PERUGIA- Sir Susa Vim Perugia is back in the championship final series. In a completely sold out PalaBarton and in a wonderful and engaging atmosphere, Angelo Lorenzetti’s Block Devils beat Mint Vero Volley Monza 3-1 in game 3 and moved up to 2-1 in the victory tally.
Two perfect sets from president Sirci’s men who shoot from nine meters and find great continuity in attack. From the third set the match becomes balanced. Monza finds rhythm in the sideout and finds two important offensive ends in Loeppky and Takahashi. The guests shortened the lead with Maar’s ace, then in the fourth Perugia, pushed by Semeniuk and Ben Tara restarted in fourth. Leon enters for Plotntytskyi and the Juventus captain is decisive for his lead with a series of serves that dig the furrow (from 19-17 to 23-17). Ben Tara’s final point explodes the five thousand of the PalaBarton.
Perugia wins the challenge in several fundamentals. Serving (9 aces against 5), attacking (57% against 45%) and blocking (10 direct points against 5).
MVP of the match was a solid Ben Tara who finished with 20 points, 4 of which were blocks. Also in double figures are the two hammers Plotnytskyi and Semeniuk (14 and 12 respectively), 17 points also come from the center with an excellent Russo in attack (9 points with 88% in the first half) and a Flavio version of the wall shutter (8 points of which 5 are directly on the wall). Giannelli is extraordinary in managing the Juventus offensive game, Colaci confirms himself as the leader of Perugia’s second line for the thousandth time. As mentioned, Captain Leon’s entry into the fourth set was excellent. The Caribbean spiker scored 6 points with 4 out of 4 in attack and 2 aces that set the Pian di Massiano stands alight.
The series now returns to Monza for race 4 on Sunday 28 April.
Typical training for Lorenzetti. No changes to the victorious sextet in the last match for Eccheli who fields Kreling as setter and Loeppky as opposite, Maar and Takahashi spikers, Galassi and Di Martino in the center and Gaggini libero.
Immediately two breaks on each side with aces from Giannelli and Takahashi (2-2). Winning service also for Flavio (5-3). Galassi equalizes (5-5). Block and then attack by Russo (8-5). Giannelli secondly keeps his distance then blocks from Flavio (12-8). Attack and ace by Plotnytskyi (15-9). The Ukrainian left-handed player again followed by a double ace from Semeniuk (21-12). Plotnytskyi brings Perugia to set point (24-15). He immediately closes Ben Tara’s block (25-15).
5-3 Perugia in the second after Galassi’s error. Ben Tara’s attack is also out (5-5). Plotnytskyi with the maniout then Ben Tara (10-7). Plotnytskyi again (12-7). Winning block by Flavio then ace by Russo (15-8). Flavio closes the first half (17-10). Monza shortens with Takahashi’s turn of service (20-15). Plotnytskyi restarts Perugia with the pipe (22-16). Maar’s out serve takes the hosts to set point (24-18). Semeniuk favors the Juventus double (25-18).
Balance in the third (6-6). Monza advantage after Plotnytskyi’s error (7-9). Ben Tara equalizes with the counterattack (9-9). Block by Flavio then ace by Plotnytskyi (12-10). Maar out (15-12). Galassi (attack and ace) brings everything back into balance (18-18). Ben Tara out, Monza ahead (18-19). Loeppky pierces the wall, +2 for the guests (20-22). Inside Leon. Loeppky again, Monza set point (22-24). Ben Tara sends everything to the advantage (24-24). Maar on high hands (24-25). Ace by Maar with the help of the tape, Monza shortens (24-26).
Semeniuk takes charge for his team in the fourth set (8-5). In Leon for Plotnytskyi. The captain scored (10-6). Takahashi calls everything into question (11-10). Semeniuk finds a very important sideout (15-13). Ben Tara stops Maar from blocking then finds the winning counterattack (19-15). Maar immediately redeems himself with an attack and ace (19-17). Leon then block by Flavio (21-17). Double ace by Leon (23-17). Galassi scores, match point for Perugia (24-18). Ben Tara closes (25-19).
THE PROTAGONISTS-
Wilfredo Leon (Sir Susa Vim Perugia)- « Great match by the team. I’m happy and proud of how we played today, especially in the first two sets. We wanted to show that we really wanted this victory. It was also great to play in front of five thousand people, now we’ll try to do better on Sunday in Monza.”
Gabriele Di Martino (Mint Vero Volley Monza) – « Today Perugia’s serve put us in a bit of difficulty, but in the third set we found our certainties on the court, winning the set. We can certainly do better, we know that a challenging Game 4 awaits us, but we will have all the support of our fans.”
The scoreboard-
SIR SUSA VIM PERUGIA – MINT VERO VOLLEY MONZA 3-1 (25-15, 25-18, 24-26, 25-19)
SIR SUSA VIM PERUGIA: Giannelli 3, Plotnytskyi 14, Resende Gualberto 8, Ben Tara 20, Semeniuk 12, Russo 9, Toscani (L), Held 0, Herrera Jaime 0, Leon Venero 6, Solé 0, Colaci (L). NE Candellaro, Ropret. All. Lorenzetti.
MINT VERO VOLLEY MONZA: Kreling 2, Takahashi 14, Di Martino 5, Loeppky 17, Maar 11, Galassi 9, Morazzini (L), Visic 0, Mujanovic 0, Gaggini (L), Szwarc 1. NE Comparoni, Beretta. All. Eccheli.
REFEREES: Goitre, Piana.
Set duration: 26′, 33′, 36′, 35′; total: 130′.
MVP: Wassim Ben Tara (Perugia)
Spectators: 4986
