Perugia Marches On to the Final Four as Monza Falls Short
The side coached by Lorenzetti only needed to clinch two sets to secure their progression, but the Monza team, with nothing to lose, put up a valiant fight, keeping the match finely balanced through the opening two sets. An explosive moment came at the end of the third set when Plotnytskyi’s ace sent ripples of joy through the crowd. The fourth set saw managers give ample court time to their entire squad.
Perugia kicked off strongly, dominating the first set with a staggering 76% attack success. Despite a spirited comeback from Monza in the second set, which they took 23-25, the hosts rallied to finish decisively. The stats tell a tale: 56% efficiency in attack, 8 blocks, and 9 aces. The standout player was Yuki Ishikawa, who notched up 19 points, a block, and boasted a 62% attack rate.
The initial exchanges were tight, but Perugia surged ahead 10-7 courtesy of Plotnytskyi’s serve. As Monza trailed, Ishikawa's consecutive hands-out strikes stretched the lead (14-9). Though there were service errors from both sides, the attacking prowess of Ishikawa remained relentless (17-12). Despite Monza’s efforts, including Marttila’s service, Perugia’s defence, bolstered by Loser’s block against Swark, forced a timeout from coach Eccheli. A set point was secured when Captain Giannelli shut down Gabriele di Martino, wrapping up the set after a service error from Monza.
The second set resumed with both teams exchanging blows, with Sol bringing his team to double digits at 10-8. Giannelli’s wall against Røhrs secured Perugia's foothold, then Ishikawa struck again. After a brief comeback from Monza led by Swark, who delivered an ace, the teams were locked in a dead heat. Yet, the set concluded in Monza's favour at 23-25, as they clinched the final moments of the game.
The thrilling back-and-forth continued into the third set, where Perugia, armed with Plotnytskyi's ace, hit a pivotal break (9-6) following an aggressive streak that culminated in a score of 19-8. Monza faltered under pressure, allowing Perugia to reach set point (24-14). Plotnytskyi’s second ace sealed the set, earning Perugia a coveted place in the Final Four in Lodz.
With qualification assured, Lorenzetti rotated his players, and young talents Zoppellari and Cianciotta made notable contributions, with the latter delivering two aces that resounded through the PalaBarton Energy. Monza, though commendably trying with Herrera’s impactful attacks, could not fend off the determined Block Devils, concluding a gripping fourth set at 31-29, and thus securing Perugia’s place in the celebrated finals.
Player Remarks:
Simone Giannelli (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia) remarked, “We emphasised today our aim for an important milestone; we accomplished it, and I am glad as this objective has been on our minds since preseason. Achieving this against such worthy rivals wasn't a given, and we’re proud to play this Final Four on behalf of Italy.”
Thomas Beretta (MINT Vero Volley Monza) added, “Watching the games from the sidelines has been difficult. Securing our place earlier in the season was challenging, but we’ve trained hard. Today’s performance showed promise even as we couldn't turn the tides after the second set. Now we look ahead to next season.”
The Finals Table:
SIR SICOMA MONINI PERUGIA 3-1 MINT VERO VOLLEY MONZA (25-18, 23-25, 25-14, 31-29)
SIR SICOMA MONINI PERUGIA: Piccinelli (L), Candellaro 1, Zoppellari, Cianciotta 2, Giannelli 3, Herrera 6, Loser 5, Ben Tara 11, Sol 5, Ishikawa 19, Plotnytskyi 13.
MINT VERO VOLLEY MONZA: Lee 3, Frascio 8, Røhrs 11, Marttila 9, Di Martino 4, Averill 9, Szwarc 7.
Match Duration: 115 minutes.
MVP: Yuki Ishikawa (Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia)
Resource: Corriere dello Sport
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