In the qualifying round for the 5th place playoff in the Italian Men's Volleyball League Serie A, Takahashi Ai's team, Padova, played against Taranto away on Sunday, March 26th local time, and lost 0-3 (26-28, 22-25, 17-25).
Takahashi Ai started this game on the bench as well, playing as a receiver in the first and second sets.
First set starting lineup
Padua
OH: Gardini (Italy), De Smet (Belgium)
MB: Canella (Italy), Crosato (Italy)
OP: Guzzo (Italy)
S: Zoppellari (Italy)
L: Zenger (Germany)
Taranto
OH: Antonov (Italy), Aletti (Italy)
MB: Gargiulo (Italy), Laritza (Italy)
OP: Ekstrand (Sweden)
S: Cottarelli (Italy)
L: Pieri (Italy)
*Positions: OH = outside hitter, MB = middle blocker, OP = opposite, S = setter, L = libero
The stats for this match areHere
Match Report
Taranto used Aletti, originally a middle blocker, as an outside hitter.
In the first set, Taranto took the lead 3-6 early on with spikes from OP Ekstrand and MB Gargiulo.
After that, Taranto continued to score constant breaks, including two attacks from S. Cottarelli, and greatly extended their lead to 11-17.
However, Padua then scored consecutive points with a service ace from OH Gardini and a spike from substitute OH Asparuhov (Bulgaria), closing the gap to just one point at 18-19.
Furthermore, OP Guzzo and OH De Smet scored consecutive block points from S Zoppelari's serve, and the team quickly turned the game around to 23-20.
However, from here, Taranto brought the score to deuce with an attack from OH Aletti, and OH Aletti also scored a service ace to give Taranto the set 26-28.
In the second set, Padua started with OH Asparuhof and MB Volpato (Italy) instead of OH De Smet and MB Crossart.
Early on, Taranto took the lead at 5-7 with a service ace from MB LaRizza and a spike from OH Aletti.
Furthermore, with a service ace from OH Antonov's serve and a block from MB LaRica, they scored four consecutive breaks to extend their lead to 11-16.
After that, both teams made noticeable mistakes in attack, but Padua managed to close the gap to within one point at 22-23 with a block from MB Canella and a spike from OH Asparuhov.
However, in the end, an attack from OP Ekstrand and a service ace from OH Antonov made the score 22-25, and Taranto took the set as well.
In the third set, Padua brought back OH De Smet and replaced the setter with Saitta to start.
Once again, Taranto took a 1-6 lead early on due to a block by MB Gargiulo and consecutive attack mistakes by Padua.
Taranto further extended his lead to 10-17 with a spike from OH Antonov, a service ace from MB Gargiulo, and a block that resulted in consecutive breaks.
Padua's OH Gardini scored a spike and a service ace to make the score 16-20.
However, towards the end of the game, a block from OP Ekstrand, a block from OH Aletti, and finally a service ace from MB LaRizza gave Taranto the set 17-25.
As a result, Padua lost 0-3 to Taranto.
MVP: OH Aimone Aletti (10 points (1 serve, 1 block), 80% attack success rate, 33% serve reception success rate)
Ai Takahashi played as a receiver in the first and second sets but did not score any points.
The next match will be against Cisterna at home on Sunday, April 2nd at 15:30 local time (22:30 Japan time).
Thoughts on the match etc.
Well, just like last time, it was more of a practice match.
Taranto's middle player Aletti was on the outside (but he played so well he ended up winning MVP (lol)).
Even though it was only three sets, there were so many mistakes on both sides that it wasn't very exciting to watch, or rather it was a little painful to watch...
Padua probably would have won if they had played Takahashi as a normal player rather than just as a receiver.
However, the fact that they didn't do that means they had no intention of going that far to win in the first place.
They probably don't need to win (in fact, they don't want to advance to the 5th place match), so I think the team is mainly made up of players who didn't get many opportunities to play in the regular season and players who will remain with Padua next season.
I understand why it turns out that way, but personally I don't see the point in having spectators and paying money to see a match like this where neither side is trying their best to win.
This qualifying tournament to decide 5th place among the teams ranked 9th to 11th in the regular season was a new attempt, but it was a complete failure on the part of the organizers.
I hope they will reassess it next season.
If things continue like this, Takahashi might end up returning home halfway through.
It doesn't mean much to him, and if he stays with it until the end, he'll miss out on the precious off-season before the national team starts.
But before that, I hope they will play Takahashi in the No. 2 position, a position he never tried once during the regular season (laughs).
Photo: Lega Pallavolo SerieA
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