In the first round of the Italian Men's Volleyball League, Ishikawa Yuki's Milan team played against Modena away on Sunday, October 22nd (local time) and lost 2-3 (19-25, 25-12, 25-21, 24-26, 12-15).
Yuki Ishikawa started and scored a team-high 19 points.
First set starting lineup
Milan
OH: Kaziyski (Bulgaria), Ishikawa
MB: Rosell (Argentina), piano (Italy)
OP: Dirlic (Croatia)
S: Zonta (Italy)
L: Catania (Italy)
Modena
OH: Juan Torena (Italy), Rinaldi (Italy)
MB: Sangnetti (Italy), Stankovic (Serbia)
OP: Saposhkov (Russia)
S: Bruno (Brazil)
L: Federici (Italy)
*Positions: OH = outside hitter, MB = middle blocker, OP = opposite, S = setter, L = libero
The stats for this match areHere
Match Report
In the first set, Modena took the lead 3-7 with OP Saposchkov's blocks and spikes from the beginning. Milan also scored points with OP Dirlic's spikes, but MB Sangnetti's blocks and OP Saposchkov's service aces widened the gap to 12-17. After that, OH Ishikawa also scored spikes and blocks, but in the end, Milan's serve was a mistake and Modena took the set 19-25.
In the second set, Milan took a big lead from the beginning with Modena's mistakes and MB Rosell's blocks, 7-1. After that, OH Kaziyski's consecutive spikes made it 11-3, and MB Piano's consecutive blocks made it 18-7. In the final stages, OH Ishikawa scored a service ace, and in the end, MB Vitelli (Italy), who entered the match as a substitute, blocked OP Saposchkov, giving Milan a 25-12 win in this set.
In the third set, the match was close at the beginning and the score was 10-10, but Modena took the lead at 10-13 with spikes from OH Dawyskiba (Belarus) and OP Saposhkov. However, immediately after, Milan tied the score at 13-13 with a service ace from OH Kaziyski, and then OH Ishikawa's spikes led to a 17-15 comeback. Finally, MB Piano smashed in the balls that were returned directly from OH Kaziyski's serve, giving Milan a 25-21 win in this set as well.
In the fourth set, Modena took the lead 5-8 with a spike from OP Saposchkov. In the middle of the match, Milano managed to turn the game around with a block from MB Piano and a service ace from OH Melgarejo (Cuba), who entered the match as a substitute, leading to a 17-16 victory. After that, Milano gained a set point with a spike from OH Ishikawa and a block from MB Piano, his ninth of the day, leading to a 24-23 victory. However, Modena allowed Modena to take the lead with an attack from OH Rinaldi, and finally Modena won the set with a service ace from OH Daviskiba, winning 24-26.
In the fifth set, the match started with neither team giving in, and the score was 5-5. However, OH Daviskiba scored consecutive spikes from MB Stankovic's serve, and Modena took the lead at 5-9. OH Daviskiba also scored consecutive service aces, widening the gap to 6-12 for Modena. Milan also scored consecutive breaks with MB Rosell's block and OH Ishikawa's spike, narrowing the gap to 10-12, but in the end, OH Rinaldi's pipe attack was successful, and Modena took the set 12-15.
As a result, Milan lost to Modena 2-3.
MVP: OH Vlado Dawiskiba (12 points)
Ishikawa Yuki scored 19 points (1 on serve and 3 on blocks), with an attack success rate of 581 TP and 3 T, and a serve receive success rate of 65%.
Their next match will be against Piacenza at home on Monday, October 30th at 12:30am Japan time.
League website: https://www.legavolley.it/
Distribution (VBTV, paid): https://www.volleyballworld.tv/home
Thoughts etc.
Just like last year, the opening match in Milan started with a loss.
With the addition of Kaziyski, Dilić and Catania, the team is stronger than last season, and Ishikawa was not in bad form either, but it was a real shame that we lost our starting setter Pollo due to injury.
The reserve setter, Zonta, also did his best, but as he is a young setter making his first appearance in the top league this season, he was unable to provide sets that were easy for the attackers to hit.
Even so, Milano's blocks were astounding that day. Normally, 10 blocks in one game is quite a lot, but the team as a whole recorded 21. In particular, middle blocker Piano blocked 9 blocks by himself, and from the middle of the game, it was so amazing that I could only laugh (laughs).
Thanks to that, he was close to winning in the fourth set, but from there to the fifth set, he was able to beat Daviskiba, who won the MVP. He has the skill and mentality to take risks at the crucial moment. It wasn't Milano's fault, it was just that he played amazingly.
Although we lost, we were able to score points against a strong opponent without our regular setter, so I think we can take that as a positive. Or rather, I was just excited when Porro returned (laughs). I really want to see them attacking in the middle, especially Porro, who knows how to make use of Ishikawa's pipe attacks and Rosell's quick kicks, so I want to see them spiking quickly and freely. But Zonta also needs to do his best.
Also, with the addition of Kaziyski, a player who can take on leadership roles on the court, the atmosphere on the court has changed significantly from last season. I'm sure Ishikawa will have a lot to learn from him, both in terms of playing and other things, and I expect this season to be one in which Ishikawa can make great strides again!!!
As an aside, I hope they will sell the Milan away uniform this season because it looks so cool (last season they only sold the home uniform). If I were to buy it, I think it would be Rosell.
Photo: legapallavoloseriea
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