Scandicci Defeats Milano in Playoffs, Reopens Series

In a crucial playoff clash, Savino Del Bene Scandicci secured a vital 3-1 home victory against Numia Vero Volley Milano, effectively reopening the series. The return of setter Maja Ognjenovic injected new energy into coach Gaspari's team, who demonstrated strong play from the outset.

Match Overview

Scandicci started with conviction, claiming the first set 25-21, largely thanks to Caterina Bosetti's impressive attacking efficiency. The second set saw Scandicci maintain a lead until 24-21, but a resilient Milano staged a comeback, ultimately snatching the set 24-26 after a tense period of advantages. Despite this setback, Scandicci's determination shone through. Led by the phenomenal Ekaterina Antropova, who delivered 9 critical points, they regained momentum to win the third set 25-22. The fourth and final set, initially seeing Milano ahead, witnessed Scandicci's powerful recovery, as they closed the gap and ultimately dominated to secure the set 25-20 and the match.

Key Performances and Statistics

Ekaterina Antropova was the undeniable star of the evening, earning the MVP title with an astounding 35 points, including 3 blocks and 3 aces. Other significant contributors for Scandicci included Skinner (12 points), Bosetti (11), and Nwakalor (10). For Milano, Paola Egonu led her team with 27 points, supported by Piva (15) and Kurtagic (8).

Scandicci's triumph was underpinned by superior team statistics, particularly in blocking (10 successful blocks compared to Milano's 7), serving (4 aces to 2), and attack efficiency (48% to 43%). Milano, however, demonstrated greater precision in reception (62% to 58%).

Coaches' and Players' Reactions

Coach Marco Gaspari of Savino Del Bene Scandicci expressed profound satisfaction: "It was essential to reopen the series. I extend a huge thank you to Marta Bechis for her incredible work in Maja's absence, and a big round of applause to Maja Ognjenovic, who, despite not touching a ball for a month, played with humility and a strong desire to contribute. This team truly deserves this victory after an amazing season. We showed great resilience after losing the second set, which could have been a crushing blow. We have a wonderful group that constantly strives for improvement. Our focus is already on Game 4; we need to enhance our serving and defense, though our blocking was exceptional today."

Francesca Bosio of Numia Vero Volley Milano reflected on her team's performance with disappointment: "It's regrettable; I believe we didn't approach the match with the right aggression today. They dictated the rhythm from the start, and we struggled across all fundamentals. I'm disappointed because, despite showing great character to re-enter the game in the second set, the third and fourth sets remained balanced. We made several errors today and could have performed better in block-defense. We will review the match to identify areas for improvement ahead of Game 4."

Match Summary

SAVINO DEL BENE SCANDICCI - NUMIA VERO VOLLEY MILANO 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-22, 25-20)

Savino Del Bene Scandicci: Ognjenovic 1, Skinner 12, Nwakalor 10, Antropova 35, Bosetti 11, Weitzel 6, Castillo (L). Other players: Ruddins, Bechis. Coach: Gaspari.

Numia Vero Volley Milano: Bosio 4, Piva 15, Danesi 6, Egonu 27, Pietrini 3, Kurtagic 8, Fersino (L). Other players: Lanier 4, Akimova 2. Coach: Lavarini.

MVP: Ekaterina Antropova (Savino Del Bene Volley)

Spectators: 2636

This critical victory prolongs Scandicci's journey in the Scudetto Play Offs. Maja Ognjenovic and her teammates are set to face Milano again on Sunday, March 29, at 8:30 PM at the Allianz Cloud in Milan, with the goal of forcing a decisive Game 5.