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Rana Verona secured their first home victory of the season in a dramatic fashion, staging a thrilling comeback to defeat Allianz Milano 3-2 in a grueling tie-break match. The home crowd was treated to an epic contest that saw Verona dig deep after dropping the first two sets.
Verona’s Resilience Shines Through After Slow Start
Milano came out strong, taking the opening two sets and seemingly in control of the match. However, Coach Soli’s squad refused to fold. They found another gear, playing with renewed aggression and determination to turn the tide.
The initial lineup for Verona featured the main diagonal of Motta Paes and Buchegger, with Mozic and Keita on the wings, and Anzani and Vitelli at the middle blocker positions. Scanferla served as the libero. Milano’s early dominance was evident, with Rotty and Simon making their presence felt at the net. Despite Verona’s efforts, including points from Keita and blocks from Paes, Milano extended their lead.
The first set saw Milano build a significant lead, reaching 8-13. Verona showed flashes of resilience, with Keita and Paes contributing points, but Milano managed to close out the set. The second set followed a similar pattern, with Milano maintaining a slight advantage throughout. Keita was a standout performer, keeping Verona in contention with powerful attacks and crucial plays, but Milano ultimately clinched the set to go up two sets to none.
Keita Leads the Charge in Verona’s Resurgence
Following a brief delay due to an unusual situation involving red cards for both teams at the set change, the third set began with the score reset to 1-1. This seemed to ignite Rana Verona. Noumory Keita, in particular, became a dominant force, scoring from all areas of the court, including a crucial pipe attack that put Verona ahead 8-5.
The match became intensely competitive, with Milano fighting back with multiple blocks to regain the lead. However, Keita continued to be Verona’s talisman, delivering crucial points and spearheading a counter-attack that saw them retake the lead. Buchegger also contributed with strong serves, extending Verona’s advantage to 19-15. Although Milano managed to equalize, Keita delivered the set-ending point with a powerful serve, bringing Verona back into the match.
The momentum had clearly shifted. Keita’s exceptional performance was instrumental in Verona’s comeback. His ability to score under pressure and his impactful serving were key factors in turning the match around.
Verona Completes the Comeback in Thrilling Fashion
The fourth set remained tightly contested in the early stages. Simon’s blocking and Motta Paes’s serving, along with his unexpected attacking prowess, gave Verona a narrow 8-7 lead. Verona gradually pulled away, with Sani and Buchegger adding crucial points. Keita then went on a remarkable serving run, including two aces, extending Verona’s lead to a commanding 19-12. This surge proved decisive, allowing Verona to secure the set and force a deciding tie-break.
In the fifth set, Keita continued his stellar play, opening the scoring with a well-placed shot. Buchegger followed suit, and Simon’s serving helped Verona maintain a narrow 5-4 lead. After the side change, Vitelli’s block, Sani’s attack, and Paes’s ace pushed Verona further ahead. Keita delivered a final, soaring attack to seal the match, despite Milano saving one match point. The final score of 15-10 in the tie-break reflected Verona’s dominant performance in the crucial final moments.
Noumory Keita was deservedly named MVP of the match, finishing with an outstanding 30 points, including 4 aces. His all-around performance was pivotal in Verona’s remarkable turnaround.
Match Statistics
- Final Score: Rana Verona 3 – 2 Allianz Milano (22-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-18, 15-10)
- Rana Verona: Motta Paes 7, Buchegger 16, Mozic 6, Keita 30, Anzani 2, Vitelli 5, Sani 6, Glatz 2.
- Allianz Milano: Porro 3, Dermaux 20, Rotty 8, Otsuka 17, Simon 10, Bartolucci 8.
- MVP: Noumory Keita (Rana Verona)
- Attendance: 3257
This hard-fought victory gives Rana Verona a significant boost in confidence as they look ahead to their next challenge.
