Vero Volley Monza recorded their second consecutive victory in the SuperLega, this time as guests of Sonepar Padova with the Bulgarian presence of Boris Nachev. The local derby in Kioene Arena turned into a direct clash between the opposites of the two teams – Velko Masulović finished with 33 points for the hosts, while the Hungarian ace Kristian Padar from Monza concluded with 32. Padar became the MVP of the match.
This was the 32nd match between the two clubs. The advantage is on Vero Volley's side – 17 victories against 14 for Padova.
Libero Scanferla, who sustained an ankle injury in the match against Lube despite being named MVP, also participated in the game. Medical examinations revealed no fracture, and he was on the court to help secure the second consecutive victory.
National player Martin Atanasov also played a strong match, finishing with 14 points and surpassing the 100-point mark for the season – now at 109. Zhasmin Velichkov did not appear in the game.
Martin Atanasov's Statistics
| Player | Sets | Points | Service Points | Reception (Positive/Perfect) | Attack (Attempts/Points/Percentage) | Block |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Atanasov | 4 | 14 | 1 | 39% / 9% | 24 attacks / 12 points / 50% | 1 |
Atanasov demonstrated a balanced performance in all elements – a high attack percentage (50%), decent reception, and crucial points in decisive moments. He was Monza's third highest scorer and one of the most important factors for the comeback in the third set.
Top Scorers for Monza
Kristian Padar – 32 points
Eric Röhrs – 14 points
Martin Atanasov – 14 points
Top scorers for Padua
Velko Masulović – 33 points
Davide Gardini – 15 points
Mattia Orioli – 11 points
Boris Nachev partially entered the third set and played the entire fourth, but did not score any points.
The third set was the most intense in the match and lasted a full 39 minutes. Padua dictated the pace at 21:18 and 23:20 and seemed ready to take the lead. Monza, however, showed character – the visitors first equalized, and then saved two set points. At 24:23, Martin Atanasov stepped up to serve and with an ace, he tied the score at 24:24.
A total of five set points for Monza followed, and Atanasov again put an end to the dispute – this time with a block, making the final score 28:30. This turnaround gave a powerful boost to the visitors.
In the fourth set, Monza took an early lead and maintained control. After an attack by Atanasov, the score became 17:23. The first match point came after an attack through the middle. Padua managed to reduce the deficit to 20:24, but an error by the otherwise excellent Masulović ended the match and brought Monza their second consecutive victory.
The third success of the season brought Monza to eighth place with 10 points – the last spot that grants participation in the quarterfinals of the Italian Cup.
Photos:legavolley.it
