Monza achieved an impressive comeback and defeated Grottazzolina 3:2 (20:25, 30:32, 25:21, 25:19, 18:16) after 2 hours and 30 minutes of play at the Opiquad Arena. This success is the team's fourth for the season and third in a row, following victories already achieved over Lube and Padua.
The hosts fell behind by 0:2 sets, but showed character, stability in key moments, and higher individual quality in decisive rallies. Jasmín Velichkov, Georgi Tatarov, and Ilia Petkov played a strong match, while Martin Atanasov also appeared on the court in the first two sets.
With this success, Monza finishes the autumn half-season in eighth place in the standings and secured participation in the Italian Cup 1/4-finals, where their opponent will almost certainly be league leader Perugia.
For Grottazzolina, the consolation remains their good play and the point earned, but the team continues to be without a win – their 11th loss since the start of the championship.
Individual Performances
The most effective scorer for Monza was opposite hitter Krisztián Pádár with 28 points, and it was he who turned the tide in the tie-break when the visitors were leading by two points. The last point of the match was also his – directly from an ace.
Jasmín Velichkov finished with 22 points (2 blocks, 1 ace),
Martin Atanasov – 4 points (1 block, 1 ace),
Georgi Tatarov – 21 points (2 blocks, 2 aces),
Ilia Petkov – 13 points (3 blocks, 3 aces).
For Grottazzolina, the Iranian Gozade scored 24 points, and Magalini added 22.
The first two sets showed excellent attack organization from Grottazzolina and problems for Monza at the net. From the third set onwards, the hosts improved their block and serve, reduced errors, and gradually broke their opponent. The tie-break was decided by Pádár's individual class and better efficiency in key rallies.
The match lived up to expectations for a long and tense battle. Monza showed they have a deep bench and leaders capable of deciding matches under pressure – an important signal before the direct eliminations for the Italian Cup.
Statistical Indicators from the Match Monza – Grottazzolina
| Element | Monza | Grottazzolina |
|---|---|---|
| Block Points | 14 | 7 |
| Service Aces | 4 | 9 |
| Attack Efficiency | 50% | 45% |
| Positive reception | 48% | 54% |
| Perfect reception | 25% | 26% |
| Points from opponent's unforced errors | 39 | 24 |
| Points scored in attack | 79 | 89 |
Statistically, Grottazzolina performs better in several key elements. The visitors have a clear advantage in service (9:4 aces), better positive reception (54% vs 48%), and a minimal lead in perfect reception. This logically reflects in more points scored in attack – 89 against 79 for Monza.
The decisive difference, however, comes in two components. The first is blocking, where Monza clearly dominates – 14:7, and it was precisely the block points at the end of the fourth set and in the tie-break that tilted the scales. The second, even more significant factor, is unforced errors. Grottazzolina gave away a full 39 direct points to the hosts, while Monza committed significantly fewer – 24.
This difference also explains the apparent paradox – even though the visitors win more attack rallies and have a more stable reception, it was precisely the errors and poor effectiveness in crucial moments that cost them the match. Monza capitalized maximally on the opponent's fluctuations, and the combination of strong blocking and cooler play at the end brought about the complete comeback and victory.
