It is really annoying, because Novara had realistic chances to get a win: mediocre reception, Hill playing really bad offensively, no middles at all in a game for Imoco all night long, Smarzek playing really solid, Daalderop receiving really well, Novara's OHs outplaying their vis a vis, good performance from their MBs - and yet they wasted all the chances they had in 2-3 sets, and that's something that Paola Egonu doesn't forgive. I don't think they'll have another shot to get a win in this series.
I don't like the way Conegliano plays those crucial games in Italian competition this season, they are fortunate enough to have Egonu who has played out of this world in Coppa Italia or this game, but in reality, middles, sets distribution, reception and OHs performances are really shaky in those games. Sometimes, Imoco still looks like this untouchable team where everything works great (SFs against Novara in CL), but in like 50% of important matches this year (Coppa Italia, first game against Scandicci in CL or this one) Imoco wins because they have a single individual that outperforms anyone who's on the other side of a net, and not because they're a perfect machine with all elements working really well. Obviously, it's really hard to criticize a team that can realistically win every game in a season and win all trophies possible, but right now in many occasions they're more like Egonu's Novara with a better setter and a libero, so they may be upset anytime Egonu has a weaker day. Fortunately enough, she has no weak day all season long.
39/66, an ace and 7 blocks, this is a clear reminiscence of some Egonu's performances in Novara two seasons ago in terms of volume of spikes and an one-dimensional style of play. And it's not like in Coppa Italia it looked that much different, Sylla had a great final performance, and that's it.
To be honest, I'm confident in saying that Egonu will get more help during NT season than this season since January.