Alice Degradi of e-work spikes against Savino Del Bene’s block (source: legavolleyfemminile.it)

Alice Degradi of e-work spikes against Savino Del Bene’s block

In an early 22nd leg opener in the Italian Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile, e-work Busto Arsizio will host Savino Del Bene Scandicci right on Wednesday’s International Women’s Day, March 8, at 19:00 local time (18:00 UTC), an important game to both opponents as the regular season’s close is only another four legs away.

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The hosts from Busto Arsizio are currently seventh in the standings on a 10-11 win-loss record and 31 points, only three points above the cut-off line for the playoffs, and desperately need to improve that to increase their chances of remaining among the top eight teams at the end of the regular season.

Meanwhile, Savino Del Bene stand second on 53 points and a 17-4 win-loss record. They are already safely into the playoffs, but a win in Busto Arsizio on Wednesday would push them much closer to securing a spot in next season’s CEV Champions League. They are riding the wave of a nine-game winning streak in the Serie A1 and the CEV Cup combined and would certainly like to extend it further.

The team from Scandicci won 15 of the previous 23 encounters with the squad from Busto Arsizio. However, the last time they met, during the first half of the regular season, e-work produced a 3-2 (25-18, 20-25, 23-25, 25-11, 15-12) away victory at Savino Del Bene with Brazilian international spiker Rosamaria Montibeller leading the way with 21 points and earning the award for Most Valuable Player of the match.

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Rosamaria has been the team’s most prolific player so far this season and is currently the third best scorer of the entire league on a total of 352 points. Savino Del Bene, on the other hand, have created a well-balanced squad around Chinese star Zhu Ting, featuring 19-year-old Russian prodigy Ekaterina Antropova, ranking second among the best servers of the league with 34 aces so far.

“A game awaits us that doesn't need to be presented. Scandicci have a much more experienced team that will fight to hold on to its second place. Therefore, it will be a complex game, in which we mustn't hold back. Either you risk to play it on an equal footing or you lose at the start.” Marco Musso, head coach of e-work Busto Arsizio
“Another difficult match awaits us against Busto Arsizio. We have to remember what happened in the first leg. They are doing well, moving up the table and fighting for a place in the playoffs. They will try to put us in difficulty in every way and we will try to do our best.” Massimo Barbolini, head coach of Savino Del Bene Scandicci

The remaining six matches of 22nd leg will take place on Saturday and Sunday.

Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile’s 22nd leg schedule:

Mar 8, 19:00 local (18:00 UTC): e-work Busto Arsizio v Savino Del Bene Scandicci

Mar 11, 19:45 local (18:45 UTC): Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri v Vero Volley Milan

Mar 11, 20:30 local (19:30 UTC): Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano v Igor Gorgonzola Novara

Mar 11, 20:30 local (19:30 UTC): Bartoccini-Fortinfissi Perugia v Il Bisonte Florence

Mar 12, 17:00 local (16:00 UTC): Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore v Megabox Ondulati Del Savio Vallefoglia

Mar 12, 17:00 local (16:00 UTC): Cuneo Granda S.Bernardo v Wash4Green Pinerolo

Mar 12, 17:00 local (16:00 UTC): Volley Bergamo 1991 v CBF Balducci HR Macerata