Blaj set eyes on comeback for maiden European trophy in second leg against Novara

The new champion in the CEV Volleyball Cup Women will be decided on Tuesday, after the second leg of the final between CS Volei Alba Blaj and Igor Gorgonzola Novara.

The Romanian side is looking for its maiden trophy in an European competition, after missing out on two CEV Volleyball Cup Women finals, in 2019 and 2023, as well as conceding a loss in the final of the CEV Champions League Women in 2018 and in the final of the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup Women in 2021.

Nevertheless, they have a mountain to climb against Igor Gorgonzola Novara, which are coming in red hot form, after winning both the first leg, 3:1, as well as delivering the maiden loss of the season to Champions League title holders A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano in the Italian league play-offs, 3:0.

In the first leg, Novara created some of the best volleyball of the season in the CEV Volleyball Cup Women, properly dominating Blaj in the first two sets, especially in the first one, which they took, 25:12, with an outstanding 68% attacking efficiency.

Powered by 22 points from Tatiana Tolok and 16 points from Lina Alsmeier, Novara secured the second set, 25:20, but Blaj mounted a spirited performance in the third set, which they thoroughly dominated, 25:20, forcing their way into another potential comeback, just like they turned the tide in the first leg of the semi-final against Vasas Obuda Budapest.

But with an overall attacking efficiency of 53% and seven aces, Novara was nowhere to be caught off guard and dominated the fourth set, which they started with an 8:3 and 16:6 lead, to secure the 3:1 win, 25:17.

Now, the Italian side need only two sets in the second leg against Blaj, which have previously lost the two CEV Volleyball Cup Women finals against Italian opposition, in 2019 against Busto Arsizio and in 2023 against Savino Del Bene Scandicci, taking one set from the seven played in each of the previous two finals.

“The CEV Cup is one of our main goals for the season and therefore we will do everything to complete the work started in the first match to bring home the trophy. We will not make calculations, we know that these matches are faced by putting aside the previous result and going on the field to win, not to win the missing sets. We are aware that a heated atmosphere awaits us but, as mentioned, we are determined to do everything to give the club another trophy,” said Novara’s capitain, Francesca Bosio.

On the other hand, Blaj are undefeated on their home court, winning five matches out of the five played, and 10 out of the 11 played overall this season, and their 2.000-seater arena will be sold out, as they try to push the match and the final into a golden set, to secure their maiden European trophy.