SERIE A1 TIM
MILANO – ROMA ENDS AT TIE BREAK
TWO POINTS FOR THE ROMANS, MARTINO MVP
SPARKLING MILANO – M. ROMA VOLLEY 2-3 (25-19, 23-25, 25-15, 28-30, 11-15)
SPARKLING MILANO: Vicini (L), Millar 15, Nikic, Samica 17, Cortina (L), Martino 20, Rosalba, Kadziewicz 4, Spairani 1, Travica 1, Gardner 22, Giombini. N E Bendandi. Coach Ricci Daniele.
M. ROMA VOLLEY: Mastrangelo 6, Henno (L), Savani 8, Coscione 1, Tofoli, Marshall 14, Molteni 10, Hernandez 12, Kooistra 9, Miljkovic 13, Semenzato 3. N E Romero. Coach Serniotti Roberto.
REFs: Maurizio Giani, Luca Zecchini.
NOTES – Spectators 2000, takings 3000, set lenght: 25′, 26′, 24′, 30′, 15′; tot: 120′.
MILANO – The early match of the Serie A1 TIM second leg’s third round ends at tie break. In the derby of the metropolis, M. Roma Volley takes over PalaLido winning 2ì3 against Sparkling Milano.
The home team was on step to victory in the 4th set when Mastrangelo & Co. managed to null two match balls with Hernandez and Molteni. They were the two vital players for the romans victory together with Paolo Tofoli, all of the three called in By Serniotti during the match.
Miljkovic and Vicini have had to leave the grounds early due to two mild injuries; to replace them, the Cuban diagonal player and young (class of ’87) Danilo Cortina on the other side.
Matteo Martino was the one who came out more than anyone else, voted Mvp. 20 points scored by the young player from Alessandria, including an ace and a successful block (point).
His was the vital move for Sparkling in the third set, when the match was totally balanced. Martino and Millar were vital to the speedy start of the home team who leads for 10-4 straight away. Milano flies to win the third set and in the fourth one the match finds its balance again. Gardner signs the 24-22 though which has a taste of victory. M. roma Volley is not happy about that and gets even with Hernandez’ ace before going ahead with Marshall’s attack (26-27). Roma wins for 28-30 and they go to tie break.
Mastrangelo scores the 1-4, Molteni the 7-13, anticipating the victory. It is Molteni himself who closes the match on 11-15.
Roma cheers, Milano gets one point towards their standings. At the end the two teams and their supporters give birth to an “extra set” with a dinner party to celebrate sport and fair play.
Matteo Martino (Sparkling Milano): “Nothing is for granted in volleyball. This is our third consecutive defeat. Shame because we did believe in it, we were confident we could do well but against a team like Roma you can never lower your guard as you can see. We are happy to have scored a point against them, from monday we will be back training and thinking about Macerata, an extremely important match for us”.
Roberto Serniotti (M. Roma Volley): “The match started with enormous difficulties, we were not aggressive enough, especially with our blocking, and they came through everywhere. Luckily we managed to do better in the second set and we played with balance. At crucial times in the 4th set, when we were facing difficulties, we managed to win in the end. Milano played a great match, it is nice to see young players growing so much. Today I must say thank you to my “old guys” who prove to be great players still, every time I call on them. I am happy this way”.
MVP: Matteo Martino (Sparkling Milano)
SERIE A1 TIM – 3rd Round, 2nd Leg
The programme
Played today
Sparkling Milano – M. Roma Volley 2-3 (25-19; 23-25; 25-15; 28-30; 11-15)
Sun Feb 3rd 2008, 18:00
Cimone MODENA – Andreoli LATINA
Gini – Longo
RPA-LuigiBacchi.it PERUGIA – Sisley TREVISO
Sampaolo – Pasquali
Antonveneta PADOVA – Prisma TARANTO
Bartolini – Lavorenti
Famigliulo CORIGLIANO – Lube Banca Marche MACERATA
Barbero – Locatelli
Sun Feb 3rd 2008, 18:30
Bre Banca Lannutti CUNEO – Copra Nordmeccanica PIACENZA (LIVE ON SKY Sport 2)
Pol – Santi
Mon Feb 4th 2008, 20:30
Acqua Paradiso Gabeca MONTICHIARI – Itas Diatec TRENTINO (LIVE ON SKY Sport 2)
Mastrodonato – Pessolano
STANDINGS
M. ROMA Volley* 37; Bre Banca Lannutti CUNEO, 32; Itas Diatec TRENTINO 31; Lube Banca Marche MACERATA 28; Sisley TREVISO 27; Copra Nordmeccanica PIACENZA 26; Cimone MODENA 24; Antonveneta PADOVA, Acqua Paradiso Gabeca MONTICHIARI, Sparkling MILANO* 20; Prisma TARANTO 16; RPA-LuigiBacchi.it PERUGIA
*one extra match played
