Ahead of two sets to zero, Maranesi’s team gets back from Sarroch. Saturday in Cagliari in race 2 will need another success to fly to the final
GARLASCO
In the “dr Jekyll and mr Hyde” version, the 2001 Garlasco Volleyball complicates life at home in game 1 of the men’s Serie B play off semifinal. Ahead two sets at zero and 23-17 with Sarroch, Garlasco incredibly throws everything away, gets back together and wins only at the tie break: Saturday the decisive game 2 in Cagliari will be very tough because to get to the final there are no alternatives to one another victory.
An exciting game
It is a thrilling battle from the very first balls. The balance dominates, neither team manages to break and we arrive arm in arm until 19-19 and 21-21, then Garlasco’s serve stings in a couple of situations (23-21), Crusca puts down force the fundamental diagonal of 24-22, the subsequent error in attack by Cagliari gives the set to the lomellini (25-22). Going from the center, Garlasco tries the break at the start of the second fraction and Coali pushes the attack of 5-2. But it is the service of coach Maranesi’s boys now that makes the difference with Cagliari in serious difficulty in receiving and replaying (6-2 and island time out) and making mistakes in every forcing (10-5). Sarroch runs out of suspensions at 13-9, but when the central Mellano goes to serve for the lomellini, here is the real break, with the three-way wall of Garlasque going up for 18-11 and putting a good mortgage on the second set. Mellano is a machine and also puts the ace of 19-11, then again the home wall prints the ball of 21-11. Cagliari dissolves, Mellano insists until 24-11, then Coali doubles the set count (25-12) with an unstoppable first half of his. Garlasco restarts with momentum who still exploits the Sardinian errors and immediately stretches (6-2 and 9-3). Cagliaritano jolt when Garlasco gets stuck in a difficult rotation (11-9), but the witty touch of the usual Crusca arrives to unravel the stalemate and the boys from Maranesi leave again (13-9). The coach, however, wastes no time when Cagliari comes back down (16-14) and makes no mistake because the Sardinians are alive (16-16). Beltrami’s turn at bat shakes Garlasco (19-16 and time out for Sarroch), it seems to be done at 23-17, but from here on it’s late at night (23-23).
Failed the match ball at 24-23, in the sprint to the advantages Garlasco allows Cagliari to reopen the match (26-28). The music has changed, now Sarroch believes in it, Garlasco struggles (9-12 and time out by Maranesi) and suddenly crumbles (13-19). The generous return Lomellino stops at 19-22, then Cagliari brings the epilogue to the tie break (20-25). In the fifth set the lively 2001 Volleyball of the first two returns late (5-0, 8-4 at the change of field, 13-7) and the final 15-11, more than a relief, further increases the regrets. –
Fabio Babetto