Volleyball Champions League, Monza bows to the Vakifbank

Monza surrenders to the world champions of Vakifbank (qualified for the quarterfinals). The Lombard club will close the group stage on 15 February in Finland against Salo.

Monza-Vakifbank 1-3 (25-21, 17-25, 17-25, 12-25)

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Proof of strength of the Vakifbank, which conquers the Monza Arena 1-3. Guidetti’s team, which recovers all the positives of last week, suffers for a set the defense of the clubs and the attacks of Stysiak, but is growing at a distance in all the fundamentals. Haak, 32 points, is MVP of a dominating match, but Ogbogu and Gabi are no less. For Monza, Stysiak and Parish Church are doing well, but the attack at 34% overall condemns her, postponing the passing of the final exams to other occasions. The Brianza remain second in the group, fighting for the qualification that will be decided on the last day. Gaspari launches the new Rettke, at its absolute debut, with Danesi closing the ward, Orro-Stysiak diagonally, Gennari-Davyskyba crushers, free Parish Church. Guidetti, without Ozbay, responds with Gulubay-Haak diagonally, Bartsch and Gabi in the band, Gunes and Ogbogu in the center with Aykac free.

Starting Monza

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Balanced start, with Monza immediately perky in defense and aggressive in attack with Stysiak (10 points in the fraction). The guests have Bartsch trying to be seen, and Haak is not always precise (but the game of the Swedish opposite will take another turn) and Gabi absent. The first 3-point break is local (19-16 after two attacks by Stysiak), and is the decisive one to close 25-21 with the attack at 43% and Ogbogu alone specifies in attack for the Turks. Vakif’s response arrives in the central phase of the second fraction, with Stysiak contained better and the guests flying from 12-13 to 14-20 thanks to the magic of Gabi and the first rings of Haak. After 17-125 the response from Monza is expected, but it is Vakif who run away immediately (5-11), with local attack and reception collapsing and Haak raging with 13 points. Guests never look back and close 17-25. Guidetti throws Akman for an off Gunes, while Gaspari tries with Lazovic for Davyskiba, sunk in reception, and Candi for Rettke, but it is always Haak who makes history. Guests ahead 7-12 and Monza stops believing it, also because in attack only Stysiak (who will finish with 19 points) manages to pass. The Vakif closes with a break of 0-5 for 12-25 which assigns it the first place in the group.