Novara and Chieri ready for the final battle

After two exciting battles over the last week, Igor Gorgonzola Novara and Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri are set to meet for a third and final time on Wednesday, at 20:30 local time (19:30 GMT), in the quarterfinals of the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A Tigotà.

The winners of the match which will be held at the Pala Igor Gorgonzola, in Novara, will advance to the semifinals, where they will face defending champions and regular season winners Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano. Savino Del Bene Scandicci and Allianz Vero Volley Milano will meet in the other semifinal, with matches starting over the weekend.

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

Separated by eight points at the end of the regular season, fourth-placed Novara and fifth-placed Chieri have had interesting duels this season. The teams have met five times already in 2023-2024, with Novara winning on three occasions and Chieri on two.

Chieri had arguably the most meaningful victory in the duels, having knocked Novara out of the Coppa Italia in the quarterfinals with a 3-1 road win in January. The two times Chieiri managed to upset Novara this season, it happened at the Pala Igor Gorgonzola.

The quarterfinal series between the teams started with a 3-2 road win for Chieri last Wednesday. On Sunday, Novara gave an emphatic answer, leveling the best-of-three series with a 3-0 road win and forcing a third and decisive match. Historically, Novara have 12 wins in 18 matches against Chieri.

“I thought we played a really good match on Sunday, but we know that there’s still a lot for us to do if we want to win the series on Wednesday,” Novara’s outside hitter Gréta Szakmáry reacted. “The teams know each other extremely well and think that focus and precision will be the keys. Whoever does better in those two areas will win.”

Lega Femminile - Match Schedule and Results

Strong offensive weapons on both sides

Novara have been heavily relying on their Russian opposites in the series against Chieri. While in the first match, Vita Akimova was their leading scorer with 20 points, in the second, Marina Markova came off the bench to deliver 22.

Outside hitter Caterina Bosetti, who produced 28 points across both matches, and middle blocker Anna Danesi, who contributed 24, have been other important players for them.

For Chieri, opposite Kaja Grobelna and outside hitter Avery Skinner have been carrying the team’s offense in the series. The Belgian registered 36 points in the two encounters, two more than the American.

“It’s win or go home now,” said Chieri’s libero Ilaria Spirito reflected. “Next match we’ll need our 110% to win and advance. Novara are a very strong team and in match two they found a good solution by using Markova as an opposite. We’ll need a little bit more to play at their level on Wednesday.”

While Novara are looking to compete in the Italian League for a seventh straight and 18^th overall time, Chieri would make their first appearance in that round of the tournament if they advance.

Quick links:
Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà
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