Antropova Powers Scandicci To Key Victory Over Milano

In a thrilling match that lived up to its expectations, Savino Del Bene Scandicci triumphed over Numia Vero Volley Milano in five intense sets, securing a critical 3-2 victory in the 2024-2025 Lega Volley Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà. The win propelled Scandicci to second place in the standings, edging Milano, who had been tied with them in points before the match.

Antropova Record-Breaking Performance

The standout player of the match was 21-year-old Olympic champion Ekaterina Antropova, who delivered a remarkable 34-point performance. Scoring 26 kills, five aces, and three blocks, Antropova was the driving force behind Scandicci’s victory. Her explosive play made her the only player from Scandicci to score over ten points, showing just how vital her contribution was in the win.

“Kate (Antropova) is our powerhouse, and today she proved why she’s one of the best,” said Scandicci head coach Marco Gaspari. “Even though she was our primary offensive weapon, we played as a team, staying patient and seizing every opportunity.”

Milano Fights Hard but Falls Short

On the opposing side, Olympic champion Paola Egonu led Milano with 21 points, including 20 kills and one block. Outside hitters Miriam Sylla and Nika Daalderop also contributed with 17 points each. Despite a strong effort, including a well-fought fourth set, Milano couldn’t convert their chances, allowing Scandicci to seal the win.

Middle blocker Anna Danesi of Milano reflected on the match, saying, “We raised our level, but it wasn’t enough. We had a good chance in the fourth set, but unfortunately, we couldn’t capitalize on it.”

The Standings After the Match

With this win, Scandicci moved up to second place in the standings with 29 points, surpassing Milano, who dropped to third with 28 points. The victory also helped Scandicci close the gap to the league leaders. Fourth-placed Igor Gorgonzola Novara took advantage of the competition’s high-stakes atmosphere, closing the gap with a 36-point performance from Tatiana Tolok, helping them secure a 25-point total.

Conegliano’s Perfect Round

The defending champions, Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano, completed their first-round schedule with an undefeated record of 13 wins and just two sets lost. They beat Il Bisonte Firenze 3-0, with young talents Merit Adigwe and Khalia Lanier leading the charge. Conegliano finished the first round with 39 points, setting the stage for what’s sure to be an exciting second half of the season.

Other teams also had strong performances over the weekend. Eurotek Uyba Busto Arsizio continued their excellent form with a 3-0 win against SMI Roma Volley, while Reale Mutua Fenera Chieri ’76 triumphed 3-0 over Wash4Green Pinerolo. Bergamo also secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Honda Olivero Cuneo.

Upcoming Matches

Looking ahead, Cuneo and Firenze will meet in a postponed match of the seventh leg of the season on Wednesday at 19:00 local time. The 13th leg of the season will feature one match on Saturday and four matches on Sunday as the league race intensifies. In summary, Scandicci’s exciting win over Milano, led by the incredible performance of Ekaterina Antropova, marked a pivotal moment in the Serie A1 season. With the top of the table heating up, the rest of the season promises to be full of thrilling volleyball action.