Legend becomes history. Imoco records have won 72 in a row

Prosecco Doc leaves no chance for Chieri in just three sets Equalized the legendary Teodora, now Guinness is just a step away

/ Chieri

Legendary. The Imoco reaches Teodora Ravenna at the top of the history of Italian volleyball. With yesterday’s 3-0 the following victories are 72, equaling the unbeaten record achieved by the Guerra team between 85 and 86. Now a match away, only Vakifbank remains, and the hunger for Guinness has certainly not subsided.

The round score hides the problems of Conegliano, who once again suffers in the rhythm and in the fight in defense. Santarelli confirms the sects that have suffered and won with Busto, also because with Sylla with a reduced gap he doesn’t have many choices: either Omoruyi and Vuchkova, or Plummer and Folie. He chooses the second option. After two difficult games, Imoco seems to start with the rhythm of the best times, finding themselves immediately ahead at 1-4. But Bregoli’s time out is enough to settle things and immediately show the ghosts to the panthers, who are under 11-8 on the ace of Cazaute. As often happens this season, it is enough for Conegliano to fix the wall to command the game. Too bad he can’t do it consistently. And in fact with a break of four to zero, Chieri goes forward again. The home reception, however, trembles, and Conegliano cannot fail to take advantage of it by presenting himself at 21-24 for the first set ball. With the invasion of Chieri, it ends 22-25.

The start of the second set mirrors the previous one: Conegliano ahead with an Egonu who finds aces and winning trajectories with ease (1-5). Chieri, however, has no intention of stepping aside and defends the home unbeatenness with his teeth. Although in reception things do not work great, with the wall he manages to capitalize on some exchanges. On the field of Conegliano there is no desire to throw balls, as already emerged with Monza and Busto (8-9). Fortunately, things work better in attack, thanks above all to Egonu. De Kruijf in the service finds the last centimeters of the field, giving the first extension to Conegliano (12-16). But this isn’t the right time either. Wolosz messes up dribbling for his opponents and Chieri is back there. The good news is that Sylla is seeing her again. Santarelli throws her into the fray in place of Plummer in the serve; Grobelna welcomes him with an ace (19-19). When the rotation brings her to the fore the hitter returns to sit on the bench. Chieri melts again at the end of the set, and Imoco manages to go 2-0.

Plummer shows all the home samples at the start of the third set: full arm, push ball, and a dunk resting a few centimeters from the baseline. It’s a deja-vu: another start with the 1-4 of the Imoco. Fortune also helps the panthers, with a first half out of a non-nothing by Mazzaro and the tape that allows Folie to score an ace. In the field the protagonist becomes Santarelli who launches himself in search of a wasp, stopping the turn in Egonu’s service. But the coach’s racing benefits Plummer, who crushes the insect with a foot kick. You can start playing again. The diversion makes Chieri’s fortunes, who takes advantage of Courtney’s two distractions to make up for it (11-12). Another second line lap for Sylla. The home team finds parity, also because the Fenera wall reads the game better than that of Conegliano. Courtney keeps her teammates afloat by finding hidden trajectories, while on the other side of the net Grobelna is a killer. But when the balls start to burn, at 20-20, Chieri melts. And the finale still reads 22-25. On Sunday, in Cuneo, another record can be set: in Turkey they are warned. –