Fifth SuperFinal for Egonu and the first-ever for Allianz Vero Volley Milano
Recap
On Tuesday night the semifinal clash between Fenerbahce Opet Istanbul and Allianz Vero Volley Milano opened the week of the final answers in the CEV Champions League Volley 2024. The do-or-die second leg of the semifinals is going to determine all the SuperFinalists, the first spot in Europe's most prestigious club competition final was booked by Vero Volley Milano, who prevailed over Fenerbahce Opet Istanbul in the Golden Set to reach the SuperFinals for the first time in the club's history. Their leader and Volleyball SuperStar Paola Egonu, contributed with 35 points and will play in her 5th SuperFinal!
Fenerbahce Opet Istanbul vs Allianz Vero Volley Milano 3-1 (25-15, 26-28, 25-22, 25-23)
Golden Set 11-15
A week ago, in Italy, Allianz Vero Volley Milano fully used the home-court advantage earning a straight-set win to make a big step towards the SuperFinals, as the team around coach Marco Gaspari needed only two more sets won to reach for the first time in the club's history the final of the #CLVolleyW. However, Fenerbahce was determined to counterplot. The team under guidance of coach Stefano Lavarini and led by their two stars Arina Fedorovtseva (6 points) and Melissa Vargas (7) perfectly opened the game, stroming to a 25-15 win in the first set. The continued to dominate on the court also in the second set with Vargas, recording unbelievable 9 points, however even if Fenerbahce were a step from taking a 2-0 lead in the game, having 23-18 on the scoreboard, Vero Volley found their way back with Paola Egonu on the service line and Laura Heyrman building a wall over the net. Thus, Marco Gaspari's squad came back winning this set 28-26, getting closer to their goal.
The third and the fourth parts were no less dramatic. Although Vero Volley proved better in block and Egonu tallied 8 points, Fenerbahce extended their hopes, getting a helping hand from their rivals who made 9 own mistakes. The fierce battle was seen also in the fourth set. Vero Volley led 22-20 - in this part Egonu herself scored 12 points - but the fans at Burhan Felek Voleybol Salonu in Istanbul and in front of TV, could see a true Arina Fedorovtseva's show. The outside hitter with two consecutive blocks equaled the score and then sealed the set with an ace (8 points in the 4th set).
The 3-1 win in the game meant the Golden Set to determine the SuperFinalist. From its beginning Vero Volley had a slight advantage, and Paola Egonu once again showed her incredible value on the court. And she was the one to score the two last points in the game, the points that gave a historic spot in the CLVolleyW final to Vero Volley Milano.
Paola Egonu topped the scorers' chart with unbelievable 35 points (33 killing spikes - 49% success, 1 ace, 1 block) and was named the MVP. On Fenerbahce's side Melissa Vargas scored 29 points and Arina Fedorovtseva 25.
Paola Egonu"I'm really proud: I have no words. We did well in the last set to stay clear and have courage in a building full of opposing fans. I am proud, happy and I wish the best for future challenges"
player of Allianz Vero Volley Milano, MVP
"The girls had a lot of courage today. In front of us we found a team that scored 14 aces. We knew it would be a very difficult match, in fact at the end of the fourth set I said that we were used to suffering by now. The team, despite the small gap in the Golden Set, has grown from point to point. I also wanted to give a big applause to the medical staff, because Alessia (Orro) couldn't have taken to the pitch, but thanks to the staff she did and fought like a lioness; both she and Helena (Cazaute), who was also in great physical difficulty after the last match. A round of applause to everyone: getting to the final is never easy, let alone the Champions League. Now we have little time to rest, but these girls have done a great job" - Marco Gaspari, head coach of Allianz Vero Volley Milano
It seems that the locations and the participating teams of the SuperFinals change, but one thing - or better to say one person - is always there: PAOLA EGONU, who already lifted the CLVolleyW trophy three times, last year she triumphed with VakifBank Istanbul and now will have a chance to regain it with Vero Volley. On Wednesday they will find out who they are going to face on May 5th.
