Allianz Milan, another tie-break with Piacenza, but it’s the Emilians who smile

Ten sets in three days between Allianz Milano and Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, this time at stake is not the Final Four of the Del Monte Coppa Italia, but 3 points in the Superlega Credem Banca standings. The final result è opposite to Wednesday night, but the show certainly è never lacked on the court. The two teams totaled the same number of points at the end of the match, showing how much balance there was. For Allianz Milano the regret of having been in front for a long time even in the first partial. In the most fought sets the unavailability of the video check è a handicap that surely weighs in the balance, in a volleyball more and more technological. In any case, the two formations fought point after point, action after action for more than hard hours of beautiful play.

Usual beautiful frame of Public at the PalaBanca Sport in Piacenza, colored even more’by the initiative “Teddy Bear Boss” with a few hundred stuffed animals thrown on the court by the fans, they will be donated to the Casa del Fanciullo and Caritas Piacenza.

Unprecedented sextet for Allianz Milano with Piazza changing three players from last Wednesday’s Coppa Italia match, resting Piano and Ishikawa in view of the close CEV Cup engagement in Poland, and deploying Dirlic in diagonal with setter Porro, Kaziyski and Mergarejo on the sides, Vitelli and Loser in the middle and Catania free. No surprises instead among the choices of Anastasi, still without Leal, with Brizard in diagonal with Romanò setters Recine and Lucarelli, center Simon and Caneschi, free Scanferla.

Early point-to-point, Loser’s ace favored by the net is worth Allianz Milano’s first lead: 3-4, the Argentine repeats on the next serve with Scanferla not keeping the ball in his court. Piacenza’s response was not late with Recine from nine meters for the 5-5. A Gas Sales Bluenergy wall and Lucarelli’s hot arm make it 8-7. The first long exchange is closed by an attack out by Recine 9-9, Loser excelled at the wall on Romanò twice 9-11. Piacenza stops on rotation and Anastasi stops the game for the first time at 10-13. Allianz Milano holds +3 over the next three rotations 13-16 with a Dirlic on the ball. Brizard’s ace, Piazza sees it out, but the video check cannotò be used in the first set for a technical problem, it goes to 15-16. The Emilians’ tie comes at 19-19 with an attack out by Dirlic. Again you cannotò call the check for wall touch, Piazza stops the game. On the return, Anastasi’s team overtakes 20-19. Allianz double change with Zonta serving and Reggers in place four on 21-21. Anastasi puts Gironi to serve over Caneschi, but è still parity; 22-22. Rice and attack by Simon 23-22, out comes Mergarejo and in comes Ishiwawa. Piacenza setpoint on Lucarelli’s serve 24-23 and Piazza stops with the second minute available. Milan’s wall touches the net and Gas Sales Bluenergy closes 25-23 in 28’. Piacenza’s 60% point ball attack against Milan’s 39% digs the decisive furrow in a long-balanced partial.

Sextets confirmed in the second partial, with Romanò capable of two point services for the initial 4-1. Vitelli in first half and an attack out by Recine for 4-3. Allianz Milano holds the side out and squanders the tie after an exciting rally on Porro’s serve 8-6. Scanferla defends the’impossible on Kaziyski, Simon makes no mistake 9-6 and time out called by coach Piazza. Mergarejo shortens high on Piacenza’s wall, then Roman’s attack out and è ties 9-9. Two walls by Vitelli on Lucarelli and Romanò and è 13-14. Piacenza equalizes with a double point by Simon 16-16, the next action è still spectacular, smiles on Kaziyski, who from nine meters gives himself an ace 16-18 with time out asked by Anastasi. Allianz double change on 18-20 inside Zonta and Reggers, but Recine (7 points for him in the set) è good at shooting a difficult diagonal 19-20. Kaziyski also puts up 22 and Anastasi stops the game. An’invasion by Lucarelli and Milan says 23, video check è still unavailable. In comes Gironi for Caneschi and Ishikawa for Mergarejo, Brizard shortens 21-23 and Porro and Dirlic return to the court. Gironi’s second serve ends up in the net, three setpoints for Milan 21-24, closes an attack out by Romanò 21-25.

Third set with Gironi (will doà 8 points in the partial) for Romanò in the ranks of Piacenza. Recine again in the spotlight with a nice recovery, but moving the score from the initial balance is Lucarelli again 5-3, immediately thwarted by Milan’s break on Mergarejo’s serve 5-5. Vitelli stops Simon 6-6. Vitelli on serve and Dirlic from the second line for 6-7. A wall by the Croatian opposite is worth 9-11, on Milan’s next point, Anastasi è forced to stop the game again. Ricci comes in for Caneschi, but Allianz stays ahead and stretches 12-16. Dirlic says no to Recine 14-20, with Anastasi throwing Andriga into the fray. Più Milan by Piacenza in this third partial after two sets in almost absolute balance. Defense by Dirlic (he will close the partial with 9 points and 70%) and attack by Mergarejo 17-23. The’last point of the set è a service out by captain Brizard 19-25.

Anastasi bets again on Ricci and Gironi for the fourth set and the start è more decisive: 5-3 and 8-5 on Recine’s serve with Piazza who doesn’t like it and asks for the first half. Ace by Porro and wall by Loser, in an instant Milan è 8-8. Defense and pipe by Recine, the Emilians return +2 (10-8). Convulsive phase of the set, video check remains off, attack out by Gironi, referee Cappello corrects the first decision with “wall touch”. Loser can’t stand it swears the ball è passed over, thus comes a yellow card. An exciting rally ensues ended with an Emilian wall, Piazza goals captain Piano on the Argentine and has to stop play at 14-10. Allianz finds itself and a wall by the captain on Gironi makes it 14-13. Ace short si Simon 16-13. On 18-14 inside Ishikawa for Mergarejo, but Piacenza still stretches and sees the tie-break. Back in for Loser for Piano on 19-15. Service change inside Romanò for Ricci on 21-16 for the home team, Mergarejo returns on the other side for Ishikawa. Lucarelli goes to serve with 6 setpoints available 24-18. Milan double change, Recine decides 25-19.

Brizard struggles with service, his is the 2-2 error. Lucarelli aided by the tape instead propitiates the 4-2 and Piazza must immediately spend a time out. Vitelli’s wall on Recine è 4-4, then Dirlic is worth overtaking 4-5 and è Anastasi to stop the game. Gironi attack, Piacenza would like the touch, but there ’è and è made in Allianz Milano also the next 4-7. It goes to the change of court on 5-8 and a Simon hitting error. Ishikawa replaces Mergarejo in the second line on 7-9. Lucarelli equalizes 9-9 and double change for Milan on Recine’s serve. Romanò for Ricci to serve and comes the blue’s double ace for 12-10 and Allianz time out. Kaziyski shortens, Ricci returns on one side, Porro and Dirlic on the other. On 13-12, Mergarejo also returns. Lucarelli goes to bat for first match point on 14-12, Mergarejo answers 14-13, è Loser’s turn when Anastasi calls his time out. Simon closes 15-13.

GAS SALES BLUENERGY PIACENZA – ALLIANZ MILAN 3-2 (25-23, 21-25, 19-25, 25-19, 15-13)

GAS SALES BLUENERGY PIACENZA: Lucarelli 19, Simon 14, Romanò 7, Recine 23, Caneschi 5, Brizard 3, Scanferla (L), Gironi 13, Andringa 1, Ricci, Hoffer (L2). N.e. Alonso, Dias. All. Andrea Anastasi. 2° All. Antonio Valentini.

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Referees Gianluca Cappello of Sortino (Syracuse) and Umberto Zanussi of Treviso (3° referee Michela Marotta), at video check Elia Forcella.

Spectators 2,754 Revenue: 27,007 euros

MVP: Robertlandy Simon (Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza)

Petar Dirlic
‘s post-game statement.
“Too bad about the final result, but after Wednesday; I think it was a very tough match for everyone. We played equal five more sets against a great team. At one point it was all in our hands, but è we lacked a little something in batting and defense maybe. The’absence of the video check I think weighed in the first set which could have had a different outcome, but the referees were very good in handling the match to the end anyway”.

Coach Roberto Piazza’s comment
“I can’t ignore how in the first set the video check would have proved us right on a couple of occasions and the match probably would have ended differently, particularly on Brizard’s outside hit. Però the cameras were not there for us, but neither were they. So we have to look at the things that can be improved. We can do some transitions better, handle some high ball situations better, and we could have done some more defense. We però give credit to the opponents for the win. We scored the same points as we and Piacenza, let’s take home 1 point from a difficult field where we rested Yuki and Matteo”.

Press Release Allianz Milan