On Saturday, March 8th (local time), the first match of the Italian Superlegga playoff quarterfinals between Perugia and Modena took place. Perugia, where Yuki Ishikawa plays, defeated Modena 3-1 (23-25, 32-30, 25-22, 25-28), winning their first home match. The playoffs are played in a home and away format with 3 wins from 5 matches.
Ishikawa Yuki started on the bench, as he did in the previous match.
In the first set, Modena took a 4-7 lead after breaking through the efforts of MB Matti and OH Gutierrez. In the middle of the set, Perugia caught up at 12-12 with a block from MB Rosell, but with a service ace from MB Anzani, Modena again widened the gap to 14-17. Modena continued to score with spikes from OP Bukegel, taking the lead at 18-24. From there, Perugia broke four times in a row with aces from S Gianelli's serve, closing in at 23-24, but in the end, OP Bukegel scored a spike to give Modena a 23-25 victory.
In the second set, Modena took a 4-6 lead with consecutive spikes from OP Bukegel. However, Perugia again scored consecutive breaks with aces from S Gianelli's serve and a spike from OH Plotnicki, turning the game around to 15-13. From there, Perugia gained points with spikes from MB Sole and OP Ventara, taking the set point at 24-21. However, Modena took the set at 24-24 with an ace from relief server OH Mazzari. Then, Modena took the set point at 25-26 with an ace from OP Ikbairi, but Perugia took it back at 30-29 with a block from MB Rosell. Finally, OH Semeniuk scored a spike on a break chance to take the set at 32-30.
In the third set, the game was a close one with both teams scoring points, but Modena took the lead with consecutive aces from OH Daviskiba at 9-11. However, Perugia quickly caught up with an ace from OP Ventara, and when the score was 12-12, OH Ishikawa came onto the court to replace OH Plotnicki. From there, both teams broke the score, but the score remained the same, and when OH Semeniuk's spike made it 19-18, OH Ishikawa went back to the bench. After that, OH Semeniuk's spike and Modena's mistake put Perugia ahead at 22-19, and finally MB Rosell scored a quick goal to win the set 25-22.
In the fourth set, Modena took a 3-5 lead early on with consecutive aces from OP Bukegel. However, Perugia quickly caught up with 5-5 with a block from OP Ventara, and then S Gianelli closed the longest rally of the match with a two-attack to turn the game around to 8-7. After that, Perugia gradually widened the lead with points from OH Semeniuk and OP Ventara to 17-13. In the final stages, OH Plotnicki scored a spike and a service ace to put Perugia on set point at 24-17, and finally OH Plotnicki closed it out with a pipe attack to win the set 25-18 and defeat Modena 3-1.
Detailed match stats here:
https://www.legavolley.it/match/38957
I watched this match live.
Due to various circumstances, I arrived at the venue just before the start of the game, and by the time I got to my seat, the starting lineup had already been announced. Ishikawa's name was not on the starting lineup.
For me personally, this was my first time at the Para Barton (the name of Perugia's home arena) since last season's playoff final, in which Ai Takahashi fought. There were a few empty seats in the venue, but the Perugia supporters who filled the entire end of the court were overwhelming. They were very powerful and noisy (and I mean that as a compliment).
Then before the game, we throw silver tape and the players help clean it up, haha.
This is Perugia, this is Perugia.
And so the match began. Modena, who finished 7th in the regular season, was pushing Perugia, who finished 2nd. Their aggressive serves and blocks worked well, and OH Gutierrez and OP Bukegel were able to take break points on the return kicks.
This season, these two teams have met three times, all of which ended in straight wins for Perugia, so I thought this day would also end quickly. However, it's a playoff, so the results of the previous matches don't matter.
I don't think Perugia was bad at all. Modena was really good. In the first set, Perugia's coach Lorenzetti was also quite annoyed, and when OH Puttnicki made an attack mistake at the end, he lightly threw a plastic bottle at the bench.
It was a spectacular performance when Giannelli served to take the score to 23-24 from 19-24, reminiscent of the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics, but this time that was the end of the first set for Modena.
However, after that, Perugia won the deuce over 30 points in the second set, and then went on to win three sets in a row to win. Still, there's no doubt that it was a very evenly matched match until the middle of the fourth set. Perugia was trying to create a rhythm with their strong serve, but Modena was able to hold on well with their serve reception, leading to good side-outs and good rallies. I think the fourth set was a sign that the balance was broken and Perugia's serve had the advantage. It could be said that Modena's concentration had waned, or that Perugia had stepped up a gear again.
The MVP was S. Giannelli. Even in the difficult situation, he was able to hit the ball without narrowing down his target, and four of the five attackers scored double digits. He also scored seven points with three aces, two blocks, and two attacks. I will never forget the smug look on his face after he ended what was probably the longest rally of the match in the fourth set with his own two attacks.
Personally, I think OH Semeniuk's offensive and defensive performance was also MVP-level. His spike that scored the 32nd set point in the second set was trembling.
If I had to pick an MVP for Modena, it would be OP Bukegel. He lost steam in the fourth set, but his decisiveness up until that point was incredible.
OH Ishikawa entered the match in the second and third sets, and although he had some opportunities to attack, especially in the third set, he was unable to score. After the match, he was interviewed, but he was coughing occasionally during the interview and seemed to have just recovered from an illness, so he did not seem to be in perfect condition for the 100%. We hope that he recovers quickly.
But the playoffs. The play and the players are so hot. It's hard to predict the regular season, the venue and the schedule, and it's getting harder to get tickets, but this is the battle I really want you to witness in person.
Photo: legapallavolo.it, photo by author
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