Megabox Ondulati del Savio Vallefoglia lost as a guest to Honda Cuneo Granda Volley with 2:3 (25:18, 20:25, 23:25, 25:18, 13:15) in a match from the last round of the regular season in Serie A1. The match was the third consecutive tie-break for Andrea Pistola's team within a week, but the defeat did not change anything in the standings – the 'tigers' are mathematically sixth and will face Numia Milano in the playoff phase.
Stoyanova with a full 5 sets and a solid contribution
Bulgarian opposite Mikaela Stoyanova played a strong match. She remained on the court for all five sets and finished with 13 points, a +7 efficiency rating, 2 blocks, and 33% attack efficiency.
The setter sought her out 33 times, with Stoyanova making only one error and being blocked only once – an indicator of good decision-making against an organized block. In the first set, her two consecutive blocks closed the set at 25:18 and set the tone for her performance.
From the service line, the Bulgarian player performed 15 serves, making only three errors – a stability that allowed Megabox to maintain pressure in key moments.
At the end of the fifth set, the other Bulgarian player appeared on the court – middle blocker Tsvetomira Mitkova, who came in to serve but failed to score a direct point.
Top scorers in the match
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Briland Diop | Cuneo | 26 |
| Natalia Tokbuom | Megabox | 19 |
| Adelina Ungureanu | Megabox | 17 |
| Mikaela Stoyanova | Megabox | 13 |
Diop was once again the main scorer for the hosts and tipped the scales in decisive moments. For Megabox, the attack was distributed more evenly, with three players surpassing the 13-point mark, and Stoyanova solidified her role as an important option in the absence of some of the regular starters.
The regular season has ended, and the playoff battle is clear.
The match marked the end of the regular season. Cuneo secured its place in the elite during the fourth set, while Megabox had long been assured of sixth place.
This means that in the quarterfinal playoffs, Andrea Pistola's team will face the third-placed team in the standings – Novara Vero Volley Milano. The loss in Cuneo is not particularly significant, as the coaching staff rested some key players with a view to the upcoming return leg of the Challenge Cup semifinals.
In this context, Mikaela Stoyanova's strong and full participation is a good sign for the team's depth ahead of the decisive phase of the season.
photos:legavolleyfemminile.it
