Novara complete Lega’s Final Four

Igor Gorgonzola Novara secured the fourth and final spot in the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A Tigotà semifinals on Wednesday and will battle Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano, Savino Del Bene Scandicci and Allianz Vero Volley Milano in the Italian League Final Four.

Novara started the best-of-three quarterfinal series against Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri behind, but won back-to-back matches to prevail 2-1 and advance to the tournament’s semifinals for a seventh straight and 18^th overall time.

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

Playing at home, at the Pala Igor Gorgonzola, in Novara, for the second time in the series, the team from Northern Italy came from behind to win 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-22, 25-23) and book its spot in the next round of the playoffs.

Russian opposite Marina Markova, who was a key player in Novara’s victory in the second match of the series, came up big for them again, tallying a match-high 25 points, with 21 kills, three blocks and one ace. She took home the match’s MVP award.

Outside hitters Gréta Szakmáry and Caterina Bosetti produced 15 and 14 points respectively and also played major roles in the team’s triumph.

“I’m very proud of each member of our team,” Markova reflected. “Each of us played a role in our success, which wasn’t easy to achieve. We’ll now be able to play in the semifinals, which was our goal, and I’m looking forward to challenging Imoco.”

Chieri had three players reaching double digits in scoring in Belgian opposite Kaja Grobelna (19), American outside hitter Avery Skinner (17) and Cypriot middle blocker Katerina Zakchaiou (13).

Lega Femminile - Match Schedule and Results

Semifinals begin on Saturday

The semifinals of the Italian League will begin this weekend, with Scandicci and Novara playing in Firenze on Saturday, at 20:30 local time (19:30 GMT). On Sunday, Imoco will host Novara in Villorba also at 20:30 local time (19:30 GMT).

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Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà
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