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Vero Volley Monza has broken their winless streak, securing their first league victory in a dramatic five-set thriller against Acqua Sant’Anna Cuneo. The hard-fought 3-2 win, decided in the decisive tie-break, came after a match lasting over two hours.
Monza Edges Out Cuneo in Nail-Biting Contest
Monza established an early advantage, taking the first two sets with scores of 25-21 and 25-23. However, the home team, Acqua Sant’Anna Cuneo, mounted a spirited comeback, forcing a deciding fifth set by winning the next two sets 25-23 and 28-26. In the crucial tie-break, Monza demonstrated resilience and composure, ultimately clinching the set 15-13 to secure the vital two points.
Frascio Shines as MVP in Monza’s Breakthrough Performance
The match saw standout performances from both sides. Diego Frascio was the hero for Vero Volley Monza, earning the MVP award with an impressive 27 points, including a 54% attack efficiency. On the Cuneo side, opposite hitter Nathan Feral was the top scorer of the match, netting 31 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win for his team.
The starting lineups featured:
- Acqua Sant’Anna Cuneo: Argilagos (setter), Feral (opposite), Hossein Khanzadeh and Champlin (outside hitters), Codarin and Mosca (middle blockers), Cavaccini (libero).
- Vero Volley Monza: Bonacchi (setter), Frascio (opposite), Velichkov and Khotsevitch (outside hitters), Beretta and Petkov (middle blockers), Morazzini (libero).
Key Moments and Set Recaps
Monza started strong, leading for much of the first set before Cuneo fought back to tie at 19-19. Captain Beretta’s crucial blocks helped Monza regain momentum, leading to a 25-21 set win. The second set saw Cuneo take a commanding 17-13 lead, but Monza once again rallied, with an ace from Khotsevitch and a point from Velichkov sealing the set 25-23 for Monza.
Cuneo responded emphatically in the third set, with an ace from Feral proving decisive in their 25-23 victory. The fourth set was a tense, back-and-forth affair that went into deuce, with Cuneo ultimately prevailing 28-26 to level the match.
The tie-break followed a similar pattern, with Monza trailing at the changeover but finding another gear. Petkov’s ace at 12-10 and a powerful attack from Frascio sealed the dramatic 15-13 victory for Vero Volley Monza.
“I am very happy because we have broken the ice. We started strong in the first two sets, then they reacted thanks to the support of the crowd. We were good at staying focused and that was the key to success. It’s not easy to play here, mental strength and good blocking-defense were fundamental to bringing home a positive result. Now we think about Modena, a strong team that we will face in front of our fans. The path we have taken is the right one, we must build on this match to do even better.”
– Diego Frascio, Vero Volley Monza
This crucial win provides a significant boost for Monza in their quest for league survival. Their next challenge comes on Sunday, November 8th, when they host Valsa Group Modena at the Opiquad Arena, aiming to build on this momentum.
