Csi Clai Imola vs Akademia Sant’Anna Messina 1-3 (25-17, 15-25, 22-25, 13-25)
Csi Clai Imola: Pomili 11, Rizzieri 0, Bacchilega 4, Pinarello 0, Cavalli ne, Mescoli 1, Ravazzolo 10, Arcangeli ne, Migliorini 1, Mastrilli (L) 0, Gambini (L) ne, Visentin 0, Messaggi 0, Bulovic 16, Stival 13. All. N.Caliendo, ODSpeek
Akademia Sant’Anna Messina: Norgini 0, Olivotto 10, Carraro 3, Modestino 19, Rossetto 11, Mason 8, Trevisiol ne, Caforio (L) 0, Babatunde 1, Guzin ne, Diop 18. All. F.Bonafede, Ass. F. Ferrara
Referees: Simone Magnino and Davide Villano
Videocheck: Mattia Massone
Set duration: 25′, 24′, 31′, 22′
MVP: Dalila Modestino (Akademia Sant’Anna)
Akademia Sant’Anna returned to success in the first return leg of the Regular Season against Csi Clai Imola (1-3: 25-17, 15-25, 22-25, 13-25). This time, the land of Romagna smiles at coach Bonafede’s SuperGirls who – at PalaRuggi – after having surrendered the first set to the blue and whites, forcefully return to the match and with character close a very delicate match in their favor, both for the value of the opponent than for the need to immediately redeem last week’s misstep. This is the ninth victory of the season for the Messina team which is once again at the top of the table, given the simultaneous defeat in the tie-break in San Giovanni against Costa Volpino.
As announced on the eve, it is not easy to get the better of an opponent of good overall quality, square behind and against whom it was necessary to deploy the right amount of patience, aggression and regain the best polish of the central Dalila Modestino, MVP, Top Spiker and Blocker of the match.
In the first set, a positive start for the Sicilians (5-8), who came back and then broke away thanks to the good moment of Pomili and Ravazzolo towards the middle of the set (16-13). The Modestino-Babatunde change does not have the desired effects; Ravazzolo and Bulovic extend to +5 (20-15), before closing with Stival’s series (25-17). Also in the second set, Akademia starts ahead and, this time, manages to maintain the accumulated gap (3-7, 4-10), The revitalized Modestino is unstoppable and, halfway through the set, the blocks of Mason and Olivotto allow them to maintain the +6 advantage (10-16). Rossetto is a guarantee, both in the second line and forward; for Imola there is little to counter. Modestino, Diop and Rossetto herself increase the gap, making it unbridgeable (11-22). The Irpinia power plant will close the deal; defenseless Imola. Third set more balanced; Messina manages to take a double lead, held until Rossetto and Modestino broke away (17-21). Imola goes back up with Bulovic, Messina responds with Olivotto, Rossetto and Modestino, also winning the third set. The last set consecrates the Sicilians, who are decidedly more relaxed than in the previous phases of the match. The +7 signed by Olivotto (2-9) is almost a sentence. Imola fails to react, loses its edge at the start of the match and Messina extends (6-15). Caliendo tries to shuffle the cards, but Messina’s tortoise effect is devastating. At the end of the set, there will be twelve points of separation between the two teams.
In the starting six, for Imola coach Caliendo lines up Rizzieri as director, Stival as opposite, Bacchilega and Ravazzolo as central players, Pomili and Bulovic in place 4, Mastrilli as libero. For Messina coach Bonafede sends Carraro as director, his opposite number Diop, central defenders Modestino and Olivotto, place 4 Mason and Rossetto, libero Caforio.
In the first set, break by Rossetto on the block in Olivotto’s turn of service (0-1); the Paduan spiker repeats herself immediately afterwards in attack (0-2). Imola puts everything back into balance but Diop takes the ball back with a narrow diagonal from place 2 (2-3). Messina’s service error, then Rossetto gets blocked and Imola overtakes (4-3). Rizzieri misses from nine meters, then invades the net; counter-overtaking by Messina (4-5). Pomili equalizes the score, Modestino wins in fast (5-6). Bulovic shoots long from position 4, Mason throws short; break Messina (5-8). Stival passes in the middle of the wall, ace from Ravazzolo and Imola is close again (7-8). Attacking foul by Diop who touches the three meter line, Stival is not precise in attack (8-9). Carraro covers well, but Mason attacks out (9-9). Four touches from Messina, Olivotto scored in the first half, Bulovic and Bacchilega found a touch-out (12-10). Bulovic’s service error, Modestino blocks Pomili, Stival from the second line sinks the shot (13-12). Diop equalizes the score with power (13-13), Pomili attacks strongly on the hands of Carraro and Modestino who are unable to contain (14-13). On Pomili’s block on Diop (15-13), coach Bonafede calls a time-out.
Upon returning, Pomili chooses the right tempo on Modestino’s fast, before attacking skillfully in an open area (17-13). Modestino out, Babatunde in. From the second line, Diop shortens. Break by Messina with Babatunde’s block (17-15). Ravazzolo and a block out by the Apulian central team bring Imola back to +4 (19-15). Coach Bonafede stops the game again.
Once the thirty seconds are over, Ravazzolo stops Rossetto against the wall (20-15). Diop passes, Mason does not (21-16). Visentin takes over Ravazzolo, Diop makes mistakes in attack, Stival effective twice and Imola at +8 (24-16). Bacchilega broken up on a slash ball, closes Stival with a touch-out (25-17). 5 errors for Imola, 7 for Messina. Top scorer in Stival with 6 points.
In the second set, Diop wins on a long rally with a deep diagonal, Carraro takes the second touch (0-2). Bacchilega finds a hole in zone 6 but then fails to serve (1-3). Ravazzolo touches the ball enough for it to end on Messina’s taraflex (2-3). Diop’s error balances the score for the partial (3-3). Rossetto on the opponent’s seven meters in the pipe, then in parallel from place 4 (3-5). Stival widens the diagonal too much, Diop is content to place it on the wall which he is unable to contain (3-7). Ravazzolo moves to center, Pomili does not serve (4-8). Break by Modestino on the block and Diop still in support (4-10); coach Caliendo stops the game.
Upon returning to the taraflex, Bulovic takes Diop’s hands outside, Modestino, in the center, serves (5-11). Bulovic is in her best moment and Rossetto is unable to stop her (6-11). Rossetto herself attacks on the high hands of the block, before Bulovic hits effectively again (7-12). Modestino attacks a fast shot, then is unstoppable in the first half (8-13). Pomili closes a diagonal shot at Modestino’s feet, Mason pinches the ball onto the Imola side’s broken edge (9-14). Break by Olivotto on the block, Diop doesn’t find the right fit from place 2. Monster block by Mason who, however, is unable to find continuity in attack (11-16). Ravazzolo walls out Modestino; the latter attacks effectively in the center, before Rizzieri’s touch on goal (11-19). Coach Caliendo calls time-out. Diop is seen again with an impregnable long line, Rossetto supports his opponent’s cunning block (11-20). Double substitution for Imola: Pinarello and Mescoli for Rizzieri and Bulovic. Block from Modestino, but Diop touches the net; Imola tries to stay in the set (12-22). In Visentin’s turn serving, replacing Ravazzolo, Modestino brought Messina to -2 from the set in the first half (12-23). Diop misses from nine meters, Stival hits with an ace. An error by Pomili gives ten set balls to the Sicilians (14-24). Rossetto misses the serve, Modestino closes in the first half (15-25). Best scorer Modestino with 11 points. 9 errors by Imola, 13 by Messina.
In the third set, break by Messina with a great attack by Diop (0-2). Two errors by Messina, Imola tied again (2-2). The advantage of the Romagna team comes from a block by Bacchilega that stops Diop (3-2). Double advantage for Imola with Bulovic; Rossetto is there in the second line, Caforio and Carraro don’t reach Rossetto’s extraordinary defense (4-2). Coach Bonafede stops the game.
Upon returning to the field, Mason takes Mastrilli by surprise (4-3) diagonally. Stival cannot find the useful surface of Messina and the Sicilians reach parity (4-4). Bulovic and Mason respond presently to their directors’ calls (5-5). Mason and Mastrilli: new duel, won again by the spiker from Messina (5-6). Messina break with Diop, then Olivotto returns the serve touching the net (6-7). Serving error by Bacchilega, winning support by Diop zone 6 (6-9). Bulovic and Pomili close the gap (8-9). Diop extends with a precise and powerful diagonal (8-10). Stival and a block from Modestino change the score (9-11). Ravazzolo fails in attack, Bulovic and Pomili find the right pass; in the middle Modestino’s +3 (11-13). Modestino is still in evidence but then fails to pass from nine meters (12-14). Ace from Imola, Olivotto responds in attack and with a block, Stival sends out a parallel lunge (13-17). Bacchilega perfect in the first half, before giving way to the serve to Visentin (14-17). Bulovic in pipe; first stopped by a crazy defense from Caforio, then Carraro can do nothing against the same type of attack (15-17). Ravazzolo blocks Diop, Rossetto extends (16-19). Ravazzolo again in evidence in attack (17-19), Diop with power, Modestino with a block (17-21); coach Caliendo calls time-out. Diop finds a point directly on an extreme defense in zone 6, then Bulovic points his hands at the block and shortens (18-22). Rossetto effective in attack, but Bulovic blocks Diop with a block (19-23). Bulovic herself goes into attack and coach Bonafede interrupts the game (20-23).
Upon returning, Bulovic is still the protagonist: strong hit from place 4 and hands out (21-23). Modestino takes care of sending Messina -1 from the set (21-24). Mason shoots long, Olivotto closes long rally and set in the center (22-25). 5 errors from Imola, none from Messina.
In the fourth set, he beats the Modestino partial in fast (0-1). Olivotto stops Bacchilega, Mason attacks the high hands of the block, then she finds the winning diagonal (0-4). Coach Caliendo calls time-out.
Upon returning to the taraflex, Carraro takes second touch; Rizzieri leaves his place as director to Pinarello (0-5). Bulovic unlocks Imola’s zero (1-5), Diop inaccurate up front (2-5). Olivotto winning in the center, Carraro scores an ace with the help of the net; Messina again at +5 (2-7). Bacchilega gets blocked by Olivotto; it is the same central Trentino player who, following this, attacks a perfect seven ball (2-9). Migliorini takes over Bacchilega. Mason is not precise in attack, Pomili deceives Caforio’s defense. Messina returns to serve with an attack from Mason (4-10). Diop increases the gap with a winning diagonal and then intelligently choosing to play with his hands on the block (4-12). Mason misses the serve, Diop and Rossetto extend the attack and coach Caliendo is forced to time out (5-14). Ravazzolo and Stival make themselves heard, for Pomili an incorrect serve (7-15). Boot walls Mason, fast in parallel by Modestino (8-16). Migliorini, Stival and Modestino lead the partial (10-17). Mescoli takes Bulovic’s place, but misses from nine meters (10-18). Double touch from Pinarello, then Stival wins (11-19). Migliorini and Pomili send Messina +10 (11-21). Great first half by Olivotto on a difficult lift by Carraro, Rossetto rejoices for -2 from the match (12-23). Olivotto fails from nine meters, Diop wins a point and eleven set points (13-24). Stival’s error hands the match to the Sicilians (13-25). Best scorer Olivotto with 6 points. 4 errors by Imola, 6 errors by Messina.
MVP, Top Spiker and Blocker of the match, Dalila Modestino (Akademia Sant’Anna), with 19 points (14 in attack with a percentage of 57%, 5 blocks). Overall, 13 errors for the Romagna girls, 25 errors for the Sicilians.
In the post-match, Aurora Rossetto’s statements: “We expected a tough match; we’ve been talking about it all week. We were good at taking it home, even though the first set didn’t go well. I have to admit that Imola is a really good team; he never gave up and it showed. I don’t think the first set was a consequence of San Giovanni’s defeat. We had already reset everything this week. We simply weren’t clear in the decisive moments. Then, although the opponents continued to fight, we were more determined in attack.”
Championship divided into two sections, even if round results are missing: “Despite the numbers, the differences are not so clearly seen on the pitch. No opponent in the group can be taken lightly.”