Lanier and Cook combine for 33 points as the defending champions increase their cushion at the top of the standings
Published 12:43, 04 Dec 2023
Cook fired 16 points and was selected as the match's Most Valuable Player (Photo: LVF)
Defending champions Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano are five points clear at the top of the standings of the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A Tigotà after the conclusion of the tenth round of matches of the Italian League on Sunday.
The only undefeated team in the country, Imoco got to 30 points (ten wins) with a road win over then-second-placed Igor Gorgonzola Novara, who now dropped to third with 24 points (eight wins, two losses).
The Panthers have their American outside hitter duo of Khalia Lanier and Kelsey Cook to thank for their 3-1 (25-19, 25-14, 23-25, 25-18) road triumph against Novara as the two combined for 33 points in the encounter held at the Pala Igor.
Lanier, who’s in her first season with Imoco, had her best performance yet with the team, registering 17 points (12 kills, five aces), one more than the 31-year-old Cook, who produced 14 kills, one block and one ace and took home the MVP award.
Star Swedish opposite Isabelle Haak, who left the court with 20 points (15 kills, three blocks, two aces), was the only one to outscore the Americans on the winning side.
“I’m very proud of my team because the fact that we went on the road against the second-placed team and were able to play so well in sets one and two shows that we’re a really strong team,” setter Joanna Wolosz said. “Our level dropped a bit in the third set and it’s a shame we couldn’t win it after making a strong push at the end, but we showed maturity to get back to our good level after that and got an important win.”
The top scorer of the Italian League, Novara’s opposite Vita Akimova led her side with 17 points (16 kills, one block), followed by Dutch outside hitter Anne Buijs, who registered 11 with nine kills, one block and one ace.
Allianz Vero Volley Milano were able to capitalize on Novara’s loss and take the second place from them, but were strongly challenged by Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore, triumphing 3-2 (24-26, 27-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-2) on Sunday and getting to 25 points (nine wins, one loss).
Star opposite Paola Egonu carried her new team to victory with 24 points (20 kills, three blocks, one ace), while American middle blocker Dana Rettke and French outside hitter Héléna Cazaute contributed 15 each. Polish opposite Malwina Smarzek and Italian outside hitter Emma Cagnin fired 13 points each for Casalmaggiore.
The tenth round of the Italian League started on Saturday, with Savino Del Bene Scandicci’s 3-0 (25-19, 31-29, 25-19) road win over Wash4Green Pinerolo, which had 18 points (16 kills, two blocks) from Italian national team opposite Ekaterina Antropova.
On Sunday, Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri defeated Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio 3-0 (25-16, 25-23, 25-21), Volley Bergamo 1991 topped Itas Trentino also 3-0 (28-26, 25-16, 25-16), Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia overcame Il Bisonte Firenze 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-15, 25-22) and Roma Volley Club dominated Honda Olivero S. Bernardo Cuneo to a 3-1 (18-25, 25-15, 25-17, 26-23) victory.
The 11th round of the Lega Femminile will be held next weekend, with two matches on Saturday, four on Sunday and one on Monday.
Quick links:
Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà
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