BITTER DEBUT FOR FGL-ZUMA: LECCO WINS IN THREE SETS

Autore: FGL-Zuma Castelfranco Pisa
6 October 2024

Castelfranco Pisa knocked out on the first day of the championship. Bracci: «Let’s start again from the end of the third set»

It wasn’t exactly the debut I dreamed of. Fgl Zuma Castelfranco Pisa returns defeated by Lecco, where Orocash Picco won in three sets on the first day of the regular season of Serie A2 Tigotà. Nothing to do for the Pisan team led on the bench by coach Marco Bracci. The final score (25/20-25/15-25/22) in an hour and a half of play tells of a match in which the home team made the most of its field factor and, above all, greater experience in the category. Zuccarelli and her teammates fought, trying to keep up with their opponents without managing to take a single set. And in this sense, there is regret for that end of the game when, at 23/22 of the third set, the comeback that now seemed unexpected was about to materialize. A reaction which, however, gives us hope for future commitments. Starting next Sunday when Castelfranco will host Casalmaggiore in the first home match of this season. Returning to today’s match, the best scorer of the match was the spiker from Orocash Picco, Linda Mangani, who scored 19 points. Among the ranks of Fgl-Zuma, the 11 points of central Colzi stand out, who was also the top scorer of her team.

FIRST SET 

Lecco presents itself with Sassolini as setter and Conti as opposite, Mangani and Ghezzi as spikers, Atamah and Piacentini in the center, Napodano as libero. Castelfranco responds with Ferraro as setter and Zuccarelli as opposite, Vecerina and Salinas as spikers, Colzi and Fucka in the center, Bisconti as libero. The match opens with a minute’s silence to honor the memory of the president of the Italian Golf Federation, Franco Chimenti. After the first balanced exchanges, Orocash Picco finds the first lead on the score of 11/7. Coach Bracci tries to reverse the trend by calling a time-out, but upon returning an ace from Piacentini allows the home team to extend further. From that moment, however, there was the reaction of the FGL-Zuma which, point after point, became closer. A video check that proves Castelfranco right and an invasion by Atamah then allow Zuccarelli and his teammates to grab a draw at 13/13. Coach Milano then asks for a time out to give instructions to his players who, upon returning to the field, return to stretching permanently. The partial ends 25/20.

SECOND SET 

Fgl-Zuma doesn’t seem to feel the pinch and begins the second set with the intention of bringing the match back into balance. The start is promising, so much so that the Pisan girls immediately find a break. Lecco, however, doesn’t agree and catches her opponents on 10/10 and then puts the arrow on the next 12/11. It will be the decisive extension, despite a spectacular defense by Bisconti which will lead to the point of 15/13. The end of the set is all for the home team, who wins 25/15.

THIRD SET

The third half of the game opens with the home team determined to close the score. And it seems to succeed perfectly, to the point of quickly finding itself at 12/5. Bracci calls the girls to him to try to stop the march of his opponents. Thus Castelfranco gets closer, closes the gap to 18/15, then even goes to -1 (23/22). At the best moment, however, the comeback is interrupted and, on the first match point, Atamah ends the match with an attack from the center. Orocash Picco Lecco takes the match in three sets, making their seasonal debut with the conquest of maximum spoils.

Scoresheet

Orocash Picco Lecco: Monaco n.e., Amoruso, Napodano (L) 70% pos.; 36% perf., Mainetti (L) n.e., Moroni n.e., Conti 9, Sassolini 2, Piacentini 7, Casari n.e., Ghezzi 6, Atamah 6, Mangani 19, Severin n.e.. Coach: Milano. Mistakes at serve: 8. Ace: 3. Blocks: 6.

Fgl-Zuma Castelfranco Pisa: Zuccarelli 7, Moschettini, Colzi 11, Salinas 9, Tosi, Vecerina 4, Ferraro 4, Fucka 6, Fava n.e., Lotti, Bisconti (L) 78% pos. Coach: Bracci. Mistake at serve: 9. Ace: 3. Blocks: 5.

Set: first set 25/20 in 29′; second set 25/15 in 23′; third set 25/22 in 29′

Referees: Antonio Testa e Andrea De Nard. At videocheck Valerio Rusconi

Interviews:

Coach Marco Bracci: «I expected our team to fight a little more in each set. I thought we could have a higher race pace, but instead we took too many breaks in the various fundamentals. This prevented us from being able to play a little more fluidly. Many of our girls are not very experienced for this category and, to have that belief that they can play it, you need to be able to make a few fewer mistakes. The result? Lecco played better and deserved to win. However, I liked the comeback in the third set and we hope that this state of mind felt at the end of this same set can help us have those positive feelings that we will have to make our own starting from the next match».

Alfredo Sitti

Press Office Fgl-Zuma Castelfranco Pisa