Firenze cause Monza to drop down from Lega’s top spot

Il Bisonte Firenze provided Igor Gorgonzola Novara and Prosecco Doc Imoco Volley Conegliano with the opportunity they were looking for by causing Vero Volley Monza to lose their grip on the top spot in the Lega Pallavolo vivo Serie A1 Femminile on Sunday.

Ranked seventh in the standings, Firenze staged one of the most surprising wins of the season, taking leaders Monza down in five sets (26-24, 15-25, 25-22, 23-25, 16-14) at the Pallazo Wanny.

Firenze are not unfamiliar with the role of dark horses, however. In December they caused the biggest upset of the current club season, defeating reigning Italian and European champions Conegliano and ending a 76-match winning streak that lasted almost two years.

Italian national team opposite Sylvia Nwakalor, who was also a key piece in Firenze’s historic victory over Conegliano three months ago, came up big again for her team, producing a match-high 30 points including 29 kills and one block. She took home the MVP award. Belgian outside hitter Celine Van Gestel offered a significant amount of help with 20 (19 kills, one block).

“This was definitely a great match from us,” said Firenze coach Massimo Bellano. “If there is one thing to say, we might regret not closing the match in the fourth set because we were in position to do so and deserved it. There were still some mistakes we could have avoided, but we can’t forget we’re a very young team and haven’t had a lot of time to practise lately. We need to make some of the adjustments which are necessary during matches.”

Monza’s most productive players in the match were team captain and middle blocker Anna Danesi with 18 points (13 kills, three blocks, two aces), opposite Lisa van Hecke with 17 (all in kills) and outside hitter Alessia Gennari with 15 (14 kills, one ace).

No team benefited more from Firenze’s unexpected victory than Novara. The three-time Italian Cup winners secured a 3-1 (28-26, 21-25, 25-19, 25-23) road win against Megabox Ondulati Del Savio Vallefoglia to move up to the top of the standings with 55 points (19 wins, two losses) to Monza’s 54 (17 wins, six losses).

Novara’s high-scoring duo of Ebrar Karakurt and Britt Herbots again worked wonders with the Turkish opposite registering 20 points (19 kills, one ace) off the bench and the Belgian outside hitter adding 19 (all in kills) in her MVP performance.

“We’re not surprised by how well Vallefoglia played,” Herbots said after the match. “Every weekend is difficult in the Italian League and every match presents different challenges. We did a good job in handling their pressure and will return home with a big win.”

Conegliano also took advantage of the opportunity offered by Firenze's victory to match Monza’s 54 points with 19 wins and three losses. The defending champions cruised past 12th-placed Bartocinni Fortinfissi Perugia to a straight-set (25-14, 25-18, 25-18) triumph.

Italian star Paola Egonu led all scorers with 18 points (16 kills, two blocks) while American outside hitter Kathryn Plummer earned the MVP award after she tallied 16 (14 kills, two blocks).

The weekend’s round wasn’t a prolific one for the teams fighting to avoid relegation in the Italian League as none of the six teams currently threatened by the prospect of competing in the country’s second division next season were able to add a single point. Three more rounds will be played until the end of the regular season.

• All matches of the Italian men's and women's leagues are available to watch live or on demand on Volleyball TV.

A single mid-week match between Perugia and VBC Trasporti Pesanti Casalmaggiore is scheduled for Thursday, ahead of Sunday’s full set of encounters.

Quick links:

Lega Pallavolo SuperLega Credem Banca
Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A1
Volleyball TV
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Youtube