Serie A2 Italian Cup, game 2 of the quarter-finals: Puliservice Acqua S.Bernardo Cuneo hosts the Delta Group Porto Viro.
SO ON THE FIELD
Wedge: Subtle in the direction of play, Jensen opposite, Volpato and Codarin in the centre, spikers Botto and Dukic, libero Staforini.
Porto Viro: Garnica as director, Barotto opposite, Zamagni and Barone in the centre, spikers Sette and Tiozzo, libero Morgese.
FIRST WEEK
Back and forth at the start (2-2). Cuneo remains in front thanks to Volpato (4-3), Barone immediately replies, and it is still a draw (4-4). The game continues point by point, with neither team managing to gain ground (7-7). After always chasing, Porto Viro puts its head ahead thanks to Barotto (8-9), but the hosts respond immediately with the point of 9-9. Winning attack by Tiozzo and the guests try the first break (10-12). Jensen’s invasion allows Porto Viro to extend further to +3 (12-15). Botto scores 13-15, but the Venetians maintain their advantage and actually increase it further to 13-17, with coach Battocchio stopping the game due to a time-out. Barotto continues to do badly with his serve, guests at 14-20. The blue and whites try to react and stay attacked, they get to 16-20 but then Porto Viro starts pushing again and seals the set with a mini-partial: 17-23. Botto cancels the first set ball, but on the second attempt closes Sette: 20-25. Now Cuneo must win the next three sets to take the challenge to the Golden Set.
SECOND WEEK
Cuneo starts again with Gottardo on the pitch in place of Dukic. The blue and whites started well, immediately taking a 3-1 lead and then maintaining the lead (7-5). Jensen’s great block is worth +3 (8-5). The Dane is unleashed in this phase: he again lands the point for 6-9. Favorable moment for the hosts, who took advantage of an error from Sette and an ace from Gottardo to extend their lead to +5 (12-7). Time-out for Porto Viro, in difficulty. Great block by Codarin that warms up the stadium, now fully in the game like the players on the pitch (14-10). Another monster block from Codarin and it’s +5 (15-10). Cuneo flies and the Venetians struggle to stay attacked (19-11). Jensen scores 20-13 and brings the blue and white closer to winning the second set. Porto Viro tries to come back, manages to get close to 20-15 and then 22-17, but the blue and whites reject the comeback attempts and close the set with yet another block from Codarin, decisive in this set: 25-17 .
THIRD WEEK
Balance at the start (5-5). We proceed point by point, with Porto Viro managing to take the lead at 6-7 and then trying to extend it thanks to Zamagni’s ace (6-8). Gottardo and Jensen keep the blue and white in contact (8-9), but the guests manage to maintain the margin (11-13). Tiozzo’s lucky block is worth +3, then comes Zamagni’s first half to dangerously direct the set: 11-15 and time-out called by Battocchio. Porto Viro doesn’t slow down and continues to hammer, taking advantage of the positive moment: guests on +6 (11-17) and Cuneo in great difficulty. The Venetians manage the advantage calmly (13-20) and are close to winning the partial which means qualification. Barotto closes a very long exchange with several saves by Porto Viro: it is the surrender of Cuneo, who no longer exists (14-23). The guests go to set-ball (15-24), Cuneo cancels three, but Zamagni closes: 18-25 and a set that assigns the passage of the round to Porto Viro.
Gabriele Destefanis
WEDGE
