Novara beat Firenze after an 86-point long second set 

Igor Gorgonzola Novara needed four sets to top Il Bisonte Firenze and claim their eighth victory in the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A, but the teams had to play nearly five sets when they met on Saturday.

That’s because the teams had to play as many as 86 points in the second set until Novara were finally able to win 44-22. This was the third-longest set ever played in the history of the Italian League – the record was set in 2001, when Modena topped Perugia 48-46.

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

The never-ending set was part of Novara’s 3-1 (25-16, 44-42, 23-25, 25-22) triumph that kept them in second place in the standings with 24 points (eight wins, one loss). Firenze are seventh, with 12 points (four wins, five losses).

Opposite Vita Akimova was the match’s top scorer with 29 points (27 kills, one ace, one block). Middle blocker Anna Danesi also played a great match for Novara, tallying 19 points (12 kills, five blocks, two aces), while outside hitters Gréta Szakmáry and Caterina Bosetti and middle blocker Cristina Chirichella registered 15 points each.

“It was a big battle, Firenze really challenged us and it was a lot of fun to be on the court,” Danesi reflected. “We had some chances to win the second set earlier, but we still got all three points and that’s the most important thing. One of our strengths is to manage to remain in the game even in difficult moments and we showed it again today.”

Ukrainian opposite Anastasiia Kraiduba led Firenze’s scoring with 19 points (16 kills, three blocks), followed by outside hitters Lina Alsmeier and Mayu Ishikawa, who had 18 and 16 points, respectively.

Imoco sweep Casalmaggiore

Novara’s victory wasn’t enough to put them back at the top of the standings because defending champions Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano topped Trasportipesanti Casalmaggiore 3-0 (27-25, 25-23, 25-17) on Sunday and continued as the only undefeated team in the league with nine wins (27 points). Swedish star opposite Isabelle Haak led all scorers with 15 points.

Also on Sunday, third-placed Allianz Vero Volley Milano added three points to their season total (23) thanks to a 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-22) road win over Roma Volley Club. Star opposite Paola Egonu had an excellent performance, contributing 26 points to her team’s victory.

Fourth-placed Savino Del Bene Scandicci had to sweat to defeat fifth-placed Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri, winning 3-2 (25-17, 20-25, 26-28, 25-21, 15-11) in front of their home fans on Sunday. Brazilian Olympic medalist middle blocker Ana Carolina ‘Carol’ da Silva was decisive with 18 points.

In the opening match day of the round, on Saturday, Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia went on the road and defeated Itas Trentino 3-0 (26-24, 25-18, 25-14). The two other matches of the weekend, both held on Sunday, had a 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-27, 15-12) win of Honda Olivero S. Bernardo Cuneo over Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio and Wash4Green Pinerolo overcoming Volley Bergamo 1991 also 3-2 (22-25, 26-24, 19-25, 26-24, 15-10).

The tenth round of the Italian League will take place next week, with one match on Saturday and six on Sunday.

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