The panthers of Conegliano eliminate Novara from the semi-final (3-0) and take the pass for the Super Final on May 1st in Verona
VILLORBA. Two sets were enough at Imoco Conegliano to qualify for the Super Final of the Champions League, scheduled in Verona on May 1st, and they arrived at 9.20pm on March 23rd. The Igor Gorgonzola Novara therefore fails to overturn the 3-0 of the first leg and leaves the competition, while the yellow-blue panthers await one between Unet E-Work Busto Arsizio and Vakifbank Istanbul to play for the title of queen of Europe, which in Conegliano escaped from Berlin two years ago. At Palaverde it ended 3-0 in just over an hour.
In fact it was the revenge of that last final act against Novara, who won 3-1 in Germany thanks to Paola Egonu, who practically became a panther the day after. So after the stellar test of the first leg, the team coached by Daniele Santarelli – who also kept Miriam Sylla on the bench, relaunching the American McKenzie Adams from the start – wanted to push hard to close the accounts as quickly as possible. Terrifying first set, the Imoco accelerates immediately and you immediately understand that for Novara it will be a disappointing evening. Egonu is almost perfect (71% in the partial), Smarzek on the other hand suffers (14), the rest of the wall-defense of Conegliano takes care of the rest, while not even the Novara power plants manage to pass: it ends 25-15, and the GialloblĂą always see the goal. closer.
In the second set, Novara starts much more perky, focusing on Chirichella and Washington, but Wolosz also does not hesitate to play with De Kruijf and Fahr (again the owner in place of Folie, to be managed). Coach Lavarini manages to keep his players ahead for a long time (even 10-13), then a round in Egonu’s service (with a crazy ace) relaunches Conegliano while De Gennaro no longer lets a ball fall. And when the Imoco overtakes at this speed it becomes quite difficult to keep up with them, also because Kimberly Hill also increases the laps, De Kruijf blocks anyone and then Egonu crumbles Bosetti directly from the service: 17-13, seven consecutive points.
It is clear that for Hanckok and his teammates it becomes almost impossible, also because Conegliano begins to point out every slightest mistake of the Piedmontese, and Wolosz has no difficulty – thanks also to a sumptuous reception – in sending the full staff to the attack. Washington is the last to surrender, blocking Egonu, while Adams is inattentive and brings Herbots back: 19-19. At 21-21 De Gennaro is amazing, and Egonu finds the advantage playing with the block, then Fahr blocks Zanette’s victory and then makes an encore on Bosetti. Adams is unfortunate in reception, but Paola Egonu takes care of bringing Imoco to Verona. The second set ends 25-23.
Two sets were enough, and two sets came right away. It’s final. In the third set Santarelli and Lavarini also give space to the “second lines”, but Conegliano’s match plan does not change: he ends 25-20 for the final 3-0.
Now the Imoco is waiting to know the Super Final opponent, and in the meantime it dives into the Scudetto playoffs: debut Saturday night in the quarter-finals against Florence or Trento, awaited by the return match that will decide who will be the next victim of the panthers.
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