Panthers under a set, then the great comeback led by the usual Egonu (24 points)
MODENA. Still there, on the highest place of the podium, with the eighth trophy in a row raised to the sky, the Imoco Conegliano does not stop celebrating and still enriches the showcase: the consecutive victories rise to 65, and who knows where it will be possible to arrive. The Super Cup remains on the yellow-blue bulletin board, after a balanced match for three sets, which risked sending Novara forward 2-0, a situation that was experienced last time in the 2019 Champions League final.
The sextets are as expected and the applause of the 1800s present at the PalaPanini make us feel an air of normality again. Conegliano struggled in the first exchanges to register the block and suffered two aces from Karakurt. At 3-6 it is Novara who gives a couple of points, but the panthers still suffer in reception on Hancock (predictable) and Chirichella, who points Plummer, often badly positioned. The Imoco recovers up to 10-11, but Egonu is also wrong, not very involved up to that point and the Piedmontese stretch up to 10-14; it is Plummer himself to mend up to 15 all, but the difficulties in the second row remain, with five aces suffered at the end of the set. The Gialloblù are unable to take the reins of the game and only at 17-16 put their heads ahead in the score: 43% in attack, below the standard, and 33% in reception, largely subdued, are the photograph of an insufficient first set by Conegliano and deservedly won by Novara.
Something better can be seen at the resumption of the game, with Folie very inspired in the center and relentless De Kruijf in fast; Wolosz uses the tactical serve wisely, even if the serve gives Novara four points in the first half of the set; Novara also drops speed and percentages (14-11) and pushes less on the serve, scolded by coach Lavarini. Plummer benefits as he finds some more space in attack, but continues to struggle against the wall; Egonu is used with more frequency and efficiency in attacks from seat 4, a solution on which the opponents are found unprepared. The score remains balanced until 19-19, then Daalderop and Washington sign 20-22 with a lob, diagonal and block on Egonu; a double from Wolosz gives Novara two set points, but it is Folie with the wall to shift the scales. The Panthers need four set points, which first cancel two, to close the account and get back on track.
The Igor accuses the blow and offers the side to the yellow-blue inertia: in an amen the scoreboard says 8-3 and all the panthers take more and more confidence, unlike what happens in the other half. Battistoni and Montibeller take over Hancock and Karakurt, but Novara’s attitude is no longer that of starting the match, except for some good plays by Daalderop. Conegliano thanks and also systematizes the measures in coverage, without ever having to force (46% in attack) to take the lead and force the opponents to chase.
The reaction arrives (1-5), but it is a blaze: two errors by Karakurt and Bosetti and the blows by Courtney and Egonu put everything back on track. Not even the panthers, however, are exempt from imperfections: two invasions, an attack too hard and Novara’s seventh ace lead to 8-12. The game is much less spectacular, the toxins of the beginning of the season begin to be felt: another parity at 13, which is broken by the positive sequences of Egonu and Courtney, which are worth the first Gialloblù advantage (17-16). The counter-pass arrives on two other direct errors of the panthers, but Egonu and Folie build two match points: the first one cancels Bosetti, the second Karakurt. Egonu attacks his diagonal and then goes to serve; Courtney closes and the story continues.