Final volleyball championship, Imoco Conegliano loses 3-2 with Monza at Palaverde

In race-1 Brianza’s great comeback up to the tiebreak, the Prosecco Doc did not close in the fifth set where they were ahead by 10-6. On Tuesday there is race-2 in Lombardy

VILLORBA. – The final scudetto of the women’s A1 volleyball begins with a surprise. At his absolute debut in a series for the tricolor, Monza passes to PalaVerde beating Conegliano – champion in four of the last five championships – by 3-2 (partial 25-23, 15-25, 19-25, 25-16, 15- 13). For the Brianza it is the second success on the Panthers – together with Florence they were the only ones to beat Conegliano this season – after the one obtained in the regular season and always at PalaVerde (Prosecco Doc Imoco instead won on three occasions, two of which in the Champions League), with the possibility now of playing at home next Tuesday, the chance to even go 2-0. But woe to give Conegliano for dead, who had reached the final by getting rid of in two matches in Florence and Scandicci and ready to make up for it.

An evening of fire was waiting for us and so it was. The Prosecco Doc in the sixth final found a very aggressive Monza on its way to the title, making its debut in a championship final. On the pitch the fans who flocked to Palaverde witnessed the clashes between Wolosz and Orro, Courtney and Larson, Danesi and De Krujif, De Gennaro and Parrocchiale. I start with the thrill for the panthers who struggled to start with the right attitude even in Race 1. Rettke in fact put pressure on the second yellow-blue line who struggled more than expected to keep the ball off the ground and build valid actions to attack points, also thanks to two fouls in attack (1-6).

Two attacks by Plummer made the panthers breathe again (3-6) still not very effective in stopping the opponent’s attacks. Davyskiba from the nine-meter line continued to push hard for Monza and Santarelli was forced to replace Plummer with Courtney in reception (4-10). The change cannot be said not to have been successful since the first Gialloblù wall came from his hands. An impetuous attack by Egonu then allowed Prosecco Doc to get closer (11-13).

The invasion of Orro at the net and some mistakes in attack have sanctioned the 17 equal. Davyskiba was still the most unwanted client for the Panthers both in defense, managing to counter the attacks of Sylla and her companions, and in attack by hitting the most delicate part of the set. The Panthers first with Egonu, then again with Courtney and Folie tried to stay in the race, without success. At the opening of the second the Gialloblù seemed more decisive by imposing their own pace but a few mistakes too soon compromised the advantage acquired shortly after. The wall began to touch several balls and the game to turn like in the best evenings: Wolosz found the reception of the second line and the hands of his forwards. The definitive change of pace came at 14-8 when a double advantage from Wolosz, who also defended a second attack from Orro, gave way to a yellow-blue point.

Gaspari remedied by making some changes on the pitch which, however, was unable to contain the Prosecco Doc which, action after action, with the favor of the set widened the gap on Monza up to +12 (22-11). At that point, continuing the set was a matter of ordinary administration, then closing with a first half by Folie. The panthers on the wave of the previous set continued to push with De Kuijf who guessed a good turn from the serve. It was a much more balanced challenge, with the Gialloblù who thanks to the correct attacks of the two central players, great protagonists of the set with 8 total points, and a Sylla in great dusting from the second line, led the team to give the team 6 points ahead of the opponents (18-13).

A wall by Wolosz and two aces by Egonu raised the adrenaline of the five thousand in the building (25-19). A rubber band the score at the opening of the fourth set. Monza then guessed a few more actions thanks to a newfound competitive malice, dragged once again by Davyskiba back on the shields and Van Hecke (13-18). The Prosecco Doc has gone out and with it also its forwards whose shots have always been read.

So it took a tiebreak, not without chills, to decree the victory. A proof of character of the panthers was not enough. The winner was a more attentive Monza that will be able to say its own again on Tuesday 3 at 20.30 at home. The panthers will have to rearrange their ideas instead.