Volleyball isn’t played everywhere during the Christmas period, but in Italy, tradition continues. Britt Herbots achieved a double success there. In the derby between Scandicci and Firenze, won 3-1 by her team, she was named MVP with 13 points (41 % and 2 blocks). A few days later, she helped her team reach the Final Four of the Italian Cup with a 3-1 victory over Bergamo (Herbots 14 points – 55 %).

The other Final Four participants are Milan, where Laura Heyrman had a rest day after their league win against Roma (6 points – 86 %), and Novara, who defeated Busto Arsizio despite an impressive performance from Silke Van Avermaet (7 points – 75 %). Silke had also scored 10 points (67 %) in a 3-0 league loss to Bergamo.

The fourth finalist will be decided between Conegliano and Vallefoglia.

In Japan, matches also took place. Lise Van Hecke had a rest day after scoring 15 points (60 %) during a pair of 3-0 wins against Yamagata with Osaka. Kaja Grobelna (23 points – 45 %) won the first match with Queenseis against Himeji (1-3) but lost the next one 3-1, contributing 13 points (41 %).

In Germany, Dresdner lost 0-3 at home to Schwerin despite 8 points at 62 % from Nathalie Lemmens. Potsdam (Anna Koulberg 6 points – 45 %) won 3-0 against Münster. Stuttgart (Pauline Martin 1 point, Charlotte Krenicky 8 points, including 4 blocks) dominated Sühl (Lara Nagels 1 point) 3-0.

No Cup Victory for Deroo and Reggers
In Russia, Sam Deroo and Zenit Kazan failed to reclaim the Cup. His former team, Dinamo Moscow, proved stronger in the final (22-21-23).
In Italy, despite being described as having a “monstrously good” game by the Italian press with 32 points, Ferre Reggers couldn’t prevent Milan from missing a fourth consecutive Final Four, as Civitanova won in the tiebreak. The other teams in the Final Four (January 25-26 in Bologna) are Verona, Trentino, and the winner of Perugia – Modena.

In the league, Milan lost 3-0 at Trentino (Reggers 7 points – 29 %), while Taranto, despite Wout D’Heer’s solid performance (6 points – 67 %), fell 3-1 at Padova.

Lastly, François Lecat has joined Palmi in Serie A2.

In Poland, Gorzow (without Mathijs Desmet) won 0-3 at Suwalki.

In Germany, Düren (coach Christophe Achten and without Robbe Van de Velde) defeated Dachau 3-1, while Berlin Recycling (without Simon Plaskie) won 3-0 against Herrsching.

(Compiled by Marcel Coppens)

Image: savinodelbenevolley.it