It’s a square and aggressive Consoli who takes the field for the last match of the season at San Filippo. The toucans are all inspired and the Italian Cup quarterfinals offer their fans an intense, high-level and entertaining match. The tie-break this time has the desired outcome: Brescia is good at staying in the game despite Siena’s return and now faces Game 2 with the desire to end the season with something extraordinary. Appointment on Sunday 5 May in Siena.
The voices
The match
Great pace, confident defenses, effective blocks and excellent serves lead the Toucans 9-5 and 17-10. Brescia’s attack doesn’t miss a beat with Abrahan and Cominetti on the pipe, but also with Klapwijk good at varying his shots (77% positivity) and making life difficult for Coser and Bonami, alternated in the second line by Graziosi. The home block is relentless and stops Tallone for 20-13. Siena tries to oppose with Krauchuk, but it is his white and blue counterpart who stops the score at 25-18.
Milan inside in tandem with Tallone. Brescia’s block is still the protagonist at the start of the second set and the monster blocks of Abrahan and Candeli, together with the great defenses of Cominetti, keep the Toucans ahead 8-6. Siena adjusts the shot, hooks at 10 and then goes ahead by a couple of points, but Klapwijk, in amazing form, tidies up the score with two consecutive aces (17-15). Krauchuk takes his 19-21 above again and the ending is vibrant: Brescia drops slightly in the ball exchange phase and the Tuscans are good at pushing the serve and bringing the match to a draw (21-25).
Uphill start for Consoli who has to mend 2-5 and 6-9: she tries with tenacity and patience, throwing serve again and playing with some dirty balls on the Sienese wall. The draw arrives at 12, but the Toucans’ imperfect reception is immediately punished and they have to start again. Cominetti presses Milan, who gives way to Tallone, and Klapwijk clears the line on serve (16-15). It’s a point-to-point fight, with Nevot serving Krauchuk whenever he can and with the toucans good at holding on even when long actions don’t reward them. The video check proves Zambonardi right on an attack that was out by a few millimeters and gives the set ball to Consoli who benefits from the Brazilian’s error to close 25-22.
Klapwijk’s verve does not subside and Abrahan finds the offensive streak with which he closed the previous set, as well as placing a big block that is worth 10 all. Siena accelerates with Krauchuk’s serve (10-14), Brescia shortens with Candeli’s ace to 13-15, but the home coach’s solution is not enough as he inserts Ferri on Cominetti in the front line and Franzoni together with Pesaresi in place of Abraham. A block arrives that takes away oxygen (14-20): Consoli fights but the tie-break will still decide the fate of the match (19-25).
Spectacular defenses for Klapwijk, Cominetti and Tiberti, who leads his team with the serve (5-2). Abrahan hits on the first and second lines, like Candeli, who makes the teams turn 8-4. Siena goes back up and the specter of the fifth set of the play-offs returns… Copelli serves at 9-8 and sends it out by a whisker, then Klapwijk puts down the diagonal to make it 11-8. Cominetti’s arm doesn’t tremble and his serve facilitates the 13-9. Krauchuk makes one of the very few errors of the match and delivers the match ball to Brescia, who closes 15-10 and gives great joy to the San Filippo crowd.
The next and decisive step is in Siena, Sunday at 7pm.
The scoreboard
BRESCIA: Erati 9, Braghini L ne, Sarzi Sartori, Tiberti, Bettinzoli ne, Ferri, Cominetti 10, Franzoni, Ghirardi ne, Candeli 9, Klapwijk 28, Mijatovic, Abrahan 21, Pesaresi (L). All. Zambonardi and Iervolino.
SIENA: Copelli 9, Trillini 11, Nevot 2, Bonami (L), Tallone 6, Krauchuk 27, Milan 8, Pierotti 16, Gonzi, Pellegrini. Ne:, Acuti, Ivanov, Picuno. Coach: Graziosi.
Walls: Brescia 10, Siena 12
Wrong aces/serves: Brescia 4/13; Siena 8/17
Attack: Brescia 50%, Siena 46%
Reception: Brescia 39% (18%), Siena 40% (23%)
Referees: Paolo Scotti and Giuliano Venturi
Spectators: 740.
Duration: 24′, 28′, 30′, 27′, 18′. Total: 2h07
