Club Volleyball

CEV volleyball cup semi-final: Novara sweeps THY in first leg

Recap

Article Wed, Mar 5 2025

On Wednesday night, Igor Gorgonzola Novara took a crucial step toward the CEV Volleyball Cup 2025 final with a 3-0 victory over THY Istanbul in the semi-final first leg. The Italian side delivered a composed and efficient performance, winning in straight sets (25-23, 25-18, 26-24) to gain a strong advantage ahead of the second leg.

From the first serve, the match started as a contest of rhythm and control. THY Istanbul started with intent, pushing Novara in the opening set, but the home team maintained their composure in crucial moments, giving Novara a narrow 25-23 win.

The second set, Novara took control, staying organized. They anticipated THY’s moves, making it difficult for their opponents to respond. Well-placed spikes and quick ball movement helped Novara build a lead, finishing the set 25-18.

The final set was the most fiercely contested. THY Istanbul, determined to stay in the fight, matched Novara point for point. The set extended beyond the standard 25 points, but Novara found the breakthrough when it mattered most, closing the match 26-24 and sealing a vital first-leg victory.

Despite the loss, THY ISTANBUL's VASILANTONAKI Anthi emerged as the standout player in the match. In a remarkable individual performance, she claimed the title of top scorer with an impressive 18 points, including 1 kill block and 1 ace. Her efforts, though valiant, were not enough to turn the tide in favor of her team.

With this 3-0 victory, Novara now holds a strong advantage going into the second leg, while THY Istanbul must regroup and find a way to turn the tie around.

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