Casalecchio di Reno (Bologna), 27 January 2024

Itas Trentino-Mint Monza 2-3, Coppa Italia semifinal match report

Chronicle of the match. In the starting six, the only curiosity is related to Monza's lineup, which has to do without Takahashi (ankle problem suffered Wednesday night in the championship match with Verona), replaced in area 4 by Loeppky, who together with Maar and Szwarc goes to form an all-Canadian high ball trio for Mint. The rest of the Brianza lineup features Kreling as setter, Galassi and Di Martino in the middle, Gaggini as libero. Itas Trentino, on the other hand, can confirm the usual set-up: Sbertoli as setter, Rychliki as opposite, Lavia and Michieletto as spikers, Podrascanin and Kozamernik as middle blockers, Laurenzano as libero. The Italian Champions start strong, thanks to Lavia (attack and block) and the opponents' foul between attack and serve (5-2); Maar shakes up his team and signs the counter break that allows Monza to tie the score at six. Michieletto (ace and pipe) offers a new cue that Eccheli's team sews up with Di Martino's block (two on Rychlicki for 9-9). The two teams continue the contest alternating leads until Galassi signs +2 (14-16). Trento immediately reacted with Michieletto (17-16), but then suffered a new break with Maar at 21-23. At the most difficult moment, Itas Trentino found the treble it had been looking for: Lavia on serve placed the ace that made it 23-23, then two consecutive blocks by Rychlicki to Maar closed the partial at 25-23.
Trento’s difficulties in controlling the match were exposed even more clearly in the opening of the second set, in which Loeppky put the yellow-blue reception on fire, inspiring the first breakaway attempt (5-10). The Italian champions try to react by improving their percentages at the ball changeover, but are unable to get closer (9-14 and 12-16) because the Mint offers little room for direct errors. On the contrary, in the final part Monza runs rampant: the yellow-blue team makes too many inaccuracies (13-18 to 13-25), with Maar from the nine-meter line all the way.
Itas Trentino tried to turn the page along with the change of court, restarting a head-to-head contest that lasted until 8-8 in the third set. Monza accelerates with Maar, forcing Soli to alternate Michieletto with Magalini; the entrance of Verona’s hammer is positive and immediately guarantees parity at ten. Thereafter, the two teams proceed arm in arm until Magalini offers a new cue (block on Szwarc for 17-15), then Rychlicki sets the score at +3 (19-16), forcing the Mint to interrupt the game. At resumption, Galassi and Maar recompose the situation (19-19); at the sprint, it is still Trento (with Michieletto back on court) who gets the better of the situation thanks to Podrascanin's block and Rychlicki's counterattack, which guarantee three set balls at 24-21. On the third chance (Loeppky's serve error), the 2-1 score comes.
Still galvanized, Trento also started well in the fourth set, taking advantage of the streak at the net of Lavia and Rychlicki (8-5). The yellow-blue team tried to run away with conviction (12-8), but Loeppky caught them at 12-11; another break was needed and it came from Lavia's block and Rychlicki's attack (15-11). Itas Trentino marches steady until 21-17, then Galassi's ace and Rychlicki's errors at the net revive the opponents, who tie at 23 and earn the chance to play the tie break thanks to two attack errors by the yellow-blue opposite player (23-25).
The fifth set quickly turned into a nightmare for Trento, who held court until 4-5, before giving way to the sharpness of Monza’s team, capable of exalting themselves between block and defense (6-10) and on counterattack. Trento became even more nervous, making mistakes at the line and in attack, leaving the court on 9-15 after a net hit by Lavia.

Trentino Volley Srl
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