Allianz Milano gave Rana Verona a scare, but failed to land the decisive blow in Game 2 of the playoff quarterfinals. Trailing 2-0, Soli set up Darlan, and the match changed with a third set dominated by the Venetians. The fourth set was more evenly matched, with few details separating the two teams. Rana Verona closed out the set and tied the score. The tie-break was a resounding back-and-forth. Allianz Milano squandered its only chance to close things out, while Verona was ruthless. Darlan sealed the win, 15-17. Reggers’ 33 points and an inspired Kreling weren’t enough to secure Game 4. Mozic’s team had its first match point on Wednesday.
Fifth set.
Allianz Milano defends, but Keita closes the score at 1-3. Reggers responds with a 3-4. Kreling blocks Mozic, making it 5-5. It’s deadlocked. The set switches ends with Rana Verona at 8 and Allianz Milano at 7. Reggers’ ace breaks the deadlock at 11-10, and Glatz scores for Keita. Piazza calls a timeout on the tie. Corbetta blocks Ichino. Caneschi blocks Keita at 13-12. The set goes to deuce after a crosscourt serve from Darlan, making it 14-14. What a finish to the match. Another turnaround, another on the Malian’s serve, Zingel makes it 15-16. Darlan closes it out at 15-17.
ALLIANZ MILANO – RANA VERONA 2-3
(27-25, 25-20, 16-25, 22-25, 15-17)
ALLIANZ MILANO: Kreling 2, Reggers 33, Otsuka 14, Ichino 13, Caneschi 7, Masulovic 1, Catania (L), Lindqvist, Benacchio (L2) ne, Di Martino 3, Rotty, Corbetta, Barbanti ne, Masajedi ne. All.: Roberto Piazza, Ass.: Nicola Daldello.
RANA VERONA: Christenson 5, Darlan 18, Sani 5, Keita 21, Zingel 10, Vitelli 4, Staforini (L), Planinsic, Glatz, Nedeljkovic 4, Mozic 13, D’Amico (L2) ne, Gironi, Valbusa ne. All. Fabio Soli. Ass. Matteo De Cecco
Arbitri: Vincenzo Carcione di Roma e Alessandro Pietro Cavalieri di Lamezia Terme (3° Andrea Clemente). Al video check Francesco Mischi, segnapunti Margherita Spagnoli.
Spettatori 2.992
MVP: Christenson
Note: durata set 29’, 27’, 23’, 28’ e 20’ per due ore e 7 minuti. Muri punto: Milano 10, Verona 9. Battute punto: Milano 5 (con 25 errori), Verona 6 (25 errori). Attacco punto: Milano 53%, Verona 59%. Ricezione positiva: Milano 47% (26% perfetta), Verona 48% (22%). Cambio palla dopo ricezione positiva Milano 62%, Verona 62%; dopo ricezione negativa Milano 47%, Verona 62%. Contrattacco punto: Milano 47%, Verona 52%.
