first set. Unfortunately they have made some adaptations to the sextet that we had not foreseen, but this must not be an excuse on our part. We know that we will experience the same situation in the next few days, having to wait for Monday evening to get to know our opponent. The team is doing well and the days of unforeseen rest have been like bread for the hungry».

“They defended very well – added Hristina Vuchkova – and we are not used to these situations”. –