VakifBank triumph in the #SMOTW, Imoco disappoint Developres
Recap
The reigning #CLVolleyW champions of VakifBank Istanbul started the year in Europe’s top club competition on the right foot, after outclassing in three sets the 2019 champions of Igor Gorgonzola Novara in the first Super Match of the Week for 2023.
Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA 0-3 VakifBank ISTANBUL
In what was the third encounter between the two sides in Novara, the hosts couldn’t finish on a positive note, and couldn’t record their first victory on home soil against this opponent. The players of Giovanni Guidetti seized a straight-sets victory, but this doesn’t mean that more than 3000 fans in the fully packed Igor Gorgonzola sports hall didn’t enjoy some high-class Volleyball, as the two teams delivered a great performance. Several players from other Italian clubs and the Turkish General Consul of Milan were among the guests of the match.
The game was a special one for the Turkish side, as winning it means they become the first women’s team to win 100 group phase matches in the Champions League.
Furthermore, two of VakifBank’s players - Paola Egonu and Nika Daalderop, were thrilled to bits to come back to the Italian town, as both of them have previously played for Novara. On the other side of the net, Igor’s Ebrar Karakurt also had a particular experience since she faced a former team as well - VakifBank.
The kill blocks turned out to be VakifBank’s trump card in Tuesday’s #SMOTW, as the guests finished with 13 points from this element (compared to only four by the hosts). VakifBank were also better on attack (47 to 40).
Daalderop, who played for a first time against her former club, was chosen for MVP of the game, finishing with 11 points (63% exc.in attack). Egonu, on the hand, became top scorer with 22 points (55%). For Novara, only Karakurt reached the double digits (21 points, 43%).
VakifBank are now topping the charts in Pool C, with three wins out of three matches, while Novara follow them on the second place with two wins and one loss.
Nika Daalderop“It was very nice to play in such a great atmosphere, with over 3.0000 spectators. It was a good clash and a very important win for my team. I am proud of our performance, I think we had a good approach and then stayed very focused on the crucial moments of the game”.
Player, Vakifbank Istanbul
Cristina Chirichella“I think we had a good performance, and we played a good game, but Vakifbank did better than us and they deserved the victory. I think that there are many positive aspects in our performance, and we should take them as a starting point to prepare the best possible way our next game against the team from Belgrade. We are aware that it is a crucial match for our European campaign”.
Player, Igor Gorgonzola Novara
Developres Rzeszów 1-3 Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano
In the big derby in Pool A, the Volleyball Women's Club World Champions from Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano prevailed over their Polish opponents, and also secured the first position in the currents standings in the group.
The Italians had a rocky start in the match, after losing the first set to their Polish opponents. The players around head coach Stephane Antiga controlled completely the game in this part (14-8), and delivering a greater performance on all counts (13 to 12 winning spikes, 2 to 0 kill blocks and 3 to 0 aces), opened in their favour.
Things changed in the second set, as led by Alexa Gray, Imoco could improve and brought back the intrigue in the match after storming in attack - 18 to 9 winning spikes (50% to 26% efficiency).
Conegliano’s domination continued in the third set as well when they finished with 14 winning spikes (to 10) and scored more from successful blocking (3 to 1). Isabelle Haak and her teammates speeded up on the attack even more and, finishing with 14 points from this element in this set (to only 6), seized the victory.
Alexa Gray was above all in the game, scoring 24 points (58% exc.) and was chosen for MVP of the game. Haak finished with 20 points (37%).