Igor Gorgonzola Novara crushed ŁKS Commercecon Łódź 3-0 in the first leg of the CEV Cup 1/16 finals, asserting their dominance on Polish soil. The Italian powerhouse delivered a flawless performance, leaving Łódź with little room to counterattack.
The match, played in front of a spirited home crowd, saw Novara swiftly dismantle ŁKS with set scores of 25-17, 25-15, and 25-21. Novara’s attackers shone brightly, with Tolok leading the charge with 13 points, supported by Alsmeier (12), Ishikawa (11), and Bonifacio (10).
Despite a determined effort from ŁKS, led by Alagierska and Hryshchuk, each scoring 9 points, the team couldn’t match the aggressive offense of their Italian opponents.
The return leg is set for December 11 in Novara, where the Italian side needs just two sets to secure their place in the playoffs. Should Łódź manage a 3-0 or 3-1 win, a golden set will determine the outcome.
With confidence high, Novara’s head coach Lorenzo Bernardi praised his team’s execution: “We played an exceptional game, both emotionally and tactically, against a strong opponent leading the Polish league. This victory is a testament to our hard work.”
LKS Commercecon Lodz – Igor Gorgonzola Novara 0-3 (17-25, 15-25, 21-25)
- LKS Commercecon Lodz: Stenzel (L), Jecek (L), Kowalewska, Bidias, Obiala 5, Gorecka 7, Drozdz, Hryshchuk 9, Cechetto 1, Gajer, Alagierska 9, Scuka 2, Stefanik, Medrzyk 4, Coach: Chiappini
- Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Mazzaro (L), Villani, Bosio 1, Bartolucci, De Nardi (L), Fersino, Alsmeier 12, Ishikawa 11, Mims, Orthmann, Bonifacio 10, Aleksic 7, Tolok 13, Squarcini 1, Coach: Bernardi
