Igor Gorgonzola Novara made a powerful statement in Game 1 of the Serie A1 Tigotà Playoff Quarterfinals, securing a commanding 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-18) victory over Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 in front of 2,695 fans at Pala Igor.
Coach Lorenzo Bernardi’s squad was never in trouble, excelling in all aspects of the game. Novara outperformed Chieri in attack efficiency (38% vs. 16%), blocking (10 vs. 5), and serving (7 aces vs. 1). Taylor Mims led the charge with 19 points, including 4 aces and 4 blocks, while Mayu Ishikawa added 15 points. Novara libero Eleonora Fersino, named MVP, anchored the defense with an impressive 60% perfect reception.
Chieri struggled to match Novara’s offensive power, with Anne Buijs and Avery Skinner finishing with just 10 points each. Setter Gaia Guiducci acknowledged the team’s struggles but emphasized the need to bounce back quickly.
The series continues with Game 2 on March 16, after Novara and Chieri return from their respective CEV Cup and CEV Challenge Cup commitments.
Some Stats:
✅ Top Scorers: Mims (19), Ishikawa (15), Buijs (10)
✅ Top Servers: Mims (4), Bosio (2), Alberti (1)
✅ Top Blockers: Mims (4), Alberti (3), Aleksic (2)
Player Reactions:
🗣 Eleonora Fersino (Novara, MVP): “We’re thrilled with this strong start. Every player contributed to this victory, and now we shift focus to our upcoming matches.”
🗣 Gaia Guiducci (Chieri): “We didn’t play our best, but we’ll regroup and fight back.”
Next matches: The other three quarterfinal matchups take place on March 9.
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