Sir Susa Vim Perugia’s journey in the final series of the Scudetto playoffs starts off in the right way. The Block devils won 3-1 at PalaBarton in game 1, winning with scores of 27-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23.
Eccheli presents the sextet responsible for the comeback against Trento, with Takahashi, Loepcky and Maar. Sprint start for Monza who immediately goes up to 4-0 with Galassi’s turn of service. Perugia stays in the lead thanks to an inspired Plotnytskyi (6-8). Galassi’s serve hurts Sir again (7-11). Monza always remains in control and thanks to Takahashi’s hands off it goes +6 (12-18). Still many service errors for Perugia. Russo blocks Maar (16-21) and kicks off the comeback for Sir who gets back to -1 thanks to Semeniuk’s serve. Monza earns two set points but Flavio’s block and Ben Tara’s counterattack bring the set to the advantage. Another block and Sir goes 25-24. In the end Flavio closes in the first half at 27-25.
Encouraged by the set won in the sprint in the second set, Perugia started strong and immediately escaped with a 10-3 lead. Eccheli tries to change the momentum by calling timeout and inserting Szwarc in place of Loeppky. Ben Tara continues to hammer in attack, then Semeniuk scores the ace to make it 15-7. Monza manages to nibble away a few points but without ever worrying Sir who with two consecutive blocks from Giannelli goes up 24-17 and takes the set at 25-18 after Szwarc’s service error.
We start again with Eccheli who once again relies on Szwarc but this time it is Maar who gives up his place. Sir immediately tries to make a breakthrough with Ben Tara’s ace (5-2) but Loeppky finds parity (7-7). The Canadian is still on top this time with an ace, making it 9-10 for the Brianza team. Szwarc makes a mistake and Perugia goes ahead but another ace, this time from Takahashi (13-14), brings Monza back ahead. Great play by Plotnytskyi and Perugia is ahead again (16-15). Again thanks to Takahashi Monza takes the lead again (17-18). Teams that move forward arm in arm until the end, when Galassi blocks Russo for 23-25.
Fourth set that opens immediately with a 4-1 run for Sir. Szwarc and Monza also return to -1. Then another direct point from Loeppky’s serve and it’s 6-7 for the Brianza team. Perugia extends thanks to Plotnytskyi’s ace (10-8) and Russo’s block (13-10) which pushes Eccheli to call a timeout. Field for Maar in place of Loeppky. Another block from Russo and then an ace from Ben Tara and Sir goes up 15-10. Cachopa outstrips Maar and it’s 16-14 but Perugia gets back to +4 thanks to the block. Two gratuitous errors by Plotnytskyi and Flavio cost Sir dearly as they were overtaken at 18-19. Lorenzetti draws from the bench and relies on Solè and Leon who responds immediately. Ace from the captain for 21-20 then Solè with a touch at the net for another break. Final seal by Russo for the final 25-23.
