Lega Volley Femminile A1 2023

Antropova shines as Scandicci beat Novara and go up to third place

The star opposite was in great form as she delivered 28 points

Published 10:37, 11 Dec 2023

Antropova celebrates a point with her teammates (Photo: LVF)

Savino Del Bene Scandicci were stronger in the battle for third place in the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A Tigotà and overcame Igor Gorgonzola Novara to break into the Italian League’s top three at the conclusion of the 11^th round of the season.

A four-set home win against Novara on Monday, the last of three days of action in the Lega Femminile this week, pushed Scandicci to third place with 27 points (nine wins, two losses).

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Novara, on the other hand, continue to trend in the wrong direction as the team that was at the top of the standings until the seventh round has lost another spot and now ranks fourth with 24 points (eight wins, three losses).

Scandicci started the match strongly and, except for the third set, were in control the entire time, securing a key 3-1 (25-11, 28-26, 21-25, 25-21) victory over their opponents.

Italian national team opposite Ekaterina Antropova was a key player in Scandicci’s triumph, delivering an impressive 28 points, with 24 kills, three blocks and one ace. Chinese superstar Ting Zhu also came up big as the outside hitter added another 19 points (16 kills, two blocks, one ace).

Novara, who didn’t use opposite Vita Akimova, the top scorer of the Italian League this season, got 16 points (14 kills, one ace, one block) from Hungarian Gréta Szakmáry and another 13 from fellow outside hitter Caterina Bosetti.

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Egonu scores 16 as Milano win

Ranked right above Scandicci with 28 points, Allianz Vero Volley Milano managed to remain in second place thanks to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-14) road win over Honda Olivero S. Bernardo Cuneo on Sunday.

Star opposite Paola Egonu led her team to victory with a match-high 16 points (13 kills, three blocks), followed by middle blocker Sonia Candi, who tallied 12.

League leaders Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano also won in the 11^th round of the Lega Femminile, remaining undefeated at the top of the standings after they earned a 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-17) home victory against Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia, also on Sunday.

Swedish opposite Isabelle Haak led the way with 15 points (13 kills, two blocks), while outside hitter Kelsey Cook (13) and middle blocker Sarah Fahr (11) also reached double digits in scoring.

In the most exciting match of the weekend, Il Bisonte Firenze almost blew a two-set lead, but came back strong at the end and clinched a 3-2 (28-26, 25-23, 21-25, 17-25, 15-11) win against Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri on Sunday.