Poland's Magdalena Stysiak led Savino Del Bene Scandicci in an upset of Unet E-Work Busto Arsizio on the road to score the only away victory in the first leg of the Italian Women's League Playoffs quarterfinals.
Alongside Scandicci, Igor Gorgonzola Novara, Saugella Monza and defending champions Imoco Volley Conegliano also opened their quarterfinals campaigns with wins that give them an early advantage in their best-of-three series.
Stysiak, the 20-year-old opposite who is expected to to play a prominent role with her national team in the FIVB Volleyball Nations League later this year, was named MVP of the game after scoring a match high of 25 points (including 3 blocks and 2 aces) in Scandicci's incredible 3-2 (17-25, 25-15, 28-30, 25-21, 15-13) win.
Scandicci could have gone 2-1 up, had they converted their only set point in the third at 27-26.
Conegliano, meanwhile, capitalised on an inspirational MVP-earning performance by Dutch middle blocker Robin de Kruijf to soundly beat Il Bisonte of Florence 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 29-27).
The visitors tried in vain to extend the match beyond the three sets, though never got a chance at a set point in the tight third.
De Kruijf attacked for 72% (13/18) and collected a match high of 16 points - just one over Paola Egonu who had 15 kills from 21 swings for 71% in attack.
And at Novara it was another Dutch star that stole the show, as Nika Daalderop was named MVP of the match for lifting the home side to a 3-1 (18-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-17) win over Bartoccini Fortinfissi Perugia with a match high scoring of 21 points, including three aces.
Monza wrapped up the first leg action with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-18) sweep of Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri with some evenly distributed scoring by international stars who are expected to shine in the VNL: Italy's Anna Danesi scored 15 points including 6 blocks and 82% (9/11) in attack and was named MVP of the game, while the Netherlands' Floortje Meijners added another 14 and Belgium's Lise Van Hecke 14.
Chieri had advanced to the quarterfinals after the withdrawal in the preliminary round of the Playoffs of Vbc Epiu Casalmaggiore.
The second leg of the best-of-three quarterfinals is scheduled this week, with any necessary deciding third match to be played at the weekend.
Full details of the competition on the official website of the Italian Women's League.
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