Imoco Volley Conegliano and Igor Gorgonzola Novara will clash in the final of the 2021 Italian Women's League after both scored convincing wins on Saturday night to wrap up their best-of-three semifinals series of the Playoffs without the need for a deciding third match.
It was Italian internationals who played pivotal roles in both matches just shortly before joining their national team ahead of next month's FIVB Volleyball Nations League which Italy will host in the Adriatic resort of Rimini.
With some solid receiving and a match high of 17 points (including three blocs) Caterina Bosetti was named MVP of the match as she led Novara to a 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23) win over Saugella Monza. Teammate Cristina Chirichella posted a 69% (9/13) attacking efficiency from the middle.
Belgium's Lise Van Hecke shared top-scoring honours with Bosetti, with 17 points for Monza.
Monza, who had lost the first leg midweek in five sets, got off to a great start and tried, in vain, to come back in the fourth and force a tie-break but that all came a little too late.
Earlier in the evening, defending champions Conegliano rapidly and efficiently dismissed Savino Del Bene Scandicci 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-15) on the road to wrap up the series and advance to the final of the competition.
Miriam Sylla, the MVP of the match, contributed 14 points, while Paola Egonu was top scorer of the game with 16 points (including three aces and two blocks plus 14/21 for 67% in attack) and Sarah Fahr added another five blocks.
A year after he succumbed to the coronavirus in the early stages of the pandemic, the players of Conegliano paid tribute to Paolo Sartori, known as 'Paolone', the emblem of Imoco Volley's cheering fans. The club, alongside Paolone's daughters Cristina, Eleonora and Stefania have set up a charity fundraiser for the procurement of technological machinery for the treatment of Covid patients at the Ca' Foncello Hospital in Treviso, an intensive care unit where Paolone spent his last days fighting the virus.
It is the third time running that the two teams will meet in the final of the Playoffs. Conegliano won in both the 2018 and 2019 editions, but the 2020 edition was cancelled before its completion due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The best-of-three final series begins on Saturday 17 April, with Conegliano enjoying home advantage.
Full details of the competition on the official website of the Italian Women's League.
Quick links:
FIVB Volleyball Nations League
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
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