Trento, 19 November 2023

Itas Trentino-Mint Vero Volley Monza 3-1, the match report

The match report. Itas Trentino returns to the tricolour Mondoflex of the IlT quotidiano Arena with the classic starting six: Sbertoli as setter, Rychlicki as opposite spiker, Michieletto and Lavia as hitter spikers, Kozamernik and Podrascanin as middle blockers, Laurenzano as libero. Mint Vero Volley Monza responded with Kreling as setter, Szwarc opposite spiker, Maar and Takahashi as hitter spikers, Galassi and Di Martino as middle blocker, Gaggini as libero. The first breakthrough came from the visitors, with Takahashi and Szwarc scoring on rebuilds and an error by Sbertoli that gave them +3 (4-7). The Yellow-blue tried to come back with a block by Kozamernik on the Japanese player (6-7), but then suffered a new attack by Maar, who advised Soli to interrupt the game (7-11). At the resumption, a winning block by Podrascanin again on the Canadian brings Trento momentarily back into the game (11-13), but they are then hit again by Maar and Szawarc (14-19). The end of the partial was in absolute control of the Brianzoli (15-21, 18-23), who took a 0-1 lead outside the court as early as 19-25.
The tricolours' reaction was immediate; after the change of court it was 3-1 for Itas Trentino, who with Michieletto (great block on Szwarc) immediately tried to put pressure on the opponents. Eccheli called a time out, which resulted in a tie (3-3, Rychlicki's error), but then Michieletto took the lead (7-5 and 12-9), backed up well by Kamil himself (ace for 14-10). The hosts grew again in attack and expanded (18-12, Kozamernik also scoring), but to bring home the point of parity in the set count they had to suffer again (21-17 and 23-21) because Monza was alive again and never gave up. Maar and Kreling were always on the ball, but in the end they too reared their heads and succumbed 25-22.
The Mint started the third period in the right mood (3-5 and 5-8), led by the usual Szwarc, but the italian champions were not ready for it and answered blow after blow, first by tying the score at 10 with an ace helped by Lavia's net, and then with a resounding Michieletto, who blocked the opposite spiker and counter-attacked for 12-10. The central part was vibrant and fought point to point (14-13, 17-15), with the Yellow-blue staying in front without giving the impression of having the set completely in their hands.
After a video-check that proved Trento right, Monza got nervous, even giving away a direct point when the game was stopped (red penalty card to Szwarc for complaints); thus Itas Trentino flew to +4 (19-15). The fraction, however, still gave the fans thrills and chills as Mint came back down (21-20); Michieletto decided at the sprint: ball change for 24-22 and ball change for 25-23.
In the fourth set Szwarc gave way to Loeppky as the guests' opposite number, who started off strongly (5-8), but the Italian team also countered their attempt to escape with Sbertoli's serves and the attacks of a wild Rychlicki (11-11). Itas Trentino put the arrow in their favour with a block by Podrascanin and an ace with the help of Michieletto's tape (15-13); Soli's team held on to the double advantage for a long time (17-15 and 20-18), also thanks to the first tempi of their captain. The final rush, however, was on the edge of equilibrium, as Takahashi found parity at 21. Michieletto took care of that: break point right on 24-23.

Trentino Volley Srl
Press Office