He beats the Lube and the distances shorten
A big win. Withu Verona fights and beats Lube Civitanova Marche 3-2, gaining valuable points. Stoytchev’s team is now at 24 points, sixth position; in front of 27, just one game, there are Lube and Piacenza. “After the reaction seven days ago, I can only say that this too was a team and character victory conquered by a fantastic group. Then – says the deputy Simoni – if we consider that we have upset the sextet, with Keita in the role of opponent and Magalini on the pitch for the whole match as a spiker, takes on even more value. Congratulations to the boys”.
It starts with a mistake by Diamantini in serve and the first point in favor of the hosts. After Mozic’s shot from nine meters, Cortesia immediately raises his voice against the block to make it 3 – 2. Zaytsev enters the game, finding two valuable points, which are worth overtaking (5-6). With his sights, Grozdanov places the first ace of the day. Zaytsev is no less, who finds the break for him from nine meters (8-10), an advantage he maintains thanks to Chinenyeze’s winning first half. The Gialloblù take the stage against the block, with three consecutive goals scored by Keita, Magalini and Grozdanov, which are worth the counter pass (14-12). The guests bring the match back to a draw with Yant’s ace, they come back on but Keita doesn’t fit and scores 19-19, then the referee punishes an aerial invasion by Cortesia (19-21). Keita goes up to the sky to put the ball on the ground for 22-21. A crazy ace from Mozic is worth the set point, then a misunderstanding between the ranks of the Marche allows Verona to unlock the match on 25 to 22.
Rocketing start also in the second half for the Scala, with a Keita in a state of grace. Then Nikolov finds the direct point from nine meters to make it 3-3. Cortesia is also incisive on serve, as is Grozdanov, who unleashes a monster block (7-6). The Bulgarian centre-back puts the rearguard in difficulty even when serving with an ace that blows up the arena (10-8). La Lube recovers the disadvantage, but Magalini first and Keita then re-establish the distances (15-13). Verona extends to 18-16, but Blengini’s boys don’t give up and put the game back on track (20-20). Keita explodes his power from place 4, finding two points that put the Gialloblù up 23-20. Magalini leaves no way out for the opposing defense with an elusive diagonal. It is Keita who puts the seal on 25 to 22.
Upon returning to the field, Diamantini finds the ace, to which Mozic responds immediately. The Slovenian repeats himself by signing the point of 3-3. The guests stretched out by two lengths, but Magalini reduced the gap with a winning long line (4-5). The cooks try to dig the groove, especially with good block continuity, but WithU stays in line with Keita’s winning attack. The guests go on +3, an advantage that he maintains and which is later halved by the usual Keita (14-16). First the Cortesia wall and then Keita’s lightning bring the match back to a draw (18-18). I will welcome guests back on 19-21. Bottolo signs the opening on the 20th-23rd at the end of a prolonged action. A point from nine meters from Yant allows the Marches to reopen the games.
La Lube unlocks the score in the fourth set. Cortesia responds with the winning first half, then it is Mozic who takes the stage with a monster block that is worth 3 to 2. Grozdanov is just as incisive in this fundamental and the Veronese crowd raises the volume even more. Verona goes two lengths ahead, which they keep thanks to De Cecco’s serving error (8-6). The red and whites find a great reaction and with Yant’s ace they overtake (8-9). A kick by Magalini with a left foot coincides with 12-12. The Veronese spiker is furious under the net and scores two more valuable points. Diamantini’s ace gives him +3 (16-19). Garcia stamps the 17-21 with an ace, followed by that of Bottolo (18-23). After Magalini’s wall, Civitanova evened the score.
Mozic opens the ball with an elusive long line for the opposing defence. Verona is precise and with Cortesia’s block it goes up 4 – 0. Keita shoots hard, making it 5 – 1. Garcia concludes an exciting exchange, shortening the distances (5-3). Keita shoots very hard and sends the teams to change sides at 8-4. The Malian is uncontainable, also placing the 10-6 ball. Verona holds up the recovery attempt of the guests and with Mozic finds the first match point. The guests close the gap with Yant, but Bottolo’s error in the serve delivers an extraordinary victory in Verona.
WithU Verona – Cucine Lube Civitanova 3–2 (25-22; 25-22; 20-25; 20-25; 15-12)
WithU Verona: Spirito 1, Sapozhkov, Mozic 14, Keita 29, Cortesia 7, Grozdanov 8, Gaggini (L), Raphael, Jensen, Magalini 13, Perrin, Mosca, Zanotti, Bonisoli (L). Everyone. Radostin Stoitchev.
Lube Civitanova kitchens: De Cecco, Zaytsev 11, Nikolov 8, Garcia 10, Anzani, Chinenyeze 9, Balaso (L), Sottile, Yant 21, Bottolo 12, Gottardo, Diamantini 8, Ambrose, D’Amico (L). Everyone. Gianlorenzo Blengini.