Monza, Perugia Advance To Last Four In Italy

Vero Volley Monza and Regular Season leaders Sir Safety Conad Perugia completed the puzzle of the Italian Men's League Playoffs semifinals, grabbing wins over the weekend in the deciding matches of the best-of-three quarterfinals series.

There was late drama at Monza on Saturday, as Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia took the hosts all the way and actually blew a match point at 13-14 in the tie-break before the Lombardy side managed to squeeze through with an epic 3-2 (25-21, 17-25, 25-22, 22-25, 16-14) win.

Monza's Filippo Lanza, with 18/34 for 53% in attack and 55% positive receptions was MVP of the match. His teammate Donovan Dzavoronok of the Czech Republic bagged the match high of 22 points, including 17/32 for 53% in attack plus two blocks and three aces.

Perugia completed the top four on Sunday evening with a straightforward sweep of Allianz of Milan 3-0 (25-14, 25-23, 25-22), after a great show by the Netherlands' Thijs ter Horst who was named MVP of the match for his top-scoring performance of 19 points with 13/20 for 65% in attack plus two blocks and four aces.