Leaders Sant’Anna advance 3-1 at PalaLanghe, Mercatò fights in the first and fourth sets, but in the end the difference in value emerged, with the guests reacting to the initial disadvantage and with great energy they took the 3 points .
Coach Dogliero mixes the cards on the table again, not repeating the formation seen in Ciriè, changing the setter-opposite diagonal, with Garrone and Floris, otherwise Menardo and Bergesio confirmed as spikers, Parusso and Corino in the center with Bortolini libero.
The start of the match was balanced, with the central defenders very active in attack, but our 4 consecutive service errors weighed heavily, allowing Sant’Anna to stay ahead 5-6, then getting a break with two hands out of Salavatico (7-10). Mercatò Alba however concentrated and with a good rhythm, we immediately regained parity at 11 with an attack from Bergesio, and one of their pipes out. The turning point comes with Garrone’s turn to serve, first an ace, then he puts the host’s reception in difficulty, forcing Mellano to force the attack out, then another ace, 3-0 break, 16-14 for Alba and time-out for coach Usai. Very important advantage that we keep with tooth and nail, Menardo closes a long rally (19-16), then a second attack from Garrone and an ace from Menardo give us the maximum advantage, 22-18 and second time-out for the San Mauresi.
Guests who make mistakes at this juncture in their haste to close the point, Costa gives us the setball, then another error, on serve, gives us the set, 25-20.
Second set with an arm-in-arm start in the first exchanges, then the guests ahead with Mellano in attack and with Costa blocking Bergesio with a block, 5-8. Sant’Anna with a different attitude compared to the first set, great intensity on the block and in defense, we struggle enormously to put the ball on the ground, and the gap increases, coach Dogliero immediately asks for a time-out at 5-9. Sant’Anna extends to +7, Cavasin comes in for Floris to put some weight in attack, Menardo tries to mend the situation with a very narrow diagonal (10-15), but the guests continue to rise to the level, it’s very difficult to find a change of ball in this juncture, 10-18 and second time-out for Mercatò. Really wide gap, Usai’s boys manage the margin, and close with Arnaud 14-25, at the end of a dominated set.
Mercatò understands that it has to raise the defensive level, and tries in the third set, with very hard-fought exchanges at the start, but Menardo is blocked, 2-4, Floris gives us a hand, passing well in parallel from the second line and allowing us to stay close in score (6-8), but Sant’Anna also hits from the center with Costa, 6-10 and time-out for coach Dogliero. As in the second set Sant’Anna pushes hard at this juncture, and takes a good margin, Genovesio for 8-15 which forces Dogliero to the second time-out, practically impossible to recover a margin of 7 points, guests who, as seen before they simply manage, then finishing 16-25 with Genovesio.
Fourth set with Cavasin deployed from the start in place of Floris, Mellano tries to push his team with a good turn of service (2-4), but we return immediately with Bergesio and Menardo. Parusso in attack is always a decision, then a double mistake by the guests which gives us the break, 9-6 and time-out for coach Usai. Match in the balance now, San Mauro draws at 10 with Mellano, then Genovesio’s turn to serve puts our reception in difficulty, Garrone has to detach himself from the net and play the ball high, easy prey for the guests’ defense, who take advantage and escape away with Salvatico (14-17). We still cling to the score by taking advantage of an error by Arnaud (17-18), we fight in the long rallies but Mellano closes an important move giving him a fundamental advantage (19-21). Sangermano’s ace is lucky, but gives that +3 that seems to close the game (20-23), Genovesio finds in matchball with a hands out (21-24), Cavasin cancels the first with a great parallel, but then makes a mistake the serve ending the match.
Sant’Anna proved to be the best of the teams seen at the PalaLanghe, and in two sets we played on equal terms, confirming the improvements also seen with PVL, but once again it wasn’t enough. Precious help, however, comes from other fields: Saronno beats Biella 3-0, and so with two days to go we remain at +4 on the Biella team. The next day could be the decisive one for the arithmetic salvation, with Mercatò playing on the pitch of the already relegated Mozzate, with 3 points we will be able to celebrate, and playing as seen in the last two matches we are sure that we have excellent chances!
Mercatò Alba 1-3 Sant’Anna Tomcar (25-20, 14-25, 16-25, 22-25) GALLERY
Mercatò Alba: Altare, Bergesio 8, Bortolini (L), Cavasin 5, Corino 8, Danzeri, Floris 3, Garrone 7, Gonella, Menardo 12, Morengo, Parusso 10. Coach: Dogliero, Torrengo.
