SERIE A1 TIM
Sunday and Monday games preview
Saturday 18 October at 6.30pm
Trenkwalder Modena – Sisley Treviso LIVE ON SKY SPORT 2
(Bartolini – Gnani)
Sunday 19 October at 6pm
Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia – Itas Diatec Trentino
(Sampaolo & Pasquali)
Stamplast Martina Franca – Marmi Lanza Verona
(Locatelli & Barbero)
Lube Banca Marche Macerata – RPA-LuigiBacchi.it Perugia
(Puecher & Rapisarda)
Antonveneta Padova – Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari
(Satanassi & Piersanti)
Sunday 19 October at 6.30pm
Yoga Forli – Framasil Pineto LIVE ON SKY SPORT 2
(Cipolla & Castagna)
Monday 20 October at 8.30pm
Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo – Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza LIVE ON SKY SPORT 2
(Santi & Saltalippi)
SERIE A1 TIM TABLE
Lube Banca Marche Macerata 8; Itas Diatec Trentino 7; Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari, Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo, Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza, RPA-Luigibacchi.It Perugia 6; Trenkwalder Modena, Marmi Lanza Verona, Sisley Treviso 5; Stamplast Martina Franca 3; Yoga Forli, Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia, Framasil Pineto 2; Antonveneta Padova 0.
TONNO CALLIPO VIBO VALENTIA vsTAS DIATEC TRENTINO
Past encounters: 7 (1-6 Trento).
Last match: 2006/07, 9th round return games. Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia – Itas Diatec Trentino 3-1.
Raphael (Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia): “We’ve worked very well this week and, above all, we analized the mistakes that stopped us from winning our home games. We all know we can do much better, we’re still lacking fluidity but we are motivated and ready to face Trento with determination.
We just need to find our rhythm, to obtain the results we want and to do well in front of our fans.
Trento as an extremely strong team, with an excellent setter and powerful spikers. Their serve is very incisive and they are efficient on the block. We have to believe in ourselves and try to go as far as we can. I hope our fans have faith in us, we need a warm crowd and the support they gave us so far”.
Leandro Vissotto (Itas Diatec Trentino): “To play away, and in Vibo with their electric fans, is always difficult. We should not be misled by their two home defeats. It will definitely be a tough game, but we are improving and we’ll go there to win it because we have what it takes to achieve it.
We’ve not reached our best yet but we’re getting better day after day and it’s important to gain points too when you’re not at hundred percent. I know their setter Raphael very well, a Brazilian like me: he’s very good at hiding his intention and it’s therefore complicated to read the game. That’s it, I think that in order to win, we’ll have to do a good job at the net and understand a moment before his intentions”.
STAMPLAST MARTINA FRANCA vsARMI LANZA VERONA
Past encounters: 6 (2-4 Verona).
Last match: 2006/07, 13th round return games. Prisma Taranto – Marmi Lanza Verona 3-1.
Ex: Frantz Granvorka (Verona:2004 to 2006) and Maurizio Latelli (Taranto last season).
Israel Rodriguez (Stamplast Martina Franca): “Hopefully we’ll have a big crowd again on Sunday that will give us the support we need to beat a tough opponent like Verona. We beat them in the tournamenet at San Benedetto del Tronto. I’m sure they’ll play is with respect even if they beat Treviso and Trento. Our aim is to find consistency in our game to be able to play face to face with anyone”.
Maurizio Latelli (Marmi Lanza Verona): “We should not look too much into Martina Franca’s results in this beginning of championship, because it doesn’t reflect the potential of the team, which was built to do well and reach the playoffs. This group boasts strong and experienced players and they need points, they’ll definitely try to grab some at home. It’s a tough team, which is working well, but it’s true for us too. We want to bounce back straight away after our bitter loss against Modena.
Martina Franca has experienced players such as Cernic, who gives balance to the team with spiker Granvorka. The others are excellent players too but these are the ones that can make the difference and give balance to the group. Then, Coscione’s game is also unpredictable.
LUBE BANCA MARCHE MACERATA � RPA-LUIGIBACCHI.IT PERUGIA
Past encounters: 14 (13-1 Macerata).
Last match: 2007/08, 9th round return games. Lube Banca Marche Macerata – RPA-LuigiBacchi.it Perugia 3-1.
Records: Goran Vujevic is 2 points away from 3500 in regular season.
Igor Omrcen (Lube Banca Marche Macerata): “I still remember the terrible defeat of last season, we had lost our chances of a good position for the playoffs. One has to be careful when it faces Perugia, even more now that it has considerably strengthened its squad and that it’s aiming high. We played an excellent beginning of season, but the most difficult comes now that we have to consolidate this start. We’re working hard everyday to do so, the aim is therefore to take maximum points in Sunday again. This game will help us understand better what is our potential”.
Giacomo Sintini (RPA-LuigiBacchi.it Perugia): “I’m back in Macerata and I’m thinking back of the last two years and the game of last season. But now this encounter is not particular any more, I’m not living it as an ex any more. I’m a Perugia player and I’m focusing only on the high level of play Macerata produces on court. They’ve changed very little in the off-season and they’re already in good shape. But we’re improving all the time, this should be an open game”.
ANTONVENETA PADOVA vs ACQUA PARADISO GABECA MONTICHIARI
Past encounters: 45 (18-27 Montichiari)
Ultimo match: 2007/08, 12th round return games. Antonveneta Padova – Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari 2-3.
Bruno Bagnoli (Antonveneta Padova): “It will be a difficult game because they come from a spectacular win over Cuneo, one of the favourites for the title. We’re confident, we’ve worked hard during the week. Gato and Maruotti are on their way back. Montichiari is an extremely balanced team. We’ll have to do well in the fundamentals. Then, we’ll have to take advantage of the fact we know Mikko Esko, our ex setter, because he will surely be keen to have a good game against his ex team”.
Loris Mani� (Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari): “We can’t afford to lose our concentration. This is one of those dangerous games because you might go on court too relaxed, thinking the victory is just a formality. That won’t be the case, it will definitely be a tough game, more than last Sunday and we really can’t lower our guards down. We’re going to Padova to obtain our first away win, after two nice home victories and a defeat on the road. We have to win, we we’re aware of how difficult to play away from home”.
YOGA FORLI vs FRAMASIL CUCINE PINETO
Past encounters: Never met in A1. In Serie A2, 2 games (2-0 Forli).
Last match: Serie A2 TIM, 2007/08, 8th round return games. Mare&Volley Forli – Framasil Cucine Pineto 3-1.
Fabiano Bittar Tuba (Yoga Forli): “We finally got off the mark. Now we have to keep going this way. I’m satisfied with my debut, hopefully I’ll do as well against pineto. The pain on my foot? When I get on court, I don’t feel it”.
Dentinho (Framasil Pineto): “Physically we are fine. After the two-day rest, we mentally recovered from the disappointment of last Saturday’s defeat. We’re already looking ahead to Sunday’s game. I have the possibility to study Forli with my colleagues with videos. It’s an organized and solid team, with quality players. It will be a teal to face with maximum concentration. It’s a crucial game for us. That’s also why I’m confident we’ll get there mentally and physically at 100%. It will be important to keep our focus level to the maximum during the whole game, it’s the only way to get a result”.
BRE BANCA LANNUTTI CUNEO – COPRA NORDMECCANICA PIACENZA
Past encounters: 25 (15-10 Cuneo).
Last match: 2007/08, Playoffs semi final game 3. Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo – Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza 1-3.
Records: On Monday, Hristo Zlatanov could beat no less than three career records. The spiker is 21 points away from the 6500 points, 11 attacks away from 5500 and only 3 blocks from the 600.
Francesco Fortunato (Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo): “We’re getting to this game after two friendlies played against CSKA, in which we focused on our game. We’re physically fine, and we want to prove against Piacenza that our potential is a lot higher than what has been seen at Montichiari. We’re extremely keen to bounce back because Piacenza was our bugbear last season, knocking us out of the Champions League and the league.
Angelo Lorenzetti (Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza): “I’m happy with the physical fitness of the team. There is a couple of worries, but it’s normal given that we have 13 players. Compared to last week, some are improving day after day and that gives us optimism. It will be a real tough gale against Cuneo. Cuneo is Cuneo, a team that has always caused us trouble physically and against which we’ve always struggled to spike the ball down”.
