The exams, and the problems, never end… but this Tonno Callipo is armored against the elements! This time in Teramo, in the first of the two consecutive away matches on the calendar, to mark a visit for precautionary rest, it is the talented Besteghi who so far and for seven matches has worthily replaced the injured Scacchetti. So here is the excellent debut of Barbara Bacciottini, who contributes to the ninth victory in as many matches, useful not only to maintain the top position (with 27 points for a full score), but also to consolidate it by extending to +3 over Oplonti (victory 3-2 in Perugia against Trestina) and even +7 over Castellana (fourth). In short, even from Abruzzo you can admire Tonno Callipo on the ball, who also takes away the ‘thought’ of the first set lost after nine matches, and sends an even clearer warning to the competition about their ambitious objectives.
Having said that Besteghi is unavailable, the other ‘novelty’ in the lineup is the reconfirmation of Cammisa in the squad, after the excellent performance against Bisceglie. Also last night the Apulian spiker repeated her past performance, not only with her resounding 16 points (with 1 block and 2 aces) de facto vice bomber after Botarelli (best scorer, with 48% in attack, 2 aces and 1 block), but also with 44% of positive receptions and 33% in attack. To summarize, the diagonal is made up of Bacciottini-Botarelli, Civitico and Rizzo in the centre, and Grigolo completing the band with Cammisa, Quiligotti libero.
NEWS. Tonno Callipo starts with the usual authority and starts off well (1-3), driven above all by the hot left-footed Grigolo (three points in the team’s first four) and by an ace from Bacciottini, on his debut, which sets the result at 5-2 for Vibo. The set was practically downhill for the Giallorossi who always maintained a significant advantage (8-4, 10-6). Until Teramo has a jolt and goes on a 5-0 run, bringing the score to a draw, 11-11. Coach Saja calls time out and Tonno Callipo starts grinding out the game and points again: +4 (14-19) and the local coach Relato calls time. But the Giallorossi team knows no stops, so Botarelli and Cammisa push forward until 21-15. Teramo tries to climb back but it is above all some errors by the Giallorossi that reduce the gap (18-22), until Botarelli, in the pipe, wins the set-point which is finalized by Grigolo with a diagonal attack for 25-19.
In the second set the cliché does not change, in the sense that Vibo immediately takes control of the game and the score. So here are two aces from Botarelli that set the lead at 6-3 for Vibo. Timid reaction from Teramo which twice leads to -1, the last one at 8-9 when Tonno Callipo then takes off and always maintains a reassuring lead. A block from Civitico for 17-13 and a parallel from Cammisa for 20-14, with an attached local time out, mark the break with the Abruzzo team. Subsequently, the set continues without jolts, but with Vibo managing the advantage thanks to a first half by Civitico (for 22-15) and several point errors by the clubs, which effectively give the 2-0 to Vibo.
The third set appears more balanced from the start: a tie that continues until 7-7. From here on, Teramo becomes concrete and determined by strengthening the defense wall, while Vibo seems to experience some moments of difficulty. The Abruzzo team didn’t have to wait and pressed on the accelerator: so they went ahead 10-7 and Saja called time. Upon returning to the pitch, Teramo continues with great determination, pushing for every ball. Beyond the net Vibo cannot be found, with Abruzzo’s serve becoming more incisive: and in which the good streak of Stellati emerges, their best scorer with 13 points, of which 7 are blocks. So the set always continues with Teramo ahead (15-12 and 17-13), when Saja uses his second time out. Rizzo and Botarelli try to lead the comeback, but the disadvantage (19-15) always remains unchanged, so after the 21-15 in the local matches, coach Saja gives space first to Denise Vinci, for Grigolo, and shortly after to Scarabottini for Botarelli. The set is now over and Teramo closes the gap (25-15) with a final error by Civitico. Vibo, after 9 matches, therefore loses its first set.
Obviously the big teams immediately get back on track, so in the fourth set the starting six is back for Tonno Callipo who returns determined to close the score. After the initial draw, 3-3, Botarelli and Rizzo increase the lead again (8-3), which still remains in the order of 4-5 points, proving that the past set has already been metabolised by the Giallorossi. Bacciottini scores the 9-5 from the second leg and then serves his hammers excellently – Grigolo (11-8), Botarelli (12-9) and Cammisa (14-11) – who in turn increase the advantage. Until Botarelli again, for 16-11, forces Relato to call time. An ace from Civitico extends the lead to 17-11 and a local error leads (to 20-13 Vibo) to the second time out for Teramo. Vibo now only has to manage the advantage and does so without worries, with Cammisa making his mark with two aces in a row and with Grigolo’s attack for the final 25-15. Final celebration for the Giallorossi who toast their ninth victory in a row! Tonno Callipo will remain in the centre-north to best prepare for the second consecutive away match, on Saturday in Jesi, moving from Abruzzo to the Marche.
INTERVIEW. At the end of the match, coach Saja is satisfied: “We played another game of substance, bringing home the three points which was what we had to do. Certainly with the calendar we find ourselves in front of, this victory is certainly a very important step. In a complex stadium partly due to the logistics and partly due to the cold temperature – underlines the Giallorossi coach -, we played two sets with great intensity and a lot of clarity, which saw the debut of Bacciottini as a setter, leading with discreet authority. In the third set however we we’re a bit relaxed, I’d say too much, and even when we started grinding the game again, on the other side they were rightly galvanized and took home their set. I have to say though – continues Saja – that then the girls went back to work with great clarity and attention, and we took home the next set without major worries. Ultimately, another step forward and another match with three points, and now we’re approaching the match against Jesi. This week we’ll stay away from home and there we will train in Filottrano: we will have to be good at maintaining the right concentration and attitude with which we started the match against Teramo.”
ARTONI GROUP FUTURA TERAMO – CALLIPO TUNA 1-3
(19-25, 16-25, 25-15, 15-25)
TERAMO: Green 5, Messaggi 7, Angeloni 1, Giombini 4, Coccoli 9, Renzi 6, Stellati 13, Formenti (L1 46%pos, 32%prf), Capone. Ne: Pheasants (L), Tramonti, Mazzagatti, Torreggianti. Related Annex
CALLIPO TUNA: Bacciottini 2, Botarelli 18, Civitico 8, Rizzo 9, Grigolo 9, Cammisa 16, Quiligotti (L, 55% pos, 21% prf), Scarabottini, Vinci. Ne: Pomili, Natalizia (L), Macedo, Massara, Besteghi. All. Saja
REFEREES: Emiliano Galletti and Lorenzo Mezzanotte
NOTE: set duration: 25′, 21′, 23′, 23′ for a total of one hour and 32′. Teramo: ace 5, sc 10, blocks 10, errors 28; Vibo: ace 6, bs 18, blocks 7, errors 30. Attack 26%-39%; reception 38%-52%.