Superlega, Padua starts well then suffers the comeback: knockout with Siena
Direct confrontation that ends with a single conqueror point. This is the verdict for Padova Volleyball at Siena’s home. Coach Cuttini’s formation makes a big voice for two sets, then immediately the clear comeback and the fight in the shortest time is not enough. There is some regret. The way it was we hoped to win 3 points – said Saitta at the end – we didn’t succeed. We must congratulate Siena because from the third set onwards they had a great match. The race is still open, we are sorry for the result, but we are aware that we can have our say in all the remaining races”.
Good approach from the black and whites who vary their shots a lot and don’t give Siena any reference points. Saitta distributes the game well on his attackers, forcing the diagonal change to coach Pelillo (11-17). Bartman’s service puts Padua’s reception in difficulty and a block by Petric forces Cuttini to time out (17-20). In the final, the home team shortened to -2, but a winning block by Asparuhov and a parallel ball by Petkovic gave the bianconeri the first set (21-25).
In the second set, after an initial point-to-point, Padova is once again taking over the reins of the game. Pelillo calls time out to stop the bleeding (5-9), then it is Petric in the serve who gives him new life (8-11). The bianconeri, despite some inaccuracies, maintain a reassuring margin and do not allow Siena to return. Asparuhov took care of it, then gave Padova the first point of the day. (21-25).
The hosts’ reaction comes in the third set. Petric and his companions escape and coach Cuttini interrupts the game (8-5), but the inertia does not change. Petkovic goes down in the scoring phase and Guzzo is thrown into the fray in his place. Emma Villas is cynical, she doesn’t give Padova opportunities to get back in the set and drags the match to the fourth set (25-14).
At the start of the fourth set it is still a Tuscan monologue (5-0). After Cuttini’s time out, with Takahashi serving, the bianconeri shortened (5-3). That’s not enough, because Siena attacks well and continues to be very aggressive. Bartman places the ace which is worth the new +6 (15-9) and the Paduan coach is forced to stop the game again. Padova does not find the right countermeasures to fill the gap: we go to the tie break (25-14).
Padova is in the fifth set: the bianconeri dig an important break (4-7) before Pelillo’s time out. In the end, however, the landlords manage to win by exploiting an invasion of the Paduan wall and an attack by Van Garderen which is worth the definitive 15-13.
Emma Villas Aubay Siena – Padova Volleyball 3-2 (21-25, 21-25, 25-14, 25-14, 15-13)
Emma Villas Aubay Siena: Finoli 4, Pereyra 1, Van Garderen 25, Petric 17, Ricci 8, Mazzone 9, Bonami (L), Raffaelli, Biglino, Pinelli, Pochini (L), Bartman 18. Not entered: Fontani. Coach: Omar Fabian Pelillo.
Padova Volleyball: Asparuhov 18, Crosato 4, Volpato 6, Takahashi 20, Saitta, Petkovic 19, Zenger (L), Gardini, Guzzo, Zoppellari, Desmet, Canella 3. Not entered: Lelli (L), Ledge. Coach: Jacopo Cuttini.