The MINT Vero Volley Monza team showed impressive form in the friendly match against Allianz Milano, which they won decisively 3:0 (25-20; 25-12; 25-17) at the arenaOpiquad Arena. The team from Monza left no doubt about its superiority and outplayed its opponent in all elements of the game – from reception and attack to blocking.
A special highlight of this test match was the participation of several stars who, just a few days prior, were part of the World Championship in the Philippines: Ferre Reggers (Belgium, Allianz Milano), Fernando Kreling (Brazil, Allianz Milano), Tatsunori Otsuka (Japan, Allianz Milano), as well as Milan's head coach Roberto Piazza, who led the Iranian national team in Manila. This gave even greater weight to Monza's success.
Among the brightest figures on the court was the Bulgarian outside hitter Zhasmin Velichkov, who finished the match with 14 points, showing exceptional effectiveness in attack, blocking, and defense. Velichkov became a leading offensive option for Eccheli's team, demonstrating confidence and technical growth. His performance was a key factor in Monza's stability and the team's high percentage of successful attacks.
Velichkov was the second-highest scorer after Padar (15 points) and showed leadership qualities in reception. In the absence of some of the starters, he took on the offensive load and demonstrated growth, which could prove crucial for Monza at the start of the season.
The friendly match against Milano was not just a friendly test, but a serious indicator of MINT Vero Volley Monza's potential. The presence of players with World Championship experience added weight to the match, and Zhasmin Velichkov became one of the most pleasant discoveries of the game. Most likely, next week, Martin Atanasov – a silver medalist from the World Championship in Manila – will also join the Monza team.
Monza's next test will be on Saturday, again atOpiquad Arena, against Sonepar Padova, which is also the final test before the start of the season on October 21 against champions Sir Susa Scai Perugia.
