Perugia raises its voice and puts Monza with its back to the wall in the Scudetto final of the men’s volleyball Super League. In the third act of the series the field factor continues to dominate: the Umbrians confirm the trend of home successes and take the point of 2-1, taming a Mint Vero Volley that sells dearly but pays a high price for the move to empty of the first two sets.
From the first stages of the match Giannelli (photo) and his teammates put pressure on the serve and crumbled the Brianza team’s reception. Russo’s block, at the end of an infernal exchange, is worth the 7-5 which launches the escape of the Umbrians, who never look back and fly to conquer a practically perfect first set (25-15). Monza approaches the second set with a different attitude, but after the scare for Giannelli (ankle sprain without consequences) Perugia escapes again, while the Brianza team have to deal with the complicated evening of Maar and Takahashi so far. Perugia also takes the second set (25-18), but these playoffs have taught us that Monza never dies. And in fact the Brianza team unexpectedly reopened a match that seemed to be channeled on the Umbrian track, shortening the distance in a pulsating third set, closed with Maar’s ace aided by the tape (26-24). Monza’s burst of pride, however, only serves to prolong the match. Perugia takes the blow and gets back on track, also taking the revived Leon from the bench who contributes to the final sprint which is worth the fourth set (25-19) and the 2-1 in the series. On Sunday we return to Monza, where race 4 will take place at 6pm.
The Mint can no longer make mistakes, to keep the Italian dream alive.
