San Marino. Volleyball, PromoPharma also beats Sassuolo and earns salvation points
PromoPharma San Marino – Kerakoll Sassuolo 3 to 1 (25/22 25/19 22/25 34/32). Duration set: 25m, 23m, 26m, 39m. Referees: Vieri Santin (1st) and Marianna Santoniccolo (2nd).
After the beautiful home victory against Pietro Pezzi Ravenna, a very good PromoPharma San Marino replies by winning a not easy home match against a really tough Kerakoll Sassuolo. Two teams with fast and gritty play faced each other and, in the end, the one that made fewer mistakes won.
The match was really pleasant and exciting, given the technical-tactical characteristics of the two teams and the extremely tight fourth set was a nice gift for the Pala Casadei crowd. The defenses worked hard and well and the titans benefited from very good performances on the second row (good performance from the libero Morelli) while the usual Benvenuti (also very good in defence) and Kiva kept the home attack afloat even when the block the opponent really dirty all the balls.
Chronicle. Coach Mascetti calls his people to be aggressive in reception right away. Both teams start very decisive favoring the attacks from the bands and the fast game. The first time-out arrives on 11/8 for the hosts called by Sassuolo. We continue along the same lines with the two teams who miss a few lines too many (19/16) looking for power. Sassuolo raises the wall using the bench but in the second time out San Marino is still ahead 21/16. After conceding a partial of 2/5 it’s up to Mascetti to call a time-out to pull the strings of the game but it’s a serving error by Kerakoll that gives away the decisive point for the final 25/22. The beginning of the second set sees the guests, particularly foul in serve and attack, in great difficulty (9/3). The change of the diagonal brings them benefits so much that they are brought back in the score (12/10) and reopen the set. Above all, it is Kerakoll’s block that is particularly effective in this moment of the game, touching many balls. The setter Rondelli chooses to trigger Benvenuti, Kiva and Caselli in turn who find countermeasures against the opponent’s block and bring PromoPharma decisively ahead (23/17). It’s really an attack by Kiva to close the set (25/19). Third fraction of the game in balance until 9 all when Sassuolo scores a partial of 1/5. The two teams continue to make too many mistakes in the serve and it is always the away block that creates the biggest problems for the home attacks. On 10/14 coach Mascetti is forced to call time-out. The Titans recover and trail their opponents until they catch them on 16/16. On 19 all, an opponent’s attack and a mistake push the San Marino people back under water (19/21) who never recover (22/25). In the fourth set, PromoPharma starts better (8/5) which keeps the opponents at a distance (17/12 in the second guest time-out). A couple of aces from Anceschi put Sassuolo back in the slipstream (17/15) and reopen sets and matches. The draw arrives on 21/21 and we go to the advantages. A really long and exciting “extratime” which ends only 34/32 on the seventh attempt by the titans after Kerakoll had also had two.
PromoFarma table. Welcome 20, Caselli 7, Paganelli 13, Kiva 22, Bernardi 7, Rondelli 3, Morelli (L2), Andrea Lazzarini, Cicconi, Ricci. NE: Carigi, Elia Lazzarini, Bacciocchi (L2), Conti. Ace 3. Errors Serve 15. Walls point 7. Herd Stefano Mascetti.
Kerakoll Sassuolo table. Marani, Bevilacqua 6, Mantovani, Calosi 5, Vellani 1, Marchesi 5, Anceschi 18, Bigarelli 25, Lodi 11, Sartoretti, Paletta L1), Pieroni (L2). NE: Pasquesi. Ace 3. Errors Serve 14. Walls point 11. Coach Alberto Di Mattia.
Ranking. Gabbiano Mantova 36, Arredopark DualCaselle 25, Querzoli Forlì 23, Kema Asola 23, Volley Montichiari 21, Sab Group Rubicone 20, Kerakoll Sassuolo 18, Ama San Martino in Rio 16, Viadana Volley 15, Planet Group Spezzanese 14, PromoPharma 14, Pietro Pezzi Ravenna 14, Kioene Padova 7, Pluvitec Legnago 6.
Next match. Volleyball Montichiari – PromoPharma San Marino. Saturday 14 January at 21 in Montichiari.