Imoco clinch Lega’s top spot with a sweep of Novara

Three more legs are yet to be played in the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A Tigotà, but it will be Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano sitting at the top of the standings when the regular season comes to an end on March 24.

The confirmation happened on Wednesday, during the tenth leg of the second round, when the defending champions secured their 23rd win, getting to 66 points, and confirming the top seed in the Italian League playoffs for a sixth-straight season.

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The only undefeated team in the tournament, Imoco confirmed the regular season first place in great style, dominating rivals Igor Gorgonzola Novara to a 3-0 (25-14, 27-25, 25-17) victory at the Palaverde, in Villorba. It was the eighth-straight triumph of the Panthers over their opponents.

Swedish star opposite Isabelle Haak played a big role in Imoco’s strong display, leading the team’s offense and taking home the MVP award. The 24-year-old Haak tallied 23 points, with 20 kills, two blocks and one ace.

American Olympic champion outside hitter Kelsey Cook also had a remarkable performance, contributing 15 points (14 kills, one ace) to Imoco’s triumph.

“We played an excellent match,” Haak reflected. “We started in a great rhythm, dropped a little bit in the second set, but got it back up and never stopped again. I’m thrilled with this victory and that we got first place in the regular season. We’re in great form now and must continue this way for the key phases of the Italian League and the Champions League.”

Casalmaggiore stun Milano

In the most shocking result of the day, ninth-placed Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore (25 points, eight wins) upset then-second-placed Allianz Vero Volley Milano (54 points, 19 wins), prevailing in a 3-2 (25-17, 18-25, 25-21, 23-25, 15-13) battle to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Milano counted on a stellar performance from star opposite Paola Egonu, who produced an astonishing 36 points (32 kills, two blocks, two aces), but couldn’t handle Casalmaggiore’s well-diversified offense, which had American outside hitter Simone Lee (21 points), Polish opposite Malwina Smarzek (18) and Italian outside hitter Elena Perinelli (12) all reaching double digits.

“We knew Egonu was going to come out and score a lot of points, as she always does,” said libero Chiara De Bortoli. “Our plan was to try and stop their other players and we did a good job with that. We’re really happy with this victory.”

Savino Del Bene Scandicci benefited from Novara’s (53 points, 18 wins) and Milano’s defeats to get past both of their rivals in the standings, moving up to second place with 55 points (19 wins). Scandicci got the job done at home against Wash4Green Pinerolo, winning 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-13).

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Despite the defeat, Pinerolo ended the day closer to the playoffs than they started it, thanks to Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia’s 3-0 (25-25, 30-28, 26-24) road win over Il Bisonte Firenze. With the result, Firenze remained with 24 points (nine wins) and can no longer catch either Pinerolo or Vallefoglia, who have 34 points (11 wins), until the end of the regular season.

Casalmaggiore pose the only threat to their playoff appearance now, but would have to take nine points in their remaining three matches and hope that one of Pinerolo or Vallefoglia don’t add any points in order to catch them and take the decision to the tie-breakers.

Itas Trentino, who didn’t get on the court on Wednesday and will face Volley Bergamo on March 20, saw their situation in the battle to avoid relegation get considerably worse with 12th-placed Honda Olivero S. Bernardo Cuneo’s 3-2 (25-21, 27-25, 23-25, 18-25, 18-16) win over Roma Volley Club.

Trentino have only seven points (two wins) and now need to win all their four remaining matches 3-0 or 3-1 in order to get to 19 and maintain their hopes of surpassing Cuneo (18 points, seven wins) and Bergamo (15 points, four wins) to remain in the Italian elite for another season.

In the other match of the day, Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri went on the road and topped Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-20).

The 11^th leg of the second round of the regular season will be held over the weekend, with three matches on Saturday and four on Sunday.

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