In the first match of the Italian Men's Volleyball League playoff semi-finals, Monza, the team played by Ai Takahashi, faced Trentino on Sunday, March 31st local time, and lost 0-3 (25-27, 20-25, 22-25).
Takahashi Ai started in the game and scored 9 points.
First set starting lineup
Monza
OH: Lepke (Canada), Takahashi
MB: Galassi (Italy), Di Martino (Italy)
OP: Schwartz (Canada)
S: Cachopa (Brazil)
L: Gazzini (Italy)
Trentino
OH: Micheletto (Italy), Lavia (Italy)
MB: Kozamelnik (Slovenia), Podrascanin (Serbia)
OP: Lihiritzki (Luxembourg)
S: Acquarone (Italy)
L: Laurenzano (Italy)
*Positions: OH = outside hitter, MB = middle blocker, OP = opposite, S = setter, L = libero
MVP: OH Alessandro Micheletto
17 points (2 serves, 4 blocks)
Attack Effectiveness Rate 32.00%
OH Ai Takahashi
9 points (Block 1)
Attack Effectiveness Rate 25.00%
As a result, Monza finished with a total of 0 wins and 1 loss in the semi-finals (3 wins out of 5 format).
The second leg of the playoff semi-finals will be held at Monza home grounds at 27:30 on Wednesday, April 3rd (Japan time).
Italian League Website: https://www.legavolley.it/
Distribution (VBTV, paid): https://www.volleyballworld.tv/home
Comment from Ai Takahashi
Toshiki's comment
I watched this match live.
Even though it was Easter Sunday, the stadium was very lively because it was the first match of the playoff semi-finals for the traditional Trentino team. The atmosphere in Trentino, where the fans are warm and passionate, is always great.
The Monza supporters were quite small, probably because the game coincided with a women's home game, but they still cheered enthusiastically using loudspeakers.
Monza had just finished their quarter-final at Civitanova four days earlier, after the match had gone into the fifth round, while Trentino was playing for the first time in 10 days after winning three straight quarter-finals.
The first set was a close one, with Monza getting the first set point, but Takahashi missed a spike at 24-23, and then Lavia scored consecutive service aces to lose the set.
Trentino then led the second and third sets, winning two in a row without any trouble, defeating Monza 3-0.
It was the serve that decided the outcome.
Looking at the numbers, there is a clear difference: Monza had one service ace and a serve receive success rate of 31%, while Trentino had nine service aces and a serve receive success rate of 59%.
Also, my impression watching the match was that Trentino was able to control the match from his serve.
I was especially thrilled by Lavia's consecutive service aces at the end of the first set. The serve that decided the set point was a perfect no-touch hit that went exactly in the opposite direction of Libero Gazzini who had moved to cover for the outside hitter. I was so impressed that I was speechless (lol).
I also got to see Acquarone properly for the first time as he replaced injured regular setter Sbertoli in the final game of the regular season, and was surprised by how good a setter he was.
The attacking choices were good, and above all, there were no conspicuous mistakes and he confidently supplied the ball to Trentino's powerful attackers. I'm surprised that such a player is in his first year in the first division this season. Trentino did a good job of taking such a player.
Takahashi's performance was neither good nor bad. However, his presence on the serve was not as strong as usual (although that was true for the whole of Monza). Also, as he himself said, I really wanted him to make the set point in the first set.
On the other hand, Lepke played a major role. He was the only player to score double figures (20 points), and his attack efficiency rate was 57.141 TP3T, which was higher than that of Trentino's side attackers. However, even he did not have a good serve.
However, there were some good plays, such as Takahashi's spike after a fake set by Lepke, and I thought it was good that there was a feeling that they might be able to make a comeback until the end of the third set.
By the way, Marr, who was not with us for this match, seems to have been unwell as I heard later, but from what I heard, I think he will be able to play in the next match.
I think the Monza players were generally fatigued, so I hope they will rest again, practice, and then do their best when they start again in the second home game!
Forza MONZA!!!
Photo: Legavolleyball.it, author
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