Monza beats Piacenza in away tie-break
Monza beats Piacenza in away tie-break
A hard-fought match was expected and so it was. In front of the crowd at the PalaBanca in Piacenza, MINT Vero Volley Monza struggled and with grit overcame again in the fifth set, 2-3 (21-25; 25-19; 23-25; 25-20; 11-15), Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, third in the standings, in the seventh day of the return leg of the Regular Season in SuperLega Credem Banca. The Consortium’s first men’s lineup, fresh finalists in the CEV Challenge Cup, tied the match well by winning the first and third quarters but suffering the comeback of the locals in the second and fourth. Net change of gear, however, in the tie-break always in Brianza’s hands. MVP of the match, as in the first challenge, the Canadian Eric Loeppky, author of a splendid test closed with 23 points.
For this match, coach Eccheli relies on the sextet deployed in the Italian Cup, consisting of Kreling and Szwarc in the setter-opponent diagonal, the all-Canadian pair of setters Maar-Loeppky, Galassi and Di Martino in the center with Gaggini in the role of libero.
After a sprint start for Piacenza, è Maar grounded the first point of the match for MINT Vero Volley Monza (2-1) followed by compatriot Szwarc who found the ace and then parity at 3-3. On 6-8 comes the first break of the evening for Monza to score with Di Martino. The other Italian center, Galassi, also makes his presence felt, outsmarting the Piacenza defense and forcing coach Anastasi to stop the game at 8-11. When the guests return to the court, they still extend their lead over their opponents and go to +5: the Brianzoli are, in fact, good at taking advantage of some confusion on the part of the hosts. Loeppky scores first with a winner and then with an ace, gaining 14-19, which immediately becomes +6 with Szwarc. Supported by the home crowd, Piacenza shortens the distance and this time è coach Eccheli calls time out on 18-21. It's again the Canadian pair Szwarc-Maar to bring Monza back ahead that conquers four set points (20-24) and closes the first partial 21-25.
As in the beginning of the match, è Maar to sign the first ball of the second set (0-1) to which però Romanò promptly responds. Back-and-forth between the two formations that travel in parity until the first break for Piacenza on 6-4. The wall of the Brianzoli on 7-6 stops the possible extension of the Piacentini, who despite the thrust of Leal and Simon struggle to take the lead. First time-out of the partial for Monza that has to interrupt the game on +3 (11-8) for the opponents. Simon makes his presence felt on serve, dragging the red-and-whites to 14-9 but Loeppky responds soon after for Monza, also scoring for 15-11. Piacenza attacks hard but for Monza it’s up to the newly-entered Mujanovic to make his voice heard and with two winning attacks, he narrows the gap back to 19-15. Maar’s wall stops Romanò on the net and brings his to -4 (21-17). The hosts, però, have no intention of letting the tie slip away and, after the first set point canceled by Maar (24-19), they win the partial 25-19. 1-1 at the PalaBanca.
In the third fraction, the progression of the red-and-whites continues, and at 5-1 they force the Brianza bench into suspension. Monza seems to benefit from the interruption: it puts the opponent defense in trouble and regains parity (5-5) thanks to Szwarc. Entertainment by both teams that, point by point, proceed in perfect balance until the break for Monza – won by Maar – and time-out Anastasi (10-12). Galassi, served by Kreling, sends the Piacenza front line off its feet and signs the 13-15. Loeppky's attack on 16-18 allows Monza to maintain the small but important +2 lead. The hosts fail to find the game of the second half and this gives MINT a chance to take the first set point (22-24), which is canceled. It's the videocheck to assign the third set to the Brianzos (23-25) who thus change the court on 1-2.
It is Di Martino who opens at PalaBanca the fourth set (0-1). New phase of balance between the two formations that shine on several occasions but none manages to put the lead forward until the mini-break for Piacenza (7-5). Galassi sounds the charge and with the wall sews up MINT’s disadvantage to -1 (9-8). The hosts force and re-align with the Monza bench suspending play at 13-9. Two consecutive points for Maar on the scoreboard: first the overpowering winner for 14-11, and then an ace of almost surgical precision. MINT’s wall on Romanò brings the Brianzoli to -1 (16-15) and then to grab parity at 17-17. Point-to-point was broken at 21-19 with Piacenza shifting gears and stringing three consecutive points up to set point (24-19), canceled by Galassi. The hosts però did not waste the opportunity (25-20) and entrusted the fate of the challenge to the tie-break.
Beginning of the fifth and decisive set all Canadian signature: Loeppky wants to set the record straight and with an ace opens the partial set (0-1), followed by another winning serve for 0-3 (while è Maar to take 0-2). Monza does not want to leave anything to the opponents and secures a solid +5 lead (1-6) with a truly irrepressible Loeppky. Change of court at 2-8 with Piacenza in trouble. The red-and-whites manage to shorten (5-10) but Galassi makes his presence felt again in the middle (6-11). Di Martino also raises his voice and tackles the opponents for 8-12, propelling his boys toward the end of the match. With grit and determination, Coach Eccheli's boys win the first of four match points (10-14) and Szwarc puts an end to the game (11-15): 2-3.
Awaiting MINT Vero Volley Monza now will be two consecutive league challenges: first the derby against Powervolley Milano at the Allianz Cloud on Wednesday, February 14 at 8:30 p.m., and then the match against Farmitalia Catania set for Saturday, February 17 at 5:30 p.m. within the walls of the Opiquad Arena. Two important stages before the final first leg match in the CEV Challenge Cup, scheduled for an away match on Wednesday, February 21.
THE STATEMENTS:
Gabriele Di Martino (MINT Vero Volley Monza): “A great win today, we are really happy with this result. A difficult match where we managed to start well and, even if Piacenza set after set raised the level, to always stay focused. Now maximum attention to the next challenge against Milan, another very challenging match”.
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza – MINT Vero Volley Monza 2-3 (21-25; 25-19; 23-25; 25-20; 11-15)
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza: Recine 1, Brizard 2, Santos de Souza 15, Leal 17, Scanferla (L), Ricci 3, Simon 12, Andringa, Romanò 21, Caneschi. N.E.: Hoffer (L), Gironi, Alonso, Dias. All. Anastasi
MINT Vero Volley Monza: Loeppky 23, Maar 18, Mujanovic 2, Galassi 7, Beretta, Kreling 3, Di Martino 6, Gaggini (L), Szwarc 13. N.E: Visic, Comparoni, Morazzini (L),Takahashi, Frascio. All. Eccheli
Referees: Andrea Pozzato, Dominga Lot
NOTES
Set length: 27', 25', 31', 28', 19'. Tot: 2h10'
Spectators: 2261
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza: winning strokes 8, wrong strokes 23, walls 8, errors 32, attack 51%
MINT Vero Volley Monza: winning strokes 5, wrong strokes 19, walls 12, errors 29, attack 49%
MVP: Eric Loeppky (MINT Vero Volley Monza
Consorzio Vero Volleyball Press Office
