Champions League, Monza stops against Olympiacos

Champions League, Monza stops against Olympiacos'Olympiacos
MINT Vero Volleyball Monza fails to win the top clash in Pool B of the CEV Champions League against Olympiacos Piraeus. After four consecutive victories (including the first leg against the Greeks), the Consortium’s men’s team grinds to a halt, succumbing 3-1 (26-24, 26-24, 22-25, 25-21). It was an up-and-down performance for the Brianzoli, who in the first and second sets started with determination but were remounted by the hosts in the crucial stages. The third fraction marked a change of pace thanks to the entries of the very young Frascio and Di Martino, protagonists in the 22-25 set victory. In the fourth partial, after a balanced start, Olympiacos took control forcing Monza to chase. Despite two canceled match points, the Greeks closed set and match. MVP of the’match Pajenk. Despite the result, a fine choral performance by Monza with in double figures: Marttila 16, Rohrs 15, and Averill 10. Champions League debut and an impressive 11 points for Diego Frascio, straight from the Consortium’s youth sector. For MINT there’è s no time to stop. On Sunday, January 19 at 4 p.m., Coach Eccheli’s boys will be on the court again, this time in SuperLega Credem Banca, for the decisive clash in view of the standings against Gioiella Prisma Taranto.
For the confrontation with the Olympiacos, coach Eccheli confirms his latest choices with Kreling at the helm and Szwarc on the diagonal, Rohrs and Marttila as slappers, Averill-Beretta pair in the center, Gaggini as libero.
MINT Vero Volleyball got off to an aggressive start right away, with a wall by Marttila worth the first break (0-2). Thanks to Szwarc and Beretta, Monza maintains the two-point lead until 7-7, when the hosts find a tie. The point-to-point between the two teams continues until 15-17 for the guests, with a tight diagonal by Marttila and a winning attack in the center by Rohrs. MINT tries to stretch, but Olympiacos responds with determination, forcing coach Eccheli to call time-out at 18-19. On the resumption, Monza regained momentum thanks to Averill and another decisive attack by Rohrs, moving back ahead by +3 (18-21). The hosts, però, defended with intensity and came close again (22-23). Rohrs’ pipe gives MINT two set points, but the Greeks cancel both, forcing the guests to rebuild. Immediately after that comes an opportunity for the hosts, who close the partial 26-24.
Balanced start of the second fraction until +3 Vero Volleyball (6-9) on Kreling’s service turn and time-out comes for coach Gardini. Monza seems to have found the right rhythm now, and despite the attempt of the Greeks, it gets to +6 (9-15). Olympiacos tries a new approach (13-16), but Rohrs and Marttila decisively drive back the opponents and again +5 (13-18). With even a bit of luck, the Hellenes pull back to -1 (18-19), and after a brief Monza stretch, they find parity at 21-21. It breaks on set point for the Greeks, canceled by Rohrs. The hosts do not let the second chance slip through their fingers and win the partial 26-24.
Double change immediately at the start of the third set with the entry of Frascio for Szwarc and Di Martino for Beretta. The two new entries make themselves felt: the Italian center set up the winning break (3-5), while the very young opposite player goes for 5-8. Averill all'cross the lines for 7-11, immediately followed by Rohrs’ monster block and time-out for the Greek bench. At the resumption it is again Di Martino and Frascio who drag the Brianza lineup to +7 (9-16). Marttila touches 14-20 and MINT retains a valuable lead. The hosts with an ace and Tzourits’ wall bring themselves però back to -1 (19-20) and coach Eccheli calls back his boys. Upon returning to the court, MINT went back ahead (20-23) and found four set points. Olympiacos nullifies the first two, but Monza still manages to win the set 22-25.
È still point-to-point to open the fraction until 8-5 for the hosts and immediate break for Monza. Frascio and Marttila sound the charge for parity, while Kreling's ace delivers a small lead (8-9) into Brianza hands. Suspension also arrives for Monza after the Hellenes’ 13-10 spurt. MINT tries to sew up the tear with Frascio, but Olympiacos remains ahead +4 (18-14). It gets complicated for Monza, which now sees opponents run away ahead 22-16. The young opposite, straight from the Vero Volley youth sector, è unstoppable and tries to get his team back up to 23-19. Monza tries to resist and cancels two match points, but eventually has to surrender to the Greeks 25-21.
POST-GAME STATEMENT
Diego Frascio, opposite MINT Vero Volley Monza: "The debut in the Champions League è was an incredible experience and I thank my teammates for making me feel comfortable on the court. The match unfortunately did not è go the way we wanted, butò it will serve us well ahead of Sunday’s match against Taranto to continue working and improve the aspects that did not work today".
Olympiacos Piraeus – MINT Vero Volley Monza 3-1 (26-24; 26-24; 22-25; 25-21)
Olympiacos Piraeus: Pajenk 16, Hasballa, Perrin 14, Koumentakis 15, Travica, Tziavras (L), Dalakouras 3, Masulovic 10, Tzourits 15. N.E. Papangelopoulos, Zoupani, Konstantinidis (L). All. Gardini.
MINT Vero Volley Monza: Frascio 11, Rohrs 15, Marttila 16, Mancini, Beretta 2, Kreling 1, Di Martino 7, Averill 10, Gaggini (L), Szwarc 7. N.E.: Lee, Picchio (L). All. Eccheli.
NOTES
Referees: Konstantin Yovchev, Jan Krticka
Set duration: 33', 30', 29', 28. Tot: 2h01'
Olympiacos Piraeus: winning strokes 9, wrong strokes 15, walls 9, errors 25, attack 51%.
MINT Vero Volleyball Monza: winning strokes 2, bad strokes 18, walls 11, errors 26, attack 47%.
MVP: Alen Pajenk (Olympiacos Piraeus)
Plant: Melina Merkouri