MNT Update: Anderson Named January MVP in Italy

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 3, 2022) – Outside hitter Matt Anderson was named the match MVP as his Italian team Sir Safety Conad Perugia (15-2) beat outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke and Allianz Milano (9-7), 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20) on Jan. 30.

Anderson finished the match with 20 points on 16 kills, two blocks and two aces. He was credited with 17 receptions, 59 percent positive. Jaeschke scored 14 points on 11 kills, one block and two aces. He was credited with 19 receptions, 47 percent positive.

Perugia’s fans also named Anderson their team MVP of the month for January.

On Feb. 2, Perugia defeated Gioiella Prisma Taranto, 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-23). Anderson scored eight points on seven kills and one block. He was credited with 15 receptions, 73 percent positive.

Perugia won its Jan. 27 match in the CEV Champions League by default after France’s AS Cannes Dragons had to forfeit due to COVID.

Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza (8-8) with middle blocker Max Holt and outside hitter Aaron Russell has had to postpone two matches due to COVID.

POLAND

Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kędzierzyn-Koźle (16-0) with libero Erik Shoji and middle blocker David Smith beat Projekt Warszawa on Jan. 22, 3-1 (22-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-19). Shoji was credited with 19 receptions, 47 percent positive. Smith scored seven points on four kills, one block and two aces.

Kędzierzyn-Koźle had to postpone its next match against PGE Skra Bełchatów due to COVID. It also had to postpone its CEV Champions League match against Russia’s Lokomotiv Novosibirsk and its Polish Cup quarterfinal match against Stal Nysa.

Outside hitter T.J. DeFalco, middle Taylor Averill and Indykpol AZS Olsztyn (9-8) beat setter Micah Ma’a and GKS Katowice (7-10) on Jan. 30, 3-2 (26-24, 26-28, 16-25, 25-17, 15-12).

DeFalco led all scorers with 25 points on a match-high 19 kills, three blocks and three aces. He was credited with 21 receptions, 43 percent positive. Averill added 10 points on seven kills (1.00 hitting efficiency), two blocks and one ace. Ma’a did not score and set his team to a .408 hitting efficiency.

Setter Josh Tuaniga and Ślepsk Malow Suwałki (5-12) beat Cerrad Enea Czarni Radom, 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-16) on Jan. 28. Tuaniga scored three points on one kill and two aces and set his team to a .520 hitting efficiency.

In the Polish Cup quarterfinals, Katowice fell to Trefl Gdańsk, 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 25-17) on Feb. 1. Ma’a scored four points on two kills, one block and one ace. He set Katowice to a .391 hitting efficiency.

RUSSIA

Zenit Kazan (14-1) won its last two league matches without setter Micah Christenson. It has had to postpone its CEV Cup matches against Russia’s Kuzbass Kemerovo due to COVID. The first match of the quarterfinal round is now scheduled for Feb. 9.

TURKEY

Middle blocker Dan McDonnell and Arkas Spor (12-5) beat Altekma on Jan. 29, 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-17). McDonnell had a match-high five blocks to go with two kills and one ace.

Setter Kawika Shoji and Spor Toto (9-7) beat Allpower Akü Cizre Bld., 3-0 (26-24, 25-15, 25-18) on Jan. 23. Shoji scored six points on a match-high four aces and two kills. He set his team to a .583 hitting efficiency.

ISRAEL

On Feb. 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv with opposite Kyle Ensing, outside hitter J.T. Hatch and libero Josh Ayzenberg beat Maccabi Hod Hasharon 3-0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-19). Ensing and Hatch each scored seven points.

GERMANY

After a break in matches, the Berlin Recycling Volleys with opposite Ben Patch, middle Jeff Jendryk, outside hitter Cody Kessel and setter Matt West won two regular-season matches in a row, beating Friedrichshafen, 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-22, 25:19) on Jan. 22.

On Jan. 29, Berlin beat Düren, 3-1 (25-21, 25-23, 14-25, 25-19). Patch led Berlin with 16 points on 16 kills (.762). Jendryk added nine points on seven kills (.636), one block and one ace. West played as a substitute and scored one point with an ace and Kessel also subbed.

On Feb. 2, Berlin lost to Friedrichshafen in the semifinals of the German Cup tournament, 3-2 (22-25, 25-15, 18-25, 25-14, 15-12).

Patch led all scorers with 25 points on a match-high 21 kills (.475) and four blocks. Jendryk added 12 points on 10 kills (.563) and two blocks. Kessel started the final two sets and scored nine points on eight kills (.533) and one blocks. He was credited with 23 receptions, 39 percent positive. West played as a substitute and scored one point with a kill.