Motta finds his big names and gets rid of Lagonegro. On Sunday there is Porto Viro

CAORLE

HRK Diana Group faster than the ambulance to the appointment. The green-and-whites start half an hour late due to an unexpected problem by the medical crew, but they win quickly, regulating Lagonegro with a sharp 3-0, postponing the penultimate first leg. It is a “chase crisis” victory, after two stops in a row. The lions rise to fifth place with 20 points, and obtain the mathematical qualification for the first round of the Italian Cup (against Cuneo or Reggio Emilia on Thursday 6 January). On Sunday the green-and-whites will close the first round in Porto Viro. Coach Lorizio’s team recovers Gamba and Loglisci. The beginning for the HRK Diana Group is complicated, the audience sees an alternation of the score, but in the end the Motta grows against the wall and finds themselves with two set points in the decisive moment: 24-22. Failed the first attempt, Motta wins the set in the second with a great attack from Cattaneo. In the second part the hosts manage, even if some free errors of Lagonegro weigh. Motta flies from 20-17 onwards and imposes himself with an ace from Cattaneo, always the same: 25-18. Less gap in the third set at the end (25-21) but this is where Motta shows the best things. After the first break at the start (8-4), Motta collects two decisive points to keep the Rossoneri away: first he scores Gamba (13-10), then Loglisci (14-10). When shortly after, by rotation, Gamba (for him 80% in attack in the second set) goes to the service line, Motta completes his masterpiece: the points arrive with an ace from the Aosta Valley and with two errors by Beghelli obviously not put in the ideal conditions from the stammering reception: 18-11, +7 as in the good times. Bad teams in service, but the closer you get to 25, the more Motta sees the 3 points closer. Lagonegro arrives at-2, but Loglisci the system scoring the last two points: 24-21, 25-21. Motta wins, in Caorle the weather says it’s cold, but the weather is clear. –

Rosario Padovano