After five consecutive defeats without even a point that cost the bench to coach Francesco Racaniello, the Shedirpharma Sorrento entrusted to Nicola Esposito returns to success by beating 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-22) the Just British Bari and climbs back to the eighth place in the standings, overtaking three teams (Napoli, Casarano and Sabaudia) in one fell swoop.
To claim that the five consecutive defeats are to be charged to Racaniello and today's victory is due to Esposito would be the most colossal of lies but the Sorrento seen at work tonight, despite fielding the same players, was a completely different team than the one seen in action in previous matches. A determined, focused and tonic team that left nothing to the opponents and had only two minor wobbles, the first at the beginning of the match, the second in the final exchanges of the third set, but was able to immediately recover, successfully completing the match in less than ninety minutes.
Sorrento took the field with the usual six plus one composed of Bellucci in direction, Szabo opposite, Gozzo and Disabato band attackers, Pilotto and Garofolo centers and Prosperi libero. Bari with Longo in direction, Padura Diaz opposite, Galliani and Wojcik band attackers, Persoglia and Pasquali centers, Pisoni libero.
After the opening point of Gozzo the guests scored four consecutive points immediately triggering the alarm in the Sorrento house. Nicola Esposito called a timeout and with a short speech put things back in their place. Immediately afterwards, it was the Sorrentini who scored four points in a row, leading 6-5. The two teams proceeded side by side until 11 all when Bari tried again to stretch. Going 15-12 in their favor. Another time out requested by Esposito and on the resumption Sorrento finally engaged the right gear and placed a partial of 11-3 in their favor, closing the first set with a score of 25-19.
In the second set Sorrento immediately ahead with Bari chasing. A Szabo in a night of grace (in the end the points scored by the Hungarian will be 21) allowed Sorrento to dig the first significant gap. Bari tried in vain to react but the gap between the two teams increased further thanks to the blows of the two bands Gozzo and Disabato (who at the end of the game will also record attack performance percentages significantly higher than those of the last outings) allowing Sorrento to close the set on 25-18.
The home team also started the third set very well, immediately leading 7-2, reaching the maximum advantage (+7) at 13-6. A little relaxation of Szabo and his teammates, almost physiological during a match, allows Bari to get closer to -2 at 21-19 but from there on the Sorrentini just have to keep the change ball to close the match on 25-22 winning three precious points that as already mentioned at the beginning allow Shedirpharma to return to eighth position three points from the seventh position that is worth access to the promotion playoffs.
What most comforts the wonderful audience of Palatigliana is having found a tonic, focused and determined team that fought on all balls almost ferociously, giving again the feeling of being able to play on par with any opponent as it had already happened during the first round. With five games left at the end of the regular season everything is still possible. One could almost say that the "real championship" starts now. Next week Sorrento will have to deal with the leader Macerata away and the following Wednesday with Marcianise still away. The next home game will be on March 10 with Casarano followed by the trip to San Giustino (March 17) and then close on the 24th with the home derby with Napoli. Five games to play as if they were as many finals but with the awareness of having a competitive team available again.