NOVARA claims bronze at Women’s IECL Final Four
NOVARA’s superstar Katarzyna Skowronska popped up on the left to score early in the opening set, but after a timeout MURCIA also went into game quickly. The first technical timeout came with the Spaniards in front 8-5 when NOVARA setter Lindsey Berg touched the net. On the resumption, Jaqueline scored some spectacular winners to fire the hosts 13-8 up, but the Italians answered with spectacular actions inspired by middle blocker Sara Anzanello and outside hitter Natasa Osmokrovic, 15-17. However, the momentum still stayed on MURCIA’s side while Asystel had trouble to overcome the Spanish block-defense system (23-20). But the set was far to be over, as NOVARA bounced back bravely. Skowronska leveled to 25 and then to 26, before Osmokrovic, some rallies later, ended it on the left with a clever long line spike, 29-27.
Grupo 2002 started strongly in the second set for a 5-2 lead while Osmokrovic helped Asystel to come back. Indeed, the Italians were trying to take over the control, showcasing a series of powerful actions on the net. But Fofao, with a service winner, moved on the score in MURCIA’s favor, 16-13 at the second technical timeout. NOVARA head coach Dejan Brdjovic sent in Anna Mello for Anzanello, but the Spaniards managed to keep a three-point lead till the end of the second period (25-22).
But it turned out to be a short revival as the Italians started again to dominate with their impressive team work play, while Spanish spikers just could not find the range in the middle of the third set (13-16). However, Polish idol Malgorzata Glinka turned up the heat to square the game at 16-16. The match now balanced on a knife’s edge as both teams showed their best combinations (23-23, 25-25). Skowronska sent it wide to hand over a first set ball to MURCIA; and Glinka closed it out with a well-timed service winner.
The Polish duel between Skowronska (22 points so far) and Glinka (18) went on in the fourth set, as both of them led their team to the peak. First of all Glinka seemed to finish as the clear winner (14-8), but some moments later Skowronska fired back wildly (13-15). The hosts needed to adjust their game temporarily as Jaqueline and setter Fofao left the court due to injuries. The Italians, playing now with 18-year old setter Marta Bechis, moved forward unstoppably; and Skowronska brought up set point at 26-25 with a clever spike from back row. Osmokrovic finished it in solid manner, hammering a service winner into MURCIA’s court, tie-break.
NOVARA continued their winning streak in the fifth set as Paola Paggi blocked as a champion, 8-5 and then 10-6. Skowronska added a sizzling winner from the right to move it forward to 13-10, and Anzanello bounced the Italians in heaven with a successful block after 2.12 (!) hours of play.
Fofao, captain of Grupo 2002 MURCIA, stated: "Today we had several good moments, but we didn't play very well at the end of each set and that finally counts for securing the victory into your favor or not".
Croatian Natasa Osmokrovic for Asystel added: "We felt pretty tired after yesterday's semifinal and so the match was packed with unforced errors from both sides. I am happy, especially for the team, that we finally got that third place even though we also made too many mistakes all the match long".
Paulo Barros, MURCIA's head coach, declared: "In this final four I feel like we suffered because we are not used to play many matches at such a high level. Moreover, during the fourth set, my girls lost confidence because even Fofao got injured, they lost their concentration and made too many errors. Finally, I think we lost because we didn't perform very well at the end of each set even if we were leading with reassuring margins".
Dejan Brdjovic for Asystel closed the conference by saying: "As usual, classification matches last for 5 sets and the luckier team secures the win. Today it was our turn and I am happy that we achieved that result along with our second setter, Marta Bechis, who has been training along with us for no longer than two months".