Milan overcomes even without senators

Milan overcomes even without senators

Not è born certainly under a good star the challenge against Farmitalia Catania. In fact, Allianz Milano cannot field its two senators, captain Matteo Piano and setter Matey Kaziyski. To the stop for Piano, who had meniscus surgery on Friday, was in fact added a muscle problem for KK. Clinical-instrumental examinations showed an injury to the soleus muscle. Also Kaziyski, like captain Piano, has already started the rehabilitation path with physiotherapists Marco Rampazzo and Matteo Zurek. The match lived on two distinct phases. A first set (ended in the advantages after an’intense half an hour of play) and a beginning of the second partial of great balance, then Farmitalia Catania gets lost in a few too many errors and thus leaves the full spoils to the quoted hosts.
The islanders cannot count on the best Buchegger of the season, also the reception is not è as accurate as the Milanese one and thus nullifies the good things seen in defense and wall. Match interpreted very well from the’other side of the net particularly in attack by Milan. The wall count also says 10-7 (4 by Vitelli and 5 by Loser). In one’hour and 21 minutes, in front of more than one hundred Japanese nationals, who came to Italy especially for a tour organized to follow their captain, Yuki Ishikawa, Allianz held on to these three points in a championship that has certainly not yet delivered its verdicts.
The game. Coach Giuseppe Bua puts Orduna on the diagonal with Buchegger, Massari and Randazzo on the side, Tondo and Masulovic in the middle and Cavaccini free. Allianz Milano responds with some forced choices by coach Piazza: Porro and Reggers the setter-opposite line, the setters are Mergarejo and Ishikawa (with captain’s stripes for the’occasion), Vitelli and Loser in the center and Catania free.

First set. A wall by Loser on Massari opens, then the ball change alternation is maintained. Service and nice defense by Porro, but Massari è skilled from the two spot, on the next action, Farmitalia goes to 6-8 and Piazza has to stop the game for the first time. Randazzo and Masulovic stop Ishikawa, the guests stretch to 6-10. Endless rally closed by Mergarejo with a tight diagonal for 8-10. An ace by Catania’s Austrian opposite and Farmitalia flies 15-19, answered by Allianz’s Cuban dunker. Milan double change on 17-20 inside Zonta and Dirlic. Buchegger sends out, then Vitelli stops Randazzo at wall 19-20 and time out Bua. On the return he wastes a Catania pipe and è ties 20-20. It forces and misses a lot on serve, on 23-23 the second Farmitalia time out. First Catania setpoint, inside the ’ex Basic for serve, but Mergarejo well unleashed by Porro says no again. A wall by Reggers and Vitelli reverses, Allianz setpoint, closes again an incisive Vitelli wall this time on Buchegger 26-24.

For Volley4All between the first and second set is awarded by the president of Allianz Milano, Lucio Fusaro and the president of Milanosport, Rosanna Volpe, the strong Italian Paralympic Boccia athlete Mirco Garavaglia.

Second set. There are no changes in the two 6+1, but the Farmitalia start leaves Milan on the blocks until 0-4 with time out by Piazza. Ishikawa shortens: 2-5. Loser also has a hot arm from 9 meters, his is the 5-7 ace. Farmitalia continues to play a’very good volleyball. The values on the court are very close despite the wide difference in the standings. Mergarejo cleverly solves the’action of 7-9, Milan c’è in defense and gets closer still. By Reggers the signature of the tie 11-11. The video check asked by Piazza corrects twice the Verrascina-Puecher cup decision, Loserès ball “in”, Serbian Masulovic’s attack out. Belgian Reggers also closes an endless rally and è overtaking Allianz 16-15, double meneghino change ensues. Dirlic does not miss a penalty, 18-16 Milan and Catania time out. Etneo equalizes: 18-18, but on the return Porro puts two consecutive aces 21-18 and time out Farmitalia. Mergarejo stretches again, Basic enters for Randazzo. Allianz has però the partial in the pocket and with Yuki’s service the set goes off 25-19

Start of the third partial with a good service turn by Marco Vitelli for the first Allianz lead 2-1. Buchegger no longer è incisive as in the start and in many other outings, Milan puts the arrow and goes to 4-2. Reggers stops Randazzo 6-3 (Allianz’s eighth wall). The former Taranto setter makes up for it with two aces, tie 6-6. Confusing action, it takes an excellent first half by Vitelli to bring Milan back ahead, then Ishikawa, double lead and Vitelli wall for the 11-8 that forces Bua to time out. Farmitalia struggles to get back into the match. Double attack out of the guests, but on the second there’è a wall touch seen by the check 14-10. On Catania’s first flare-up, Piazza immediately stops the game: 15-12. Reggers from the four spot solves a beautiful action (16-12). Massari’s attack è out, 19-14 Milan and Catania time out. The distance increases, Farmitalia è not the same as in the first set. Milan double change, Mergarejo’s ace, 23-25. Ishikawa wins match point, closes Mergarejo with a pipe after a nice extended action 25-17.

ALLIANZ MILAN – FARMITALIA CATANIA 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-17)

ALLIANZ MILAN: Mergarejo 11, Zonta, Catania (L), Vitelli 7, Reggers 12, Loser 11, Innocenzi ne, Ishikawa 9, Porro 4, Colombo ne, Dirlic 1. All. Roberto Piazza. 2° All. Nicola Daldello

FARMITALIA CATANIA: Orduna 1, Basic, Masulovic 5, Buchegger 14, Randazzo 10, Tondo 7, Cavaccini (L), Pierri (L2) ne, Zappoli ne, Frumuselu ne, Baldi ne, Bossi, Santambrogio ne. All. Giuseppe Bua. 2° All. Mauro Puleo

REFEREE Antonella Verrascina of Rome and Andrea Puecher of Padua (3° referee Michele Marconi), Valerio Rusconi at Video Check, Scorekeeper Cristina Zollino.
Notes
Spectators 2526
Duration if 30’, 27’, 24’ for one’hour and 21 minutes.
Notes: Attack point Milan 50%, Catania 42%, Walls point Milan 10, Catania 7, Reception Milan 45% (22% perfect), Catania 34% (20). Point hits Milan 4, Catania 4.

The words of Ferre Reggers at the end of the match

It was not an easy match for us without KK and captain Piano. We had to make up for what we were missing by being even more responsible and present on the court. I think the 3-0 final is very important for us since the season è still very long and you can’t waste opportunities when they happen. Let me then wish Teuzzo a speedy return to the field. For us he is not è just a captain. I have never seen a player capable of holding the group like him.

Allianz Milan Press Office