Smarzek on fire as Casalmaggiore live to fight another day

Transportipesanti Casalmaggiore entered the 11th leg of the second round of the regular season of the 2023-2024 Lega Pallavolo Femminile Serie A Tigotà needing to win their match against Wash4Green Pinerolo and to count on other results to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The team from Northern Italy kept their side of the bargain, getting the result against their direct opponents, and saw the other dominoes fall according to their needs, remaining in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs, even if still in critical condition.

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Sunday’s road match against Pinerolo was pivotal for Casalmaggiore and the team delivered, securing a 3-1 (25-15, 15-25, 25-14, 25-19) win that kept their chances of appearing in the postseason. With the result, ninth-placed Casalmaggiore got to 28 points (nine wins) and can still catch Pinerolo, Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia and Roma Volley Club, who rank sixth, seventh and eighth, with 34 points (11 wins) each until the end of the regular season.

In order to qualify for the postseason, Casalmaggiore will need to win both of their remaining matches 3-0 or 3-1 and have at least one of their three rivals not get any points from their encounters. That would generate a tie at 34 points and 11 wins and Casalmaggiore would then need to have the advantage in the tie-breakers.

Polish opposite Malwina Smarzek led Casalmaggiore’s offense, producing 23 points (19 kills, three aces, one block) in the match. American outside hitter Simone Lee registered 14, middle blocker Linda Manfredini contributed 11 and outside hitter Elena Perinelli and middle blocker Juliet Lohuis added ten each.

“We understand that perhaps we reacted a little too late in the season, but if there’s a chance, we’ll fight for it,” Smarzek commented. “We knew Pinerolo were really strong at home and prepared well, I’m happy we got to perform well too. Now we’ll try to continue on the same way until the end.”

Casalmaggiore’s opponents could all have ended the race for the playoffs this weekend, but Vallefoglia fell to league leaders Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-13) on Saturday and Roma topped Itas Trentino 3-2 (25-18, 25-20, 19-25, 20-25, 15-10) on Sunday, but didn’t get the three points they needed to clinch a spot in the postseason.

Trentino go down

The result of the match held in Rome confirmed Trentino’s relegation to the Italian second division in 2024-2025. The team from Trento, which had returned to the Italian elite this season, has only eight points (two wins) and, even with a match in hand, can only surpass Volley Bergamo before the end of the regular season.

The team from Bergamo is currently in 13^th place with 15 points (four wins) and, with three more matches to play, will try to finish ahead of Honda Olivero S. Bernardo Cuneo (18 points, seven wins) and Uyba Volley Busto Arsizio (24 points, seven wins) to avoid relegation.

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They missed a great opportunity to gain ground on their opponents on Sunday, when they fell 3-1 (18-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-17) to Busto at home. On Saturday, Cuneo were defeated by Allianz Vero Volley Milano 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-20).

Despite their victory, Milano (57 points, 20 wins) weren’t able to return to second place in the standings. That’s because Savino Del Bene Scandicci produced a huge 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-14) road win in the Derby against Igor Gorgonzola Novara, getting to 58 points (20 wins).

In the other match of the weekend, Il Bisonte Firenze claimed a big 3-0 (25-20, 25-23, 25-19) road win over Reale Mutua Fenera Chieiri to get to 27 points (ten wins), but, because of Roma’s victory, are eliminated from playoff contention.

New developments in the Lega Femminile will happen next week, with the 12^th and second-to-last leg of the regular season. Four matches will be held on Saturday, with the remaining three taking place on Sunday.

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