I think Berger-Russell change was the turning point of the match .Medei should have started with Kovar in the third set ,what was he thinking?
Atanasijevic was the ultimate hero but I think Zaytsev was also the ‘hidden’hero .He has done a great job with reception
I agree that the subs worked well, even if Berger attacked with 11% It did work.
On the other hand I'm in love with Kovar but he didn't seem that ok when he was used, I'm afraid... but what the hell was that subs in the tie break?
Atanasjievic was great, both in attacking and serving. I also think Podke and De Cecco were amazing (Colaci 'standard').
About Zaytsev, I must admit I kinda like the 'hidden hero' he is becoming for Perugia (even if so far – not today – he is receiving worst then last year with Bari and Russell).
But it's very frustrating that he can't put down practically a single ball in attack... Really, I don't remember one single ball he put down (stats says 3, anyway). At least he was blocked only once (as opposite, btw ) and did only one errors, though. And many blocked (but not kill-blocked) attacks were covered well. But Lube block-defense looked almost impossible to overcome for him...
Plus he didn't serve very well, but that serve run at the beginning of the tie break was very good and he cheer Perugia spirits even more.
QuoteJuantorena only took 25 set in 5 set match,Only 25(!) compared to 43 of Atanasijevic
I'm not sure it's ok to compare the number of sets received by Juantorena to Atanasjievic number, he was practically the only one receiving sets in Perugia, plus Podke, but he is a MB so he won't ever be the one to receive more sets... Podke had 15 sets, Zaytsev 13, Russell+Berger 19.
I think it would be better to compare inside Lube court, since they used 3 high-ball spikers:
- Sokolov 31 sets, 3 errors, 6 blocks, 13 perfect, 39%
- Juantorena 25-2-2-17-68% (!)
- Sander 25-2-5-13-52%
Moral: I agree that Juantorena should have received more sets, but just 5 from Sokolov to him would have been enough to balanced the distribution... (balance accordingly to today performances)
Now that I think more about it, how the hell could Lube lose playing vs a team that attacked with one high ball player and one MBs?
It doesn't sound as something that should work in such an high level
There were practically no pipe also...