Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano made a step closer to earning a new national title in Italy after edging Vero Volley Milan in a rollercoaster first match of the best-of-five championship series in Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile. Although Vero Volley’s Jordan Thompson won the fiery scoring race with Imoco’s Isabelle Haak, the home team, led by Most Valuable Player Marina Lubian, celebrated a 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19, 15-11) victory on Saturday. Meanwhile, Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore defeated Il Bisonte Florence to claim the right to represent Italy in next season’s CEV Challenge Cup competition, while Itas Trentino Trento got to within a win from promotion to Serie A1.
Legavolley Femminile A1 - 2022
Lubian MVP as Imoco edge Vero Volley in five-set battle
Trasportipesanti book ticket to continental competition
Published 03:21, 07 May 2023
Marina Lubian in action
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Imoco’s and Vero Volley’s opposites each reached 30+ points as they engaged in a spectacular scoring race throughout the match. USA’s Jordan Thompson produced the match high of 36 points for the visitors from Milan. Her tally included two kill blocks and an ace. On the other side of the net, Sweden’s Isabelle Haak finished with “only” 32 points, including three blocks and an ace. However, the home team’s Polish setter and captain Joanna Wolosz also created plenty of successful first-tempo attacks, with Marina Lubian spiking 16 points, including the match winner. The Italian middle registered a 67% success rate in offence and added two aces and a kill block towards a total of 19 points and a well-deserved MVP award. Wolosz herself scored at both her attempts to attack, while Imoco’s other Italian middle, Sarah Fahr’s spiking success came at an impressive rate of 89%.
“I'm happy with how it ended and how we managed to get out of it,” Lubian said after the match. “We fought until the end and I think it showed. The road is still long. Nothing is easy. Let's hope it continues like this. I'm also very happy with my performance, but it's thanks to the team, above all.”
“These are the championship finals: to win you have to suffer and give everything,” Wolosz added. “Milan got off to a great start, led by the enthusiasm from game three against Savino Del Bene Scandicci, and continued on the wings of that enthusiasm. We got off to a terrible start and we have to think about improving for the next match, playing strong right away, because Milan will not give us anything. We have a wonderful crowd who supported us throughout the five sets. Now let's go to Monza and try to bring another victory, but it will be even more difficult than today.”
“It was certainly a tough defeat, but we fought all the way and that’s why I'm proud of what we did,” commented Thompson. “We still have a lot to say and I am confident in my team. Two days of work and then back on the court, at home and in front of our fans. Their support will definitely help us!”
The second game of the series will be in Monza on Tuesday, May 9, starting at 20:45 local time (18:45 UTC).
In another important game on Saturday evening, Bulgarian opposite and captain Emiliya Dimitrova led Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore to a hard-fought 3-1 (25-23, 26-24, 29-31, 26-24) home victory over Il Bisonte Florence in the final match of the race for access to Europe’s continental Challenge Cup competition. She was her team’s best scorer with 20 points, followed by American outside Alexandra Frantti with 19 and Elena Perinelli with 18. The Italian outside’s tally included four aces and two kill blocks and earned her the MVP award. Il Bisonte’s opposite Sylvia Nwakalor delivered the match high of 24 points.
“I'm really happy for my game, but above all I'm happy for my team!” said Perinelli. “We achieved this goal that we set for ourselves and we deserved it. There is so much joy!”
Also on Saturday evening, Itas Trentino Trento managed a 3-1 (21-25, 25-17, 25-16, 25-18) home win over Valsabbina Millenium Brescia in the first match of the best-of-three playoff for the second promotion ticket from Serie A2 to Serie A1 next season
Lega Pallavolo Serie A1 Femminile’s Final Leg 2 schedule:
May 9, 20:45 local (18:45 UTC): Vero Volley Milan v Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano
Lega Pallavolo Serie A2 Femminile’s Promotion Final Leg 2 schedule:
May 10, 19:30 local (17:30 UTC): Valsabbina Millenium Brescia v Itas Trentino Trento
