Rome, 25 February 2023

Itas Trentino-Allianz Milano 3-2, the match report

Match report. There were no changes in the starting six from the match played just six days earlier at the Allianz Cloud: Angelo Lorenzetti confirmed D'Heer middle-blocker in diagonal with Podrascanin, bringing with him to the bench a fully recovered Lisinac; the other five starters were Sbertoli serving, Kaziyski opposite, Lavia and Michieletto hitters, and Laurenzano libero. Allianz Milan responded with Porro serving, Patry opposite, Ishikawa and Mergarejo hitters, Loser and Vitelli middle-blockers, and Pesaresi libero. The start was all in the sign of Milan, who, with Vitelli's serve and block, immediately pushed ahead (1-3, 5-8, and 10-14), also taking advantage of the yellow-blue’s difficulties in serving. Allianz Milano also pushed at the sideout phase until 15-19, before Lorenzetti played the Nelli card: the Tuscan took over from D'Heer for serve, found two non-consecutive aces and a series of comfortable rebuilds, allowing his team to tie at 20-20. The final rush is tightly contested and goes well beyond normal scoring (26-26, 30-30, 33-33); Allianz prevails, and after nullifying five set balls Trento scores 33-35 on its sixth chance. Itas Trentino tries to retaliate at the start of the second set thanks to Michieletto (7-5); the opponents tie at 7-7 but then suffer a new yellow-blue spurt signed by Lavia (12-9). The time out requested by Piazza has the merit of clearing the mind of his team that, thanks to an invasion by the same Calabrian attacker, quickly go up (13-12) and then with Vitelli serving (also a direct ace) put the arrow (14-15, counterattack by Ishikawa). Lorenzetti's team has another spurt with Kaziyski (19-17 and 20-18), but then with the entrance of Piano (immediately scoring with the block) and with Ebadipour's serves (in turn taken over from Mergarejo) they turn the situation around by posting a 0-4 partial (21-24). Nelli's service error handed the 0-2 to the Lombards (22-25). Trento tries again in the third set: Kaziyski and Michieletto still believe in it and lead their teammates towards the first consistent lead (7-4), which then increases further in the middle (12-7) thanks to a couple of errors by Ishikawa, perfect up to that point. Trento (17-12) with Kaziyski but Milan does not give up and continues to fight (22-18). It was Matey again who scored the points needed for the yellow-blue to take home the partial 25-19, diametrically reopening the contest. Itas Trentino now believes and gets off to a hot start in the fourth set as well, dragged by the usual Kaziyski but also by Podrascanin and Michieletto. From 7-4 Lorenzetti's team stretched more and more (12-7, 17-12), also because Milan completely pulled the plug, struggling enormously in attack. Trento pulls straight ahead and gets the tie point in the set tally already on 25-16: 2-2. In the tie break the balance lasts only until 4-4, then Kaziyski at bat and in attack writes the +4 (8-4); it is the decisive stretch because then there is still the Captain to defend the stretch. Michieletto closed the score on 15-9, delivering the pass for the ninth final of the trophy - the second consecutive.

Trentino Volley Srl
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