Milano Dominates Busto Arsizio with a Powerful 3-0 Victory

Italy - Ekhbary News Agency

Milano Makes a Statement with Dominant 3-0 Win in Busto Arsizio

In a pivotal matchup of the penultimate round of the Serie A1 Tigotà regular season, Numia Vero Volley Milano asserted their dominance, securing a resounding 3-0 victory against hosts Eurotek Laica Uyba. The match, held at the E-work Arena in Busto Arsizio, saw Milano clinch the full three points with set scores of 25-17, 25-20, and 25-14. This crucial win not only strengthens their position in the standings but also sends a clear message to their rivals.

Coach Lavarini's squad delivered a high-level performance, characterized by precision, order, and potent offensive execution. The team's captain, Paola Egonu, was instrumental in the victory, leading all scorers with an impressive 23 points and hitting at an exceptional 66% efficiency in attack. Alongside Egonu, the match MVP Rebecca Piva contributed significantly with 11 points, showcasing her growing importance to the team. This marks the second consecutive league win for Vero Volley, underscoring their current form and ambition.

The initial stages of the match saw Milano start cautiously, allowing the home team, Uyba, to gain an early lead. However, Vero Volley quickly regrouped, displaying resilience and strategic acumen. They systematically dismantled Uyba's efforts, seizing control of the game's momentum. A standout aspect of Milano's performance was their strong defensive play, particularly in blocking and back-row coverage, with Eleonora Fersino being a constant presence. Their effectiveness at the service line was also notable, yielding two aces and consistently pressuring Uyba's reception.

This triumph allows Numia Vero Volley to maintain their third position in the league table with 59 points. The focus now shifts to the critical direct confrontation next week against Scandicci. The outcome of that match is likely to have significant implications for the final league standings. Securing a win against Scandicci would provide Milano with a substantial advantage heading into the playoffs.

Beyond domestic duties, Numia Vero Volley is also preparing for their European campaign. On Tuesday, February 17th, at 18:00 Italian time, Lavarini's team will travel to Athens to face Olympiacos Piraeus in the first leg of the CEV Champions League Playoffs. This encounter carries added significance as Milano and Olympiacos Piraeus were also drawn together in the group stage, promising a fiercely contested battle.

For this Lombardy derby, Busto Arsizio fielded a lineup featuring Seki and Obossa in the diagonal, Parra and Battista as outside hitters, Torcolacci and Eckl at middle blocker, and Pelloni as libero. Coach Lavarini countered with Bosio setting, Egonu on the diagonal, Pietrini and Piva as opposite hitters, and Danesi and Kurtagic in the middle, with Fersino libero.

The first set began with Uyba taking an early 8-4 lead, spurred by Obossa's offense, prompting a timeout from the Milano bench. However, Milano, with key contributions from Piva and Egonu, steadily closed the gap to 9-8. The set remained tight until the 13-15 mark when Milano, through Egonu's attacking prowess and a crucial block by Kurtagic, seized the lead. Vero Volley then extended their advantage in the latter half of the set, capitalizing on errors from the home team to reach 15-22, ultimately closing out the set 17-25.

Busto Arsizio started the second set strongly once again, leading 4-2. However, Milano quickly responded, taking a 4-5 lead. A lengthy rally saw Numia extend their lead to 8-10, but Uyba fought back to keep pace. The set continued point-for-point until Vero Volley established a 13-15 lead, leading to a timeout called by Uyba's coach Barbolini. Upon resumption, Milano, led by Egonu, pushed their advantage to 16-20. Despite a late surge from Busto, an unforced service error by the home team sealed the set for Milano at 20-25.

Numia Vero Volley came out aggressively in the third set, building a 3-6 lead and forcing an early timeout from the Busto bench. Although Obossa attempted to rally her team from the service line, Milano's formidable "monster block" by Danesi extended their lead to 8-14, prompting another timeout from Uyba. Substitutions were made by the home team, but they were unable to contain the relentless offense of Vero Volley, which surged to a 10-20 lead. Pietrini eventually sealed the match with the final point, securing the 14-25 set victory and completing the 0-3 sweep for Milano.

Josephine Obossa of Eurotek Laica Uyba commented post-match: "I think the game was competitive for the first two sets, then we let it slip a bit. Milano played very well, made very few mistakes, while we gave away too many. In any case, I'm seeing improvements compared to the last few games, and I hope that by continuing in this direction, we'll be in the best condition for the final match."

Benedetta Sartori from Numia Vero Volley Milano added: "Today's objective was to win with three points, and we achieved it – it couldn't have gone better. I'm very happy with our performance; we showed excellent things that will be useful for upcoming matches, both in the league and the Champions League. Playing in this arena is never easy, but we did an excellent job. We'll depart for Greece tomorrow, aiming to repeat this result."

Ekhbary News Agency