2015 CEV champions Pomi Casalmaggiore made club history again, breaking into the 2016 FIVB Women’s Club World Championship for the first time in club history.
The Italian club outlasted Swiss side Volero Zurich in a four-set classic, 25-27, 25-23, 25-17, 25-23, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Pomi took turns taking close sets with Volero and broke through in the third set with a beating. Volero looked primed to force a decider, getting the upper hand in a back-and-forth fourth set to take a late 23-22 lead. But Pomi team captain Valentina Tirozzi answered back-to-back hits from Foluke Akinrawedo with a smash of her own. Volero setter Fabiola Almeida then lost composure, first sending a second touch long to give Pomi match point, then surrendering a net touch in the following play.
“This is great for the club. Last year, we took first CEV championship. This year, we make World final. This is great for Pomi,” enthused Casalamaggiore head coach Giovanni Caprara.
Samanta Fabris led the Italians with 23 points, while Lucia Bosetti tallied 16.
American Foluke Akinradewo and Ukranian Olesia Rykhliuk each provided 19 points for the Swiss side.
Pomi face Ezcasibasi, Caprara’s former team, in the Final at 7:00 pm tomorrow. Volero will take on Vakifbank for bronze.
The Scores
Pomi (3) – Fabris 23, Bosetti 16, Tirozzi 12, Stevanovic 11, Gibbemeyer 6, Lloyd 3, Guerera 2, Turlea 0, Siressi (L)
Volero (1) – Akinradewo 19, Rykhliuk 19, Mamadova 9, Zikovic 8, Fabiola 3, Malkova 3, Orlova 3, Costa 0, Popovic (L)
