SERIE A1 TIM
EPIPHANY AND VOLLEY DAY
The second round of the return games was full of surprises, with Macerata KO and Treviso’s home defeat. However, De Giogi and Dall’Olio’s teams have an immediate chance to bounce back respectively against Vibo Valentia and Piacenza on Tuesday night. Same thing for Montichiari, who was beaten on Saturday by Perugia. It will try to erase this loss in Cuneo. This encounter will do as appetizer in Sky Sport’s Volley Day, yearly event with an afternoon of broadcasting dedicated to A1 volleyball games. Next will be the game taking place in Piacenza.
League leaders, Trentino, travels to Padova. Perugia and Vibo Valentia are on the road too, facing respectively Forli and Macerata. Zanini will look for his third win as Modena’s head coach as they host Verona. Martina Franca will play its second consecutive home game hoping to clinch another win against Pineto, as both teams will try to get as far away from the danger zone as possible.
16TH ROUND
Tuesday 6 January 2009 at 6pm
Yoga Forli – RPA-LuigiBacchi.it Perugia
(Ippoliti – Giani)
Antonveneta Padova – Itas Diatec Trentino
(Saltalippi – Toso Corrado)
Trenkwalder Modena – Marmi Lanza Verona
(Satanassi – Gnani)
Lube Banca Marche Macerata – Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia
(Puecher – Rapisarda)
Stamplast Martina Franca – Framasil Pineto
(Sobrero – Padoan)
VOLLEY DAY, LIVE ON SKY SPORT 2
Tuesday 6 January
6.30pm
Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo – Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari
(Bartolini – Pol)
8.45pm
Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza – Sisley Treviso
(Perri – Cesare)
TABLE
Itas Diatec Trentino 35; Lube Banca Marche Macerata 33; Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo 32; Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza 30; Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari 25; RPA-LuigiBacchi.it Perugia 24; Marmi Lanza Verona 23; Sisley Treviso 21; Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia, Trenkwalder Modena, Stamplast Martina Franca 18; Framasil Pineto 15; Yoga Forli 14; Antonveneta Padova 9.
YOGA FORLI – RPA-LUIGIBACCHI.IT PERUGIA
Past encounters: 3 (2-1 Forli).
First leg: RPA-LuigiBacchi.it Perugia – Yoga Forli 2-3 (23-25, 25-15, 25-23, 23-25, 11-15).
Marco Molteni (Yoga Forli): “The victory against Treviso was important for the spirit of the team because we proved that, if we are focused in every area of the game, we can have our say. We’ll try to do as well against Perugia, also for our fans, who saw us win only once at home. Perugia is a very strong team, it is in good form. However, they could be Savani dependent. Hopefully, we’ll manage to limit him”.
ANTONVENETA PADOVA – ITAS DIATEC TRENTINO
Past encounters: 17 (13-4 Trento).
First leg: Itas Diatec Trentino – Antonveneta Padova 3-1 (25-17, 25-21, 21-25, 25-23).
Giorgio De Togni (Antonveneta Padova): “Our direct opponent obtained some surprising results in the last round and now we have to show we can do as well. We have to face this game with maximum focus and not think about the result of the others, it would be a big mistakes. There are still 11 rounds to go and 33 points at stake. We therefore have enough to stay up and we have to reach this target as soon as possible, for us, for the coach, the club and our fans, who know for well we can make it”.
Dore Della Lunga (Itas Diatec Trentino): “We should not underestimate our opponent despite the fact that it’s top against bottom. I’m sure we won’t underestimate them, because we know everyone give their best against us because they have nothing to lose. I always hear that Padova is playing well and that it hasn’t gathered as many points as it would have deserved so far. I personally know some of their players: Perazzolo, Mattera, De Togni and Maruotti, they’re all good guys as well as good players and I’m convinced the atmosphere is still positive there despite the numerous defeats. One more reason to keep concentrated and work to stay top”.
TRENKWALDER MODENA – MARMI LANZA VERONA
PAst encounters: 9 (7-2 Modena).
First leg: Marmi Lanza Verona – Trenkwalder Modena 2-3 (25-18, 25-23, 22-25, 7-15).
Pietro Rinaldi (Trenkwalder Modena): “The victory in Padova was very important: in the key moment of the game we showed determination and composure. We’re already thinking about the next game, we must and want to continue to improve day after day. Verona? They have excellent players and they are above us in the league table. We have to think of ourselves more than the opponent: I believe in this group and I’m sure they have potential. If we play our game, we can play face to face with anyone. Obviously we have to show our worth on the court with continuity”.
Daniele Sottile (Marmi Lanza Verona): “Modena was a team put together to reach important targets and it is now is a difficult situation. They’ll try to take some crucial points but we want to do as well as we can too in front of this exciting place and great crowd. We’ll also have our fans behind us. They will follow us in numbers, just like for every away game”.
LUBE BANCA MARCHE MACERATA – TONNO CALLIPO VIBO VALENTIA
Past encounters: 10 (7-3 Macerata)
First leg: Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia – Lube banca Marche Macerata 0-3 (23-25, 19-25, 21-25).
Igor Omrcen (Lube Banca Marche Macerata): “This game against Vibo gives us a chance to bounce back straight away following our loss in Martina Franca on Saturday. This was definitely the worst Macerata of the season. I don’t think anyway that tomorrow’s game will have anything to do with the Italian Cup: On the 28th of January, it will be in or out with an important trophy at stake, a completely different game”.
Elvis Contreras (Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia): “Useless to say it will be a tough one, Macerata is playing a great championship, that’s why we’ll have to face them with aggressiveness, fighting on every ball, without fear. In the first leg we severely lost at home but now our game has greatly improved and we proved we could get points against anyone”.
STAMPLAST MARTINA FRANCA – FRAMASIL PINETO
Past encounters: 4 (2 wins each)
First leg: Framasil Pineto – Stamplast Martina Franca 2-3 (19-25, 25-23, 25-21, 21-25, 11-15).
Matej Cernic (Stamplast Martina Franca): “Our problem is the lack of consistency. We have to keep focus and think about the Pineto game, remaining humble despite the good game played on Saturday. We’ve always had a poor game after a good performance. Tomorrow will be the opportunity to interrupt this trend. We’re working very well with the new coach, working on some fundamentals, which we used not to do”.
Marco Vicini (Framasil Pineto): “I’ve got good memories from ma spell in Taranto. Despite moving city, the club is still the same and I know they will fight to get a result, and they’re playing well right now. Still, we’ll play with determination with the aim to get some points out of it. This is a crucial game for our league position and we want to do well”.
BRE BANCA LANNTTI CUNEO – ACQUA PARADISO GABECA MONTICHIARI
Past encounters: 54 (33 vittorie Cuneo, 21 Montichiari).
First leg: Acqua Paradiso Gabeca Montichiari – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo 3-0 (27-25, 26-24, 25-23).
COPRA NORDMECCANICA PIACENZA – SISLEY TREVISO
Past encounters: 25 (13-12 vittorie Piacenza, 12 Treviso)
First leg: Sisley Treviso – Copra Nordmeccanica Piacenza 2-3 (23-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 12-15).
SERIE A2 TIM
BASSANO LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK
Tthe second round of the return games in the A2 will take place on Tuesday. In the first round of the new year, there have been a few surprises that changed the table.
Everyone will kick off at 6pm tomorrow, apart from Bologna versus Città di Castello at 8.30pm.
Following its home loss against Gioia del Colle, Bassano Volley travels heads south to Castellana Grotte, a tough trip for Cretu’s team. Castellana will try to turn things around after a roller coaster ride in the first half of championship.
Behind Bassano, Santa Croce travels to Castelfidardo, who is no longer bottom of the table after their recent victory. Third in the table, Latina is on the road, playing at Isernia, who registered a brilliant comeback worth a point against Loreto. Moretti’s boys will try to stop Gioia del Colle’s winning streak. Gioia won their last five encounters. Cannestracci’s hunger for points is certainly not gone however.
In the low part of the table, there are some intriguing meetings: Catania entertains Mantova of new coach Marchesi, who will make his Serie A debut, while Cavriago plays host to Crema.
15Th round
Tuesday 6 January at 6pm
Sp Catania – Canadiens Mantova
(Guerra – Fiore)
Olio Pignatelli Isernia – Andreoli Latina
(Zingoni – Bellini)
La Nef Castelfidardo – Codyeco S.Croce
(Bernobich – Florian)
Nava Gioia del Colle – Esse-ti Carilo Loreto
(Gentile – Puletti)
Edilesse Cavriago – Samgas Crema
(Pozzato – Astengo)
Materdomini Volley.It Castellana Grotte – Bassano Volley
(Frapiccini – Bartoloni)
Wednesday 7 January at 8.30pm
Wayel Bologna – Gherardi Cartoedit Tratos C.di Castello
(Bertolini – Guerzoni)
Rested: M. Roma Volley
TABLE
Bassano Volley 36, Codyeco S.Croce 35, Andreoli Latina 34, Esse-Ti Carilo Loreto 32, Nava Gioia del Colle 27, Olio Pignatelli Isernia 24, Samgas Crema 21, Wayel Bologna 21, M. Roma Volley 20, Canadiens Mantova* 18, Materdomini Volley.it Castellana Grotte 17, Edilesse Cavriago 16, Sp Catania 16, La Nef Castelfidardo 10, Gherardi Cartoedit Tratos C.di Castello 9.
* 1 Game in hand
