Vero Volley MonzadefeatedAllianz Milanowith a 3:1 (23:25, 25:18, 25:17, 25:21) victory in the derby from the penultimate round of the regular season in the Italian SuperLega. The success guarantees the team from Brianza the 8th position before the final clash against Lube on February 25.
Phenomenal Velichkov – MVP at 18 years old
At the center of events was 18-year-oldZhasmin Velichkov, who played a high-level match and was deservedly named MVP. The young outside hitter finished with:
17 points
+6 efficiency rating
3 blocks
1 ace
69% positive reception
31% perfect reception
54% attack efficiency
All of this happened in front of his father, who had arrived especially for the derby – an emotional moment that added extra significance to his performance.
He received solid support fromMartin Atanasov– 16 points, +10, 42% positive reception, and an impressive 65% in attack. Roers also scored 16 points, while middle blocker Mosca added 19.
For Milano, Reggers was the top scorer with 22 points, all from attack, while Recine finished with 14.
The match also featured several statistical achievements. Martin Atanasov surpassed the 200-point mark in the championship and now has 206. Velichkov is just one point shy of 100, which is a true accomplishment for an 18-year-old player in the strongest club championship on the planet. Fere Reggers passed 400 points and now has 419.
Team statistics
| Metric | Monza | Milan |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 16 | 6 |
| Attack efficiency | 49% | 45% |
| Attack points | 47 | 50 |
| Positive reception | 52% | 44% |
| Aces | 8 | 2 |
| Service errors | 17 | 20 |
| Points from opponent errors | 27 | 24 |
| Total points scored | 98 | 81 |
Monza absolutely dominated in blocking (16 against 6), which proved to be the key foundation for the comeback after losing the first set. Higher attack efficiency and significantly better reception (52% against 44%) allowed the hosts to control the pace. The difference of 6 aces against 2 further tipped the scales. Although Milan had more direct attack points (50 against 47), Monza's serving pressure and block-defense stability decided the derby.
Velichkov: "A magical moment for Vero Volley"
After the match, the young Bulgarian did not hide his emotions:
"I am truly very happy. I had a few tough weeks before the match. Personally, it was a really difficult period for me. But now I am extremely, extremely happy that we played such a good match and managed to defeat a really strong team. This is a magical moment for Vero Volley. Yes, it's incredible. The fans are the ones who give us strength every time. That's why I am very grateful to them. For the next match, we will continue to work on our strategies. We won't have any pressure because we have nothing to lose. After that, we will concentrate on the match against Perugia, against whom we will give our best with the hope of qualifying for the semifinals."
Words that highlight not only the sporting value of the victory but also the personal catharsis for one of the most promising Bulgarian talents in European volleyball.
With this success, the team from Brianza enters the last regular season match with momentum – a Bulgarian derby against Lube, which promises new intrigue.
