Itas Trentino left no chance for Vero Volley Monza and closed the series in the second match, qualifying for the 5th place playoffs final in the SuperLega.
The guests asserted complete dominance and won convincingly0:3 (21:25, 16:25, 16:25), thus closing the semi-final series with a 2-0 victory. Monza failed to put up serious resistance, especially in the second and third sets, where the class difference was evident.
The top scorer for the hosts was Bulgarian international Zhasmin Velichkov with 11 points, +5, (1 ace, 1 block) and 44% positive reception. For Trentino, Ramon led the scorers with 16 points, and Daniele Lavia added 11 for the clean victory.
With this defeat, Vero Volley Monza's season also concludes, finishing in eighth place – the last spot granting participation in the playoffs. The team failed to improve in the decisive phase, but its presence among the top eight remains a positive.
Zhasmin Velichkov's Season
The 19-year-old Bulgarian's first season in Italy can be considered successful. His statistics are indicative:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | 30 |
| Sets | 75 |
| Points | 176 |
| Average per Set | 2,35 |
| Break Points | 54 |
For a 19-year-old player entering one of the strongest leagues in the world, these metrics are more than solid. An average of over 2 points per set shows stability in attack, and 54 break points (points scored when the opponent is serving – directly from attack, block, or ace) indicate a contribution in the decisive phases of rallies.
An additional highlight of his season was the MVP award in the match against Milano on February 22nd – a recognition of his potential and upward development.
Itas Trentino awaits the winner of the Milano – Modena pair in the 5th place final, where the last quota for European tournaments will also be decided.
