NOVARA reach fourth European semi-final with impeccable record
News
Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA have secured their spot in the semi-finals of a European competition for the fourth time in their history. After achieving this feat three times in the elite CEV Champions League (2019, 2021, 2023), they have now reached the last four in the Challenge Cup as well.
The Italians achieved this feat after registering their 23rd victory out of 26 games that they have contested this season so far. The players coached by the legendary Lorenzo Bernardi have won all their 11 international games this far (three in the WEVZA Cup, and eight in the Challenge Cup). Vita Akimova was the top scorer of the away re-match with Romania’s C.S.O. VOLUNTARI 2005 with 16 points. On the other side of the net, with Cuban Heidy Casanova Alvarez not competing for the Romanians, the best attackers were Anamarija Galic and Maria Adriana Matei, who scored nine times apiece.
Team captain Cristina Chirichella is the only player of Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA to have featured in all four European semi-finals. She is also the all-time best scorer and the most capped player in the club. NOVARA will play Germany’s sensation VC WIESBADEN in the semi-finals: it will be the first matchup ever between these two clubs.
Cristina Chirichella“We are so happy and proud of our European campaign so far. We started our season aiming to secure a spot in the Final Phase of the Challenge Cup and we are working hard to be there. The Romanian team did their best, but we could win in three sets and now we are looking forward to playing VC WIESBADEN, our next opponent. We will stay focused and do our best to move a step further towards reaching the final."
Team captain of Igor Gorgonzola NOVARA