Monza, last test ahead of Super Cup is ok
Monza, è ok the last test ahead of the Super Cup
Good test for MINT Vero Volleyball Monza, which beat the University of California, Los Angeles Men's Volleyball team – engaged in a European tour between Hungary, Slovenia and Italy – 3-1 in the last friendly match before the Italian Super Cup scheduled for Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 at the Wanny Palace in Florence.
Sprint start by Vero Volleyball, which immediately took a 5-1 lead. The Californians keep in touch (8-6), but è Monza to reach for first double digits (11-8). Captain Beretta scores for 15-9 and the Brianzoli stretch +6 over the guests. Maximum lead for the hosts, who at 20-13 force the Stars and Stripes bench to suspend. Di Martino's wall (23-13) and Rohrs's winning attack (24-13), deliver Monza first the set-point and then the partial, closed 25-13.
Second set was all about balance with neither side taking the lead, until UCLA’s 17-19. In the closing of the partial, Monza pulled to -1 (20-21) and Di Martino scored the equalizer on 24-24, canceling a set point for the opponents. UCLA still won the partial two points later, 24-26.
As in the opening fraction, in the third set è the home team took the lead immediately and set the pace of the match (5-3). UCLA, aided by some service errors by the Brianzoli, pulls back under and at 14-11 the opposing bench suspends the game. Beretta's ace first and Di Martino's wall then mark a new stretch for Monza (18-14). Di Martino scores again for 20-17, but UCLA doesn't mind and answers with 18-20. Szwarc goes powerful on serve and on 22-18 another American time-out. On 24-19 comes the first set-point for Monza closed by Woo-Jin's acce (25-19).
Fourth set that opens with Mancini and young Taiwo on the court in place of Fernando and Di Martino; balance reigns, until Monza puts its head ahead and tries the first stretch on 11-8, with the winning pipe of Marttila. Ace by Szwarc for the Brianzolo 14-11: UCLA time-out. The Americans try to sew up the gap, going back up to -1, but first Woo-Jin and then Mancini’s wall stop the Stars and Stripes vague hopes. A UCLA service error ended the set at 25-22 and the match in favor of Monza, which won 3-1.
Gabriele Di Martino, center MINT Vero Volley Monza, comments on the match as follows: "I am happy for today, è it was a very important test match to find our rhythm after some friendly matches in which we did not express our best game. Gradually we are recovering, we have a new graft with us (Zaytsev, ed.), but we know that it takes time to find continuity; becauseè we have so many injuries, forò today the match è served for the rhythm and for the team, with a result that brings serenityà". Then on the first official appointment of the season: "We are going towards the Super Cup, first time for us: è always exciting to participate as a club in a new competition. We know it will be tough and we will face a very talented lineup like Trento. Itè will be a dry game, we go thereì to play it".
