Antropova Shines as Scandicci Defeats Milano to Claim Second Place

A stellar performance by Olympic champion Ekaterina Antropova powered Savino Del Bene Scandicci to a crucial victory in the Lega Volley Femminile Serie A1 Tigotà 2024-2025. On Sunday, Scandicci edged out Numia Vero Volley Milano in a thrilling five-set battle to secure second place in the standings.

A Nail-Biting Clash at Palazzo Wanny

The much-anticipated showdown between the two teams, who entered the weekend tied on points, lived up to expectations. In front of a passionate crowd of 3,500 at Palazzo Wanny in Firenze, the match stretched to five gripping sets before Scandicci emerged victorious with a 3-2 win (20-25, 25-21, 22-25, 25-20, 15-12).

This victory pushed Scandicci ahead of Milano in the standings, with 29 points from ten wins and two losses. Milano now sits third with 28 points from ten wins and three losses.

Antropova’s Dominance

The 21-year-old Ekaterina Antropova was the standout player for Scandicci, delivering a phenomenal performance with 34 points. Her tally included 26 kills, five aces, and three blocks, making her the only Scandicci player to score in double digits. Serbian star setter Maja Ognjenović was named the Most Valuable Player of the match for her orchestration of Scandicci’s offense.

“This victory shows the unity of our team,” said head coach Marco Gaspari. “We knew today would be a test of physical strength in attack, especially with Kate [Antropova] being our primary weapon. The team played patiently and waited for opportunities. I’m proud of their effort and hope we can maintain this momentum.”

Milano’s Performance

Despite the loss, Paola Egonu, another Olympic champion, led Milano with 21 points (20 kills, one block). Outside hitters Miriam Sylla and Nika Daalderop also contributed significantly, each scoring 17 points.

“It was an intense match, and I think our team played much better than in previous games,” said Milano middle blocker Anna Danesi. “We had a great chance in the fourth set, but unfortunately, we couldn’t capitalize on it.”

Other Key Matches in the League

• Novara Takes Advantage of Top Duel:
  Fourth-placed Igor Gorgonzola Novara capitalized on the clash between Scandicci and Milano to narrow the gap with the top three. On Saturday, Novara defeated Megabox Ondulati Savio Vallefoglia in another five-set thriller (27-29, 25-17, 25-17, 23-25, 19-17), thanks to an outstanding 36-point performance by Russian star Tatiana Tolok. Novara now has 25 points from nine wins and three losses.

• Conegliano Remains Perfect:
  Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano completed the first round of the season with a flawless record. The reigning champions notched their 13th consecutive win on Saturday, defeating Il Bisonte Firenze 3-0 (25-12, 25-22, 25-13) while dropping only two sets throughout the campaign.

With key players like Isabelle Haak and Zhu Ting resting, Conegliano relied on young talents Merit Adigwe and Khalia Lanier, who scored 16 and 14 points, respectively.

“It was a great game, especially in the first and third sets,” said Brazilian star Gabriela ‘Gabi’ Guimarães. “We need to improve consistency, but finishing the first half unbeaten is a fantastic achievement.”

Other Results from the Week

• Busto Arsizio (5th place) defeated SMI Roma Volley 3-0 (25-17, 25-20, 25-23).
• Chieri ’76 (6th place) overcame Wash4Green Pinerolo 3-0 (25-6, 25-21, 25-23).
• Bergamo (7th place) cruised past Honda Olivero Cuneo 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-23).
• Perugia secured a win against Cda Volley Talmassons Fvg 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-20).

Upcoming Matches

The postponed match between Cuneo and Firenze will take place on Wednesday, December 11, at 19:00 local time. The 13th round of the regular season is scheduled for the upcoming weekend, with one match on Saturday and four on Sunday.

The competition remains intense as teams fight for critical points in the standings. Scandicci’s victory over Milano has set the tone for what promises to be a thrilling second half of the season.