On Thursday, December 26th local time, Milan, where Otsuka Tatsunori plays, will face Trento in the third round of the Italian Superlegaga.
In the first set, Trento took the lead early on with attacks from OP Lihilicki and blocks from S. Sbertoli. Milano held on with attacks from OP Regels and service aces from OH Ruati to make it 13-15, but then 6 consecutive breaks, including 4 service aces from OH Micheletto, gave Trento a big lead at 15-22, and went on to win the set 18-25.
In the second set, Milano maintained the lead from the beginning with attacks from OH Kaziski and OH Ruati and a service ace from S Pollo, and advanced to 21-20. However, Trento turned the game around with a service ace from MB Barta to 21-22. Then, on set point, OH Lavia scored a service ace to win the set 23-25.
In the third set, the game was close at first, but OH Lavia's attacks helped Trento widen the lead to 8-10. Milano scored points with attacks from OH Kaziski and OH Ruati, but MB Balta scored another service ace to make it 14-18 for Trento. OH Micheletto and OH Lavia continued to score points, and finally OP Garcia's attack, who came in as a substitute, made it 19-25 for Trento, who won the set 0-3.
OH Otsuka was on the court as a defensive player in the first and second sets. In the first set, he was replaced by the middle forward who was ferociously serving OH Micheletto, and Milano showed an irregular four-piece reception, but was unable to stop Micheletto's serve.
Both OH Kaziski and OH Ruati were in good form in this match, so OH Otsuka didn't have a big turn. If he could be stable and score like this on a regular basis, I think the team would be easier, but that's probably difficult.
On the other hand, OP Regels, who is usually Milan's top point getter, was not performing well, and there was a period in the third set when he was replaced by OP Barot, who was on the bench. I think that he was tired and his performance dropped because he had been hitting at full throttle up to this point in the domestic league and the Champions League. Also, Trento's marking was strict.
Trent was just attacking with serve and block. Especially in the first set, Micheletto's serve was really helpless. MB Barta and OH Ravia also hit great serves at key points. Also, OP Regels was well shut down in block.
Also, OH Micheletto and OH Ravia, who are the OH opposite each other on the Italian national team, are a great source of security.
Milan's L Catania conceded 7 points against that serve. I think they could have replaced him with L Stafolini, but that didn't happen.
The Coppa Italia quarterfinals are finally approaching on Sunday. Milan has advanced to the semifinals for three consecutive years until last season, but I think this season will be quite tough. However, their opponent, Civitanova, also lost to Monza this week, so it seems that the opponent is not in good form either. What will happen?
Milan-Trento
0-3(18-25, 23-25, 19-25)
Milan
Starting line-up: OH Kaziski (13), MB Kaneschi (2), S Porro (2), OH Ruati (16), MB Schnitzer (2), OP Regers (7), L Catania
Substitutes: S Zonta, OP Ballot, OH Gardini (3), OH Otsuka
Torrent
Starting line-up: OH Ravia (9), MB Flavio (6), OP Lichlicki (5), OH Micheletto (17), MB Barta (7), S Sbertri (4), L Laurenzano
Substitutes: OH Bristott, OP Garcia (5)
MVP: OH Alessandro Micheletto
17 points (5 on serves, 2 on blocks), attack efficiency rate 691 TP 3T
OH Tatsunobu Otsuka
0 points
Detailed match stats here:
https://www.legavolley.it/match/38283
Standings (12/27 runner-up)
| point | game | Victory | Defeat | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perugia (Yuki Ishikawa) | 38 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 2 | Torrent | 33 | 13 | 11 | 2 |
| 3 | Piacenza | 29 | 14 | 10 | 4 |
| 4 | Verona | 27 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| 5 | Civitanova | 27 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 6 | Milan (Tatsunori Otsuka) | 21 | 14 | 7 | 7 |
| 7 | Cisterna (Tarumi Yume) | 15 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| 8 | Modena | 15 | 14 | 5 | 9 |
| 9 | Padua | 13 | 13 | 4 | 9 |
| 10 | Taranto | 10 | 14 | 3 | 11 |
| 11 | Monza | 9 | 14 | 4 | 10 |
| 12 | Grottazzolina | 9 | 14 | 2 | 12 |
Next Round
Coppa Italia
Quarterfinals
December 29th (Sun) 26:00～ vs Civitanova
Distribution: VBTV (https://subscribe.volleyballworld.com/volleyball-tv1)
Italian League
The last 4 sections
January 6th (Mon) 25:00~ vs Monza
Distribution: VBTV (https://subscribe.volleyballworld.com/volleyball-tv1)
European Champions League
Group Match 5
January 16th (Thursday) 28:30 ~ vs Roeselare (Belgium)
Distribution: EurovolleyTV (https://www.eurovolley.tv/)
Photo: legavolley.it
English 
Japanese