Verona and Siena beat Milan and Cisterna
THE TWO CHALLENGES-
EMMA VILLAS AUBAY SIENA – TOP VOLLEYBALL TANK-
Emma Villas Aubay Siena defeats Top Volley Cisterna, conquers the second victory in a row and wins three very heavy points in the race for salvation. At PalaEstra, Lazio start the match well and win the first set, then the Tuscans react strongly. Pinali, Petric and Van Garderen put down points after points. At the end of the third set Giulio Pinali remains sore on the taraflex and leaves the match due to injury: investigations are underway to understand his conditions. Instead of him in the last set Federico Pereyra.
Emma Villas Aubay Siena on the pitch with Finoli and Pinali on the setter-opposite diagonal, Petric and Van Garderen in the band, Mazzone and Ricci in the center, Bonami libero. Cisterna replies with Baranowicz-Dirlic, Sedlacek-Bayram, Zingel-Rossi, Catania.
The Tuscans start with good points from Pinali and Petric, but also in the center with Mazzone and Ricci. Cisterna takes the lead thanks to three blocks in the first half of the first set during which Dirlic already shows his qualities: 10-12. The locals equalized with a hands-out from Van Garderen, then put down a beautiful fast sent by Fabio Ricci.
Another walled Cistern, and +2 for guests. Siena responds with Pinali, but Dirlic allows the Lazio players to reach 21 points (18-21). However, Emma Villas Aubay returns to the set, thanks to a mistake in attack by Dirlic and a great serve by Pinali with a momentary save by Cisterna but with a subsequent closing point by Maarten Van Garderen (20-21). A joke by Van Garderen comes out very little (reviewed in the video check), Cisterna goes on to win the set with a great team defense and with Bayram who invents a high school coup (21-24). Zingel closes the first set on 22-25. The four bulwarks made by the away team were decisive.
When hostilities resumed, Siena started off strong again, with valuable points scored by Maarten Van Garderen who also scored with his left foot and with Nemanja Petric who was also appreciated for a nice lob. The first winning block of Emma Villas Aubay in this match is the work of Petric, who sets the score at 11-7. Pinali is good at putting down point number 12 for Siena (12-7). Van Garderen’s pipe is also worth +6 for Siena: 15-9. Again the Dutch spiker is the author of the sixteenth point.
Murata di Ricci: 6pm-12pm. To underline a spectacular save by Bonami. Double substitution for Siena, with Federico Pereyra crushing the 20-16 with power. Shortly after a break point for Siena, with Pinelli looking for Petric in place 4: the captain of the local team squeezes the ball well (21-16). When Petric blocks Gutierrez the scoreboard indicates 23-17 in favor of Siena. Petric closes the second set on 25-19. Siena draws, one set each.
The third set still sees Giulio Pinali at excellent levels, who gives the push to Siena to fly ahead in the score. Murata by Daniele Mazzone on Cisterna’s attack, but the Lazio players respond with the same coin (10-10). Siena tries to run away with the bands still very inspired, and therefore with the points made by Van Garderen and Petric. However, Cisterna is a tough team, which does not give up: Gutierrez’s broadside brings the Lazio team up +2 (16-18).
It’s a very good match: Siena makes the ball change and then also the break point from Mazzone, who blocks Gutierrez himself. Pinali solves a difficult situation (19-19).
Pinali still doing well (20-19). But Cisterna reverses once again and with Sedlacek puts his head ahead: 20-21.
Van Garderen crosses perfectly for the point of 23-22. Pinali scores a very heavy break point (24-22), the third set closes on 25-22 but on the last point the opposite of Emma Villas Aubay Giulio Pinali remains a painful land.
In the fourth set Federico Pereyra enters the field in place 2 in place of Giulio Pinali. Van Garderen scores two aces in a row, Siena flies to 9-6. Ricci and Petric score again: 14-8. The home team maintains the advantage with good plays by Ricci and Federico Pereyra. The Argentine puts down the twenty-fourth Sienese point which is worth the match point. Sedlacek’s service error closes the set on 25-18 and the match on 3-1 for Siena.
THE PROTAGONISTS-
Maarten van Garderen (Emma Villas Aubay Siena)– « A victory that is worth a lot, I’m really proud of all of us, we took three very important points and we saw a good game. Surely we can still grow but this is the grit and the heart we have inside. The work is paying off, after Piacenza they surprised us by confirming us and, despite a difficult moment at the end of the third set, we were united and managed to close it».
Andrea Rossi (Top Volleyball Tank)- « We got off to a good start by winning a tight set, then we shut down on a character level and got nervous right away. Siena played an excellent game, we regret it, because we dropped 6 points against them ».
THE TABLE-
EMMA VILLAS AUBAY SIENA – TOP TANK VOLLEYBALL 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-18)
EMMA VILLE AUBAY SIENA: Finoli 0, Petric 19, Mazzone 7, Pinali 11, Van Garderen 19, Ricci 6, Pochini (L), Bonami (L), Biglino 0, Pereyra 7, Raffaelli 0, Pinelli 0. NE Fontani. Everyone. Pelillo.
TOP VOLLEYBALL TANK: Baranowicz 3, Bayram 8, Zingel 3, Dirlic 9, Sedlacek 18, Rossi 5, Gutierrez 8, Catania (L), Mattei 1, Martinez 2, Kaliberda 4. NE Lostritto, Staforini, Zanni. Everyone. Alone.
REFEREES: Zanussi, Pozzato.
NOTES – set duration: 29′, 29′, 29′, 25′; total: 112′.
MVP: Maarten van Garderen (Emma Villas Aubay Siena)
Spectators: 972
WITHU VERONA – ALLIANZ MILAN –
A 3 to 0 as in the first leg and WithU Verona is roaring again. Against Allianz Milano, the best version of the Verona team is seen again, which closes the Milanese practice in 90 minutes and earns the first three points of 2023. All three tenors of the gialloblù attack close in double figures, showing off a great overall performance value. Sapozhkov best scorer of the match with 16 balls placed on the ground, followed by Keita (15 and the satisfaction of having received the MVP award) and Mozic (13). Central players Cortesia and Grozdanov are also in great shape, capable of scoring 4 and 3 blocks respectively. Next weekend, Stoytchev’s boys will take the field once again in front of their fans against the Italian champions Lube Civitanova.
In the starting sextet, coach Stoytchev confirms Spirito in the control room with Sapozhkov completing the diagonal. In the bandwidth space for the usual tandem formed by Mozic and Keita, while the central players are Cortesia and Grozdanov; the libero is Gaggini. Milan starts with Patry-Porro, Mergarejo-Ishikawa in place 4, Loser and Vitelli in the center with Pesaresi free
We start with Ishikawa’s service, but the first point is courtesy of the hosts. The guests respond, going ahead in scoring, but Verona first catches them back and then extends. Sapozhkov finds a big block, which anticipates Keita’s ace for 6 to 3. The Russian replies at the net shortly after with another monster block that is 8-4. Vitelli closes the gap, but the Gialloblù are infallible when blocking, stopping their opponents with Courtesy and Spirit (12-7). Milan is back in the running thanks to Patry, who gives him a break. Then Keita is still exalted, author of two spectacular technical gestures (17-13). Recovery of the meneghini, who go to -1, but another wall of Courtesy restores the distances (20-17). Piazza’s team stays in line with Porro’s ace, then finding the draw (23-23). Keita crushes the opponent’s comeback and closes the first set on 25-23.
The second set opens with Verona ahead, but the visiting team overtakes, before a terrible one-two signed by Mozic and Keita (2-3). Loser replies with an ace, then Mergarejo fires up, putting in three points, one of which is direct from nine meters. With Patry’s winning long line, Milan tries to escape (6-9). Sapozhkov plays well with his hands on the block, then Mozic takes advantage of an incorrect reception by his opponents, giving him new life (10-12). Allianz maintains a good margin of advantage, but the Scala players find continuity in the net and with two blocks by Grozdanov they secure the draw (18-18). The Gialloblù overtake after a great comeback (22-21). The match is exciting, with the two teams responding blow by blow. Keita unleashes his power from place 4 for 25-24, then Mozic sets the score at 27-25. Verona ahead 2 to 0.
At the start of the third set, the match settles on the balance tracks, with some mistakes from nine meters on both sides. Mozic scores the 5 – 4 with an elusive diagonal, then Stoytchev’s troop finds the break thanks to Grozdanov’s astute touch (9-7). The Bulgarian centre-back also took the stage later, when he put down a great first half. Sapozhkov growls again in place 2 and Verona flies up 13-11. The hosts are precise both when blocking, with the usual Courtesy, and in attack, thanks to Mozic and Keita who pierce the opposing defence. The Slovenian increases his team’s advantage, which extends to 21-16. Milan tries to get back into the game with Ebadipour’s timbre ace, but Verona earns four match points, with Sapozhkov setting the score at 25-22. The three points go to Verona.
THE PROTAGONISTS-
Dario Simoni (Assistant Coach WithU Verona)- « A great achievement, we did not need. We went through a difficult period, we certainly haven’t gotten out of it, but we have ample room for improvement and today’s test is proof of that. It was a victory of heart and character that we sought with all our might. The misstep in Taranto affected a lot psychologically, so we hope that this victory will allow us to improve in terms of experience. We mustn’t forget the past games to become even stronger with a stronger head».
Jean Patry (Allianz Powervolley Milano)- « It was close because if we see the score of the first two sets we played point by point. Maybe too many mistakes in serve, little effectiveness in attack because they defended very well. At the end of this match it seems to me that I took a slap in the face. We lost 3-0, we didn’t expect that. We wanted to make another result. Perhaps we lacked a little aggression against a very physical team. We could not find any solutions. Now we have to focus on the next game, we have a week to work. We are working very well and we have to replicate this work in the field, also because we have shown so many good things before. We have to think that this game didn’t take place and think about the next ones. We are a united team, with energy, desire and pleasure to play, I think this is what we missed tonight».
THE TABLE–
WITH VERONA – ALLIANZ MILAN 3-0 (25-23, 27-25, 25-21)
WITH VERONA: Spirito 1, Keita 15, Grozdanov 6, Sapozhkov 16, Mozic 13, Cortesia 7, Magalini 0, Gaggini (L), Vieira De Oliveira 0, Perrin 0. NE Bonisoli, Zanotti, Mosca, Jensen. Everyone. Stoitchev.
ALLIANZ MILAN: Porro 1, Ishikawa 11, Loser 4, Patry 15, Mergarejo Hernandez 8, Vitelli 7, Pesaresi (L), Bonacchi 0, Lawrence 0, Ebadipour 4, Fusaro 0. NE Colombo, Piano. Everyone. Square.
REFEREES: Luciani, Curto.
NOTES – set duration: 28′, 33′, 29′; total: 90′.
mvp: Noumory Keita (WithU Verona)
Spectators: 3259