Masterful Wolosz leads Imoco to sweep Scandicci

A masterclass of setter Joanna Wolosz prompted defending champions Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano to another victory at the start of the fifth leg of the second round of the regular season of the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A Tigotà on Saturday.

With the Polish setter taking the MVP award, Imoco swept Savino Del Bene Scandicci in front of more than 5,000 of their home fans to create a ten-point separation from their rivals in the standings.

• Watch Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A1 matches live on VBTV.

Following Saturday’s 3-0 (25-15, 25-21, 25-17) victory at the Palaverde, Imoco have now 51 points (18 wins) to Scandicci’s 41 (14 wins, four losses). The Panthers had seen their rivals come closer in the last two weeks as they dropped points to Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri and Roma Volley Club, beating both opponents in five sets.

The defeat to Imoco hurt Scandicci in more than one way as they also saw second-placed Allianz Vero Volley Milano get to 48 points (17 wins, one loss) with their 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 25-19) victory over  Volley Bergamo 1991 on Sunday and were passed by Igor Gorgonzola Novara, who got to 42 points (14 wins, four losses) with their 3-1 (25-12, 21-25, 25-21, 25-22) win over last-placed Itas Trentino.

Lega Femminile - Match Schedule and Results

Star setter Wolosz shone the brightest in a nearly-perfect performance from Conegliano, who were dominant from start to finish and outscored their opponents in aces by ten to zero.

The 33-year-old Polish orchestrated a well-diversified and efficient offense, which saw all of the team’s five starting hitters end the match with double digits in scoring – opposite Isabelle Haak had 15 points, middle blockers Marina Lubian and Sarah Fahr tallied 12 each and outside hitters Kathryn Plummer and Kelsey Cook added 11 apiece.

“We weren’t really brilliant in our last matches, but today we showed what we are about,” Wolosz reflected. “We played as a team, were very efficient offensively and defensively and everyone got to contribute. Our fans played a big role today as well, packing the stadium and pushing us from the start. We count on them again next weekend against Milano.”

Italian national team opposite Ekaterina Antropova led Scandicci’s offense with 16 points (14 kills, two blocks) and was the match’s top scorer and the only player in her team to get to double digits.

Roma near the playoff zone

The first team below the line of qualification for the playoffs, Roma got an important result on Sunday, beating Il Bisonte Firenze 3-1 (25-19, 20-25, 25-23, 25-18). The team from the Italian capital now has 22 points, only two behind Firenze and Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia, who lost to Chieri 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-17).

Also on Sunday, Wash4Green Pinerolo topped Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio 3-2 (15-25, 22-25, 25-22, 29-27, 15-6) and Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore overcame Honda Olivero S. Bernardo Cuneo 3-1 (25-21, 25-22, 20-25, 25-20) in a direct battle to avoid relegation.

The sixth leg of the second round of the Italian League will take place next weekend, with two matches on Saturday and five on Sunday.

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Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà
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