Ivan Zaytsev does not deny himself.

Vero Volleyball Monza struggles but is forced to surrender to MA Acqua S.Bernardo Cuneo in the’important match in the Play-Off key. It ended 3-2 (25-27; 25-22; 25-20; 23-25; 15-8) in favor of the Piedmontese in a thrilling match, decided in the fifth set after more than two hours of play. Coach Massimo Eccheli’s boys gave their best, also making up for the unavailability the team had to cope with. To that already announced on the eve of the central Jacopo Larizza, in the pits due to an adductor problem, was added the stop of libero Leonardo Scanferla, debilitated by a form of flu that affected him in recent days and brought only to the bench. Vero Volleyball gave it all, managing to snatch a very heavy point that allows it to maintain the eighth place in the ranking.

Aldo Seghedoni

Ma Acqua S.Bernardo Cuneo setter Ivan Zaytsev, who put 18 balls on the ground, was awarded mvp of the match. Opposite Nathan Feral, on the other hand, was the best scorer of the match with 24 points. Early stages of the game featured a back-and-forth battle worthy of the match’s importance. The hosts find the break, Feral signs the 13-10 ace that brings the two teams to the time-out requested by coach Eccheli. Captain Beretta tries to shake up his team with the 17-14 attack, his ward colleague Mosca blocks the 22-20 ball. Then it is Cuneo to stop the game: when they return to the court, however, with points from Atanasov first and Röhrs later, Vero Volleyball grabs parity (22-22). In the fiery end of the partial, Vero Volley celebrated in the advantages (25-27).

In the second set, Cuneo starts well (12-10), but Vero Volleyball finds parity with Padar’s attack (13-13). It goes on point-to-point for the whole half of the set: Monza touches first at 20 thanks to its opposite player&#8217s ace (19-20), MA Acqua S.Bernardo responds immediately and with Feral&#8217s mani-out brings the set back into balance (22-22). The ending is once again heart-stopping: the two teams equalize, the video check rewards the hosts who, thus, earn set point. The subsequent attack error by the Monzese allowed Zaytsev and his teammates to put the match back on even footing (25-22).

The Piedmontese lineup started again where it had ended and in the third set found the’stretch from the very first exchanges of the fraction (8-4). Vero Volley struggles to contain the opponent attacks (11-6), but does not let up. Padar finds the 12-10 ace, Cuneo, however, continues to snatch important points (18-13). Coach Eccheli draws from the bench to change the fortunes of the partial: so space to Frascio for the same Padar, Monza reacts and attempts the comeback (18-16). MA Acqua S.Bernardo, however, has no intention of squandering the advantage gained, starts pushing again and eventually can celebrate for winning the set (25-20).

Cuneo wants to close the match in the fourth, Monza has no intention of coming out defeated. What ensues is a rivetingly competitive set, with the two teams responding blow by blow. Vero Volleyball is ahead at the half (15-17), Mosca lands the 16-18 first half and Beretta walls for 16-19. Coach Battocchio takes refuge in a time-out to change the fortunes of the partial, but on resumption Mosca also finds the’ace (16-20). The Brianzolo spurt seems to be the decisive one but the hosts get close again (22-23). Scanferla comes in for Pisoni to give more experience to Vero Volleyball’s second line, but Cuneo’s wall becomes granitic (23-23). Beretta and his teammates are good at not breaking down and the break rewards them (23-25).

The tie-break sees MA Acqua S.Bernardo get off to a better start (6-3). At the change of court, the Cuneo players are ahead by four points (8-4) and the gap becomes unbridgeable. Vero Volley tries, but each attempt proves futile. The home crowd pushes their favorites, who on court give vent to their last energies and celebrate an important victory (15-8).