ARCHIVE | VakifBank vs Novara | Full Match | CEV Champions League Volley 2019

ARCHIVE | VakifBank vs Novara | Full Match | CEV Champions League Volley 2019. One of the biggest shocks of the 2019 season happened in Istanbul! In the first leg of the CEV Champions League Women semifinals, VakıfBank Istanbul hosted Igor Gorgonzola Novara on April 4, 2019 — and the Italian side delivered a stunning performance on Turkish soil.

Novara defeated the reigning back-to-back European champions in straight sets, winning 3-0 with the score: 25-17, 27-25, 25-15. The match lasted only 76 minutes, but it completely changed the dynamic of the semifinal tie.

From the very first set, Novara showed confidence and control. Their serve pressure disrupted VakıfBank’s reception, their block-defense system worked perfectly, and their transition game was extremely efficient. The second set was the most dramatic part of the match, with VakıfBank fighting hard, but Novara staying calm in the crucial moments to close it 27-25. In the third set, the Italian team dominated again and finished the match in commanding fashion.

The star of the night was undoubtedly Paola Egonu, who led Novara’s offense with incredible power and consistency. She would go on to explode for massive scoring numbers across the two semifinal matches, becoming the central figure of the entire tie.

Novara’s lineup featured strong leadership and balance, including players like Cristina Chirichella and Raphaela Folie in the middle, with a solid defensive system behind them. On the other side, VakıfBank had a star-studded roster with Zhu Ting, Kelsey Robinson, Milena Rasić, Zehra Güneş and Lonneke Sloetjes, but they struggled to find rhythm against Novara’s aggressive approach.

This 3-0 victory gave Novara a huge advantage heading into the second leg in Italy. Under CEV rules, a 3-0 win provides maximum points in the two-match playoff system, putting enormous pressure on VakıfBank in the return match. The semifinal would eventually be decided in a dramatic Golden Set after the second leg, where Novara completed the upset and advanced to the final of the CEV Women's Champions League.

Game 1 remains one of the most impressive road performances in Champions League semifinal history — a statement victory that proved Novara were ready to challenge the European giants.

All Credits by CEV

EuroVolleyTV: link.cev.eu/EVTVPVolley