Perugia starting the year on the right foot
Report
The Italian Sir Sicoma Monini PERUGIA started on a positive note in 2022 after outclassing at 3-0 the Turkish Fenerbahçe HDI ISTANBUL. Perugia extended their winning streak to three victories in Pool E, while the home side from Istanbul remains with one win so far.
The players of Nikola Grbic delivered the victory in a special moment, missing some key players. The outside spiker Oleh Plotnytskyi had to step up as libero in the game, as Massimo Colaci and Alessandro Piccinelli were tested positive for Covid. The middle blocker Roberto Russo also got injured during the second set.
Despite these problems, the team of Perugia proved better after a hard-fought match.
The first set set the tone for an exciting match ahead, as both sides started playing point for a point. The hosts, led by Metin Toy, started slightly better on attack, but the Italians were scoring more on their opponents errors. With the result being 19-15 for Fenerbahce, Wilfredo Leon took things in his hands. Together with Matt Anderson on serve at 24-24, the duo Anderson - Leon helped their team open in their favour. As many as three aces turned out to be crucial for Perugia in this set.
It was a close call in the second set as well, but with the result being 7-7 Perugia had to adjust once again as Russo got injured. Izzet Ünver helped his team in these moments to take the lead, while Metin Toy and Yacine Louati maintained the intrigue alive. Ahmet Tümer was showing good game on the block, but Leon was impeccable. Kamil Rychlicki with a monster block against Hidalgo put the end of the discussion in this part.
Inspired, the Italians started better from the beginning in the third set. Fenerbahce tried to come closer, but the guests kept calm and with a great spike by Matt Anderson closed in their favour.
Statistically, Perugia showed better game on the different counts - 49 to 44 winning spikes, five to three blocks, six to four aces.
Plotnytskyi with 52% positive reception was chosen for MVP of the match.
Oleh Plotnytskyi“I am very happy about the victory and the three points won. We were without four players, during the match Russo also had to stop, and some players played in different positions - like me and Ter Horst. But we are a team, and we play as a team. The life of the libero? Really difficult! "
Player of Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia
Dragan Travica“We had many missing players. We had to play with a "strange" formation, but we did a great job, and we remained united because tonight this was so much needed. This win that we are taking home, has this special meaning for us.”
Player of Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia