In game 3 reaction of the two teams one step away from elimination. Perugia beats Milan and takes the lead again
It is the day of redemption for Civitanova and Piacenza who ward off the risk of elimination in the quarterfinals with two convincing victories over Verona and Modena. Even Perugia returns to victory after a difficult start at home against Milan
Modena-Piacenza 0-3 (21-25, 22-25, 23-25)
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Piacenza beats Modena for the first time this season and reopens the series. Now Giani’s team still remains ahead 2 to 1, but the feeling is that the imperious awakening of Gas Sales and perhaps the lack of experience of some men from Modena could continue to make the difference in the next duels. Piacenza after losing the first two games of the quarterfinals at the tie-break, he found his volleyball again, above all an excellent Simon who put great pressure on his opponents blocking (6 points with this fundamental) and serving, definitely another player compared to the first two matches. Modena fought, but was unable to make an impact in attack, chasing from start to finish but never giving the impression of having something more than its rivals. The starting sextets were on the pitch. Spint departure for Piacenza also helped by two mistakes by Lagumdzija. Rossini’s reception did not hold on Caneschi’s serve and it was easy for Lucarelli to sign the 7 to 3 in favor of the guests. Gas Sales’ advantage was reduced to only one length on Lagumdzija’s series of serves. And it is precisely the Turkish opposite that allows Modena to stay in the slipstream (8-10). Finesse under Ngapeth’s goal (9-10) and the match remains in the balance. It is Simon in serve and in attack, the point of strength in the initial phase of Piacenza. The Frenchman from Modena enters the game with three points in a row (an ace and two attacks) which brings Modena closer together (14-15). Piacenza’s response is punctual and with Simon’s block on a struggling Rinaldi, Leal and c. to + 3 practically closing the set. The 22 to 18 for Piacenza matures after three consecutive unsuccessful attacks by Ngapeth. Marechal’s wrong joke effectively closes the partial that Piacenza wins (25-21) with merit and thanks also to the gifts of Modena who closes with 38% in attack, Gas Sales with 63%. Lucarelli’s jokes make suffered badly in the second set and Giani’s team is still forced to chase. Modena’s difficulties in attack are evident. 7 to 4 for Piacenza on a low ball by Bruno for Ngapeth blocked by the opponent’s block Piacenza jumps to + 6 (18-12), Modena returns below finding parity on 20 to 20 with the revived Ngapeth. Gas Sales reacts strongly , Simon and Leal bring back the +2 , Rinaldi tries to keep the set open (22-23) but Piacenza with Leal does not miss the opportunity to close. In the third set from 3-6 Modena goes ahead 7 to 6. Serie of break against break with the Gialloblù who manage to keep the advantage with a surge of pride. We travel on the edge of balance. Even if Piacenza always seems to be in control, Modena doesn’t give up. Par on 15-15, double Lucarelli replica with the same Ngapeth coin (17-17). In the final, Rinaldi’s jokes remove some certainty from the Piacenza reception. Ngapeth’s out attack gives the opponents the + 2 and the first match ball closed by Romanò Paolo Reggianini
Perugia-Milan 3-1 (22-25, 30-28, 25-18, 25-20)
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Perugia suffered, even risking, but in the end managed to beat Milan in four sets and move forward 2-1 in the series. Allianz threw away what could have been a huge opportunity, leading 22-24 in the second set after winning the first. Obviously, now the anticipation for race 4, scheduled for Sunday 2 April at 6 pm in Milan, is growing. Coach Andrea Anastasi initially lined up Giannelli as director, Herrera as opposite, Flavio and Russo as central players, Leon and Plotnytskyi as spikers and Colaci as libero. On the other hand, Milan responded with Porro in control, Patry opposite, Loser and Piano central, Ishikawa and Mergarejo spikers, with Pesaresi free. The first set went on constantly in the sign of Milan, which practically always had him in hand, also because Perugia was unable to count on the serve, which was far too inconstant and a Leon well below his potential (4 points in the fraction with just 14% in attack). There was an initial stretch on 6-10 and then on 13-17 and after an attempted reaction by Sir Safety, it was Porro’s ace (18-21) that gave the breakthrough, until the final mistake ( 22-25) in attack by Plotnytskyi. Same script in the second set (in the ranks of Perugia inside Semeniuk and Rychlycki instead of Leon and Herrera), with Milan always ahead, going from 6-8 to 10-13, from 12-16 (ace by Loser) to 15-20 , before the reaction of Perugia on 19-21 (ace by Plotnytskyi) and then the new extension of Allianz, dragged by Ishikawa (6 points in the fraction out of the 17 total in the match) on 20-23 and then on 22-24. At this point, the introduction of Leon (ace on 21-23) and then also of Herrera was decisive, before the dream of Milan on 24-25 (foul on the net detected by the check) and an incandescent finish in the “bolgia” of the 3000 by PalaBarton, with Rychlicki (7 points with 67% in attack in the fraction) protagonist and author of the final attack (30-28). The third set, on the other hand, was without history, with the dominance of Sir Safety (again giving up on Leon) who, having put aside the uncertainties of the first two sets, returned to raise their voices, taking advantage of the conspicuous drop in Allianz and dominating above all thanks to the growth in attack (65% of the team) and still finding a Rychlicki (best scorer of the match with 20 points) at times decisive, also putting down the final point (25-18). The fact of having lost has evidently annihilated Roberto Piazza’s sextet, who, now deprived of nervous energy in all his men, did not have the strength to react and found himself forced to chase the score from the start, with Sir Safety who, thanks to a masterful Giannelli and a very active Plotnytskyi (Mvp and 18 points for him), showed all his potential, closing the match (25-20) with a point from Semeniuk. For Perugia (who will be busy in Poland on Wednesday for the Champions League against Zaksa) it was victory number 39 in 41 matches played during the season. Antonello Menconi
Civitanova-Verona 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 28-26)
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There is still life on the planet Lube which interrupts the streak of nine consecutive victories in Verona, reopens the series with the aim of reaching race 5. Taken by the hand by the youngest of the gang, Nikolov, mvp of the race and author of the best performance since arriving at Lube. Top scorer (25 points) and nine-metre sniper with 4 aces, the same as the other hammer Yant. Which also ensured for Zaytsev’s diligent performance an attack that created more than one problem for a Verona that appeared a step behind compared to the previous performances and with a few too many mistakes that weighed heavily in the long run. Despite a Keita who with 76% positivity and 15 points was the last to surrender. Teams in the field with the same sextets of match 2, with Nikolov preferred to Bottolo in the ranks of Civitanova. A good choice that of Blengini because the young Bulgarian hammer will be the protagonist of the opening set. Where Lube’s approach is aggressive and precise in service (5 aces) and in attack (74%), with Yant from nine meters and Nikolov (86%) in attack who pave the way for Civitanova (12-8) who takes in hand the game at high levels. Spirito’s serve tries to bring Whitu back in line, but the response from the Marches is lethal with two aces from Yant who close this storyless set well in advance. The Veronese reply was not long in coming and arrived at the start of second place on the Spirito-Sapozhkov axis who gave him the first break (4-7). Civitanova has the strength not to disunite, he gets back on top thanks also to the marking on the Russian opposite who is stopped by Yant’s block who immediately gives the lead point (11-10). A super Nikolov takes care of breaking the balance who with an attack and three aces signs the break of 19-15 by blowing up the arena. And opening a decisive third for Whitu who tries to get back into the game. Civitanova tries twice to extend the Nikolov-Zaytsev axis but the Veronese always mend the gap. On the contrary, they place a break (6-2) which reverses the score and the inertia of the match. This time, however, Civitanova is ready to react by earning the first match ball cancelled, Keita earns the set ball which would lengthen the match but then a double Yant takes care of closing the games and postponing everything to game 4. Mauro Giustozzi
March 26 – 20:01
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