Paola Egonu enters, Milan wins again
Milan-Casalmaggiore 3-2
Fifth consecutive victory in Serie A1 Tigotà for Allianz Vero Volley which, at’Opiquad Arena in Monza, defeated TrasportiPesanti Casalmaggiore in the match valid for the tenth day. The first pink team of the Consortium è was good at taking home a tight match, solved only at the tie-break, reaching the second place with 25 points, waiting for the evening postponement between Conegliano and Novara. A few changes for coach Gaspari in the starting lineup compared to the typical lineup of the last few days, with Orro – Malual as opposite setter diagonal, pair of setters composed by Sylla and Cazaute, Candi-Heyrman as middle hitters and Castillo free.
It’s Sylla, on Orro’s riser, to ground the first ball of the match for’Allianz Vero Volley Milano (1-2). Casalmaggiore, però, ties the match well by immediately building a mini-break (1-5) that forces Gaspari to spend the first time-out. The visiting team makes its presence felt at the wall, before Cazaute finds the right break for the 4-7 mani-out. Candi scores a nice first half, Sylla finds the short touch, but the score still reads +4 (8-12) for the visiting team. Cazaute warms the arm with two power diagonals, Heyrman signs the monster block (13-15): time-out Musso. Milan remains two lengths behind (16-18), but cannot find the right push to find the tie with the skilled Cremonese to re-align (16-20), before the second technical suspension called by Gaspari. Two points in a row by Cazaute (mani-out and ace) lead Musso to call a new time-out (20-22). Milan makes up ground, Daalderop comes in at bat, but è Sylla signs the -1 point (23-24). Casalmaggiore però è surgical and still manages to win the first set (24-26).
Malual approaches the second set well with two consecutive points (2-2), but the host team always keeps the’inertia of the match as happened in the first game (3-5). Heyrman (three points in a row) ties the set (7-7). Gaspari inserts Rettke and Egonu: the U.S. powerhouse immediately scores the winning first half (10-10). Back-and-forth between the two teams (12-13), before Casalmaggiore finds the second break of the game taking the lead to three lengths: Gaspari stops the clock with a time-out. Casalmaggiore è more cynical than the hosts, continuing to grind out points; Smarzek error (lungolinea out) and a series of technical suspensions (one on each side) bring the match to 16-19. Enter Bajema, monster block by Egonu: Vero Volleyball c’è (19-20) and thirty seconds of suspension called by Musso. Milan finds the tie and then overtakes (21-20), but TrasportiPesanti reacts promptly (22-22). Egonu launches the sprint for the final, Casalmaggiore overturns but Rettke finds the tying point (25-25), before Egonu herself sends the set into the archives with the 27-25 diagonal.
Substantial parityà at the beginning of the third set (3-3), with neither team taking the reins of contention. It’ però Casalmaggiore to set up the break (4-8): time-out Gaspari. Suspension that benefits the Milanese, who immediately find the counterbreak sealed by Cazaute’s two aces and Egonu’s pipe (9-8). Musso calls time-out, but Sylla pushes on the accelerator holding open a 6-0 partial (10-8). Casalmaggiore finds the tie again, but Rettke takes the immediate lead (12-11). Back and forth between the two teams, before Egonu breaks the balance for the break of the hosts (17-14), which leads Musso to call technical suspension. Milan increases the lead to six lengths (22-16), thanks to captain Orro’s monster block and Egonu’s lungolinea. Casalmaggiore forces, finding itself inaccurate, and Milan takes advantage to go on set point, capitalized by Rettke’s first half (25-18).
It’s always the U.S. protagonist also at the beginning of the fourth period with the hosts immediately ahead in the score (4-2). Casalmaggiore promptly recovers, finding first the tie (6-6) and then the break: two-point host advantage and time-out for coach Gaspari. Immediate tie by Milan and overtake signed Egonu (9-8). Neither team manages to regain the lead, bringing the match to 13-13. Ball-out by Casalmaggiore and first half by Heyrman for +2 (16-14): time-out Musso. Egonu’s ace coming out of the 30-second time-out (17-15), Casalmaggiore ties but Cazaute (short ball) restores the minimum lead (18-17). The two teams return to a tie (20-20), before the last decisive attacks. Milan does not have the coolness to close the match, so Cremonese team takes advantage to make a spurt ahead (21-23) before the time-out called by the Milanese bench. Egonu è good to find the mani-out first and the diagonal then for the tie (23-23), but to smile at the end è Casalmaggiore that manages to take home also this set (23-25).
Milano è determined not to let the two points slip away, attacking decisively at the start of the fifth set thanks to flare-ups by Rettke and Egonu (4-1) that prompted Musso to stop the game immediately. Allianz Vero Volley Milano seems to have more, putting five points of gap against the opponents (7-2), thanks also to a very incisive Egonu in this set. Advantage that rises to six points at the time of the court reversal (8-2). Milan put the gears in high gear, increasing again thanks to Heyrman’s wall and Cazaute’s lungolinea (10-2). The match headed into the closing strokes with Rettke’s double ace (13-2), before the final 15-2.
MVP of the match, for the second time this season, Dana Rettke, author of a very solid game in attack, with 15 points scored with 2 walls and two aces. Top scorer of the’match Paola Egonu with 24 balls put on the ground; double figures also for Cazaute and Heyrman, respectively with 15 and 10 points.
