Third-placed Igor Gorgonzola Novara in the Italian Women's Serie A suffered a loss in the first match of the CEV Cup playoffs against Kuyzeiboru, with the away game in Aksaray ending 3:1 (25:23, 15:25, 25:13, 23:25) in favor of the hosts.Nasya Dimitrova played a very good match, finishing with 11 points (1 ace, 3 blocks).

The match was marked by errors from the Italians, especially in service and attack, which proved decisive in the two most contested sets, costing Lorenzo Bernardi's team the chance for a different outcome.The main protagonist of the evening was the Russian opposite Anna Lazareva, who scored 31 points with an impressive 60% efficiency in attack.
The last set was the most contested. Novara fought point for point, managing to take a 7-9 lead with middle blockers Aleksic and Bonifacio in the main roles. However, Kuyzeiboru's greater concentration in decisive moments, with Lazareva again crucial, allowed the Turkish team to close with 25-23. Italian journalists noted a controversial episode at the end: a successful block by Tolok was called out, without the possibility of a video check, which is mandatory in the CEV Cup only from the semifinals.
For Novara, the European path becomes complicated: in the return match, scheduled for January 22nd in Pala Igor, a 3-0 or 3-1 victory will be needed to reach a golden set, which will determine qualification for the quarterfinals. For Nasya Dimitrova and company, two sets are needed to advance to the 1/4 finals.

Kuyzeiboru Aksaray - Igor Gorgonzola Novara 3:1 (25:23, 15:25, 25:13, 23:25)

Kuyzeiboru Aksaray: Kanik (L), Sevim, Dimitrova 11, Gulubay did not play, Akpinar did not play, Onal did not play, Kilic 3, Erkul 6, Lazareva 31, Isik did not play, Kurilo 13, Curuk 3. Head coach: Bedestenlioglu.

Igor Gorgonzola Novara: Villani, Bosio 3, Bartolucci, De Nardi, Fersino (L), Alsmeier 11, Ishikawa 11, Mims, Bonifacio 15, Aleksic 6, Mazzaro did not play, Tolok 20. Head coach: Bernardi.