Lube kitchens Civitanova – MINT Vero Volley Monza 1-3 (23-25; 23-25; 25-20; 22-25)
Lube kitchens Civitanova: Chinenyeze 4, Balaso (L), Zaytsev 5, Lagumdzija 10, Nikolov 19, Diamantini 1, De Cecco 2, Anzani 8, Bottolo 1, Yant Herrera 19. NE: Thelle, Motzo, Bisotto (L). All.: Blengini.
MINT True Volley Monza: Visic, Loeppky 5, Maar 22, Mujanovic, Galassi 6, Takahashi 18, Beretta, Kreling 1, Di Martino 5, Gaggini (L), Szwarc 14. NE: Comparoni, Morazzini (L). All.: Here they are.
NOTE
Referees: Andrea Puecher, Rossella Piana
Spectators: 3631
Duration set: 29′, 36′, 31′, 33′ Total: 2h09′
Lube kitchens Civitanova: winning serves 2, missed serves 10, blocks 11, errors 24, attack 54%
MINT True Volley Monza: winning serves 3, missed serves 17, blocks 11, errors 24, attack 48%
MVP: Stephen Maar (MINT Vero Volley Monza)
Plant: Eurosuole Forum – Civitanova Marche (MC)
CIVITANOVA, 27 MARCH 2024 – The MINT True Volley Monza puts all his heart into the field and wins the Eurosuole forum in Game-5 of the Quarter Finals, gaining the pass to the Semifinals in the 2023/2024 Playoffs. The Brianza team is extraordinary at imposing itself 1-3 (23-25; 23-25; 25-20; 22-25) eliminating the reigning Italian vice-Champions from the Scudetto fight Lube kitchens Civitanova. The team trained by coach Massimo Eccheli, with a display of great character and technique, managed to close the contest by playing spectacular and effective volleyball, in which the excellent blocking-defense correlation stands out. For the second consecutive year, therefore, Monza will play in Europe: in fact, access to the penultimate round of the national championship qualifies the Brianza team by right at least for the 2024-2025 CEV Cup.
At their sixth overall participation in the Scudetto Playoffs (the 19/20 season which was interrupted early due to Covid is not considered), the Monza team gained access to the second Semi-final in their history after the one reached in the 2020-2021 season against Perugia.
He chooses not to change Monza, proposing the sextet composed of Kreling-Szwarc for the setter-opposite diagonal, the central players Galassi and Di Martinothe couple Maar-Takahashi as spikers and Gaggini free.
Monza scores the first break of the match at the start of the match (1-3), with Civitanova not precise in attack at this juncture. Galassi brings the Brianza team to +3 (1-4), after an excellent monster block. The home team did not lose their composure and managed to tie up the thread of the match by putting the arrow and overtaking at 6-5: Eccheli time-out. Di Martino stands out with a nice first half set by Kreling (8-8). Study phase between the two teams, where neither manages to find the break to shift the inertia (13-13). Szwarc also enters the scene, author of the mani-out which allows the Monza team to find the break (13-15). Blengini chooses to spend the first technical suspension at 16-17 in favor of the Brianza team. MINT fights in a very tight set and maintains control of the game thanks to Takahashi’s pipe (19-20). Second time-out for coach Blengini (21-22), but upon returning Galassi finds a signature ace for the Brianza +2. Di Martino scores the set point (22-24), Civitanova cancels the first but Takahashi finds the winning diagonal that gives Vero Volley a 0-1 lead (23-25).
Great balance also at the start of the second set with Maar and Galassi in great form among the Brianza ranks (4-4). Marche break (7-5), sewn up by Takahashi’s narrow diagonal and a powerful monster-block, again signed by the Japanese band. Block by Maar for the first lead of the set Monza (9-8). MINT pushes the serve decisively and Maar scores a spectacular ace to make it 11-13, prompting Blengini to ask for a thirty-second suspension, which helps the Cucineri who are good at immediately scoring the counter-overtaking (14-13). This time it is coach Eccheli who requests the time-out, useful for briefing his players who confidently regain momentum and equalize at 15-15. However, it is still the Marches who manage to turn the match around with three points in a row (19-16): second time-out for Monza. Two providential monster-blocks from Di Martino and Szwarc revived Vero Volley who courageously equalized the score at 19-19, before the second time-out requested by Blengini. Now Monza is in charge of the game, showing all the courage it has and finding the break (19-21) after Maar’s winning attack. In the most difficult moment, the Cucineri used up their energy reserves and found the lead at 21-22, after Yant’s ace. Monza is mentally strong, responds blow for blow and wins the set point (23-24). Visic goes to serve, Civitanova is unable to receive with precision and sends out the last attack which also gives Vero Volley the second game (23-25).
Slow start for the Brianza team in the third set, with Lube immediately ahead 5-1: immediate time-out for coach Eccheli. Monza does not find the key to respond to the Marche attack, much more efficient than in the previous partials, still remaining four points behind (8-4). The Lombards are back in the running after Maar’s pipe and Takahashi’s monster block for -2 (8-6). Maar carries the team on his shoulders, showing off the best of his repertoire to catch up with the Marche team (11-10). The two teams fight, but once again in this set Civitanova escapes at +4 (15-11): second Eccheli time-out. Monza feels the pinch, with the deficit increasing to 18-12. Mujanovic also enters, but the set is now too compromised, and despite a couple of good points scored by Loeppky and Di Martino, the set ends at 25-20.
Monza approaches the fourth game well, scoring the break (1-3). Lube recovers, but Di Martino leaves the guests ahead (3-4). Civitanova overtakes with three points in a row (6-4), but Eccheli’s boys don’t give up, thanks to a solid and spectacular game that allows them to regain the balance after a great move finalized by Galassi and put the arrow with Takahashi’s diagonal (8-9): Lube time-out. MINT pushes hard on serve, the central defender from Trentino – on top in this set – puts the Marche reception in difficulty, favoring the 9-11. Blengini also spends the second technical suspension, but upon returning Lube is imprecise in attack, going down -3 (9-12). The match heats up and becomes spectacular, with continuous changes in front and with MINT ahead 13-15 after Takahashi’s ace. A tough defense by Kreling – on an attack by Yant – sends Monza +3 (14-17). The match is far from over, in fact, the Cucineri make up for it, chased back by Loeppky’s narrow diagonal (17-19). It is once again the Canadian spiker, lined up opposite on the occasion, who increases the guest’s advantage, bringing the score to 18-22. Takashi is good at playing with the hands of the opponent’s block for 19-23. Lube returns to the game (21-23), but Takahashi scores the second hand-out to make it 21-24. Civitanova cancels the first, but is forced to surrender to Szwarc’s last winning attack. Going to the Scudetto Semifinal is MINT Vero Volley Monza!
MVP of the match Stephen Maar, author of 22 points including 6 blocks. Among the top scorers of the MINT, Takahashi with 18 grounded balls, followed by Szwarc with 14.
MINT Vero Volley Monza will now have to gather the strength to face the away match at the “Il T Quotidiano Arena” against Itas Trentino with Race-1 already setSunday 31 March at 5.00 pm.
THE STATEMENTS
Fernando Kreling (MINT Vero Volley Monza): “It wasn’t easy and I’m not just talking about this last match. The whole series was very tough, they did well to recover after the first two defeats. They managed to raise the level of their game, putting us in difficulty. Today was a beautiful match, in which we put our heart into the pitch, as we always have this season.”
