Comunicato Stampa della Lega Pallavolo Serie A

Playoffs Serie A1 UnipolSai

Semi-finals game 2

Macerata 2-0 up. Perugia ties series

CASA MODENA – CUCINE LUBE BANCA MARCHE MACERATA 0-3 (24-26, 22-25, 21-25) – CASA MODENA: Manià (L), Sala 7, Sket 1, Deroo, Kampa, Bartman 6, Beretta 6, Mossa De Rezende 2, Hendriks, Kovacevic 8, Ngapeth 19. DNP Donadio, Bossi. Coach. Lorenzetti.

CUCINE LUBE BANCA MARCHE MACERATA: Henno (L), Parodi 12, Zaytsev 17, Stankovic 6, Kovar 1, Monopoli, Giombini, Kurek 11, Baranowicz, Podrascanin 6. DNP Vitelli, Provvisiero, Bulfon. Coach. Giuliani.

Macerata came back from Modena with a win that takes them 2-0 up in the semi-finals. The game was however tighter than the score suggests. Modena was indeed ahead in the scoreboard in the first two sets but, led by Zaytsev and Kurek, Macerata fought back. The blocking made the difference: 14 for Macerata versus 6 for Modena. Macerata’s dig and counter attack proved effective too.

MVP: Zaytsev (Lube Macerata)

Angelo Lorenzetti (Coach Casa Modena): “We’re obviously disappointed. In order to play face to face with a team like Macerata we have to spend an incredible amount of energy and use a big wave of adrenaline. Unfortunately, this never lasts an entire set: or we make mistakes, or it’s simply the quality of Macerata having the better”.

Alberto Giuliani (Coach Cucine Lube Banca Marche Macerata): “We have won this game holding our nerves, especially at times when the atmosphere had become electric. The boys always remained calm and they did a great job blocking and in dig”.

SIR SAFETY PERUGIA – COPRA ELIOR PIACENZA 3-2 (25-22, 25-23, 15-25, 21-25, 16-14) – SIR SAFETY PERUGIA: Buti 10, Paolucci, Petric 13, Giovi (L), Cupkovic, Barone 9, Della Lunga, Mitic 2, Vujevic 10, Atanasijevic 24. DNP Della Corte, Fanuli, Semenzato. Coach. Kovac.

COPRA ELIOR PIACENZA: Marra (L), Le Roux 15, Papi 4, Fei 6, Kaliberda 10, Simon 20, Zlatanov 15, Tencati, Vettori 3, De Cecco 7. DNP Partenio, Smerilli, Husaj. Coach. Monti.

Buti’s winning block got the PalaEvangelisti into a frenzy after two hours of battle and great entertainment against Piacenza. Perugia ties the series in front of over four thousand fans in superb atmosphere. The lions were called Vujevic and Atanasijevic at the start but Simon led the guests back in with the help of Zlatanov and Le Roux, who came off the bench. A tie-break was a worthy end of a spectacular encounter. Piacenza sprinted off to a 5-1 lead but Perugia never gives up. Kovac’s men got back in it thanks to Atanasijevic’s serves and Buti, MVP. The latter turned into a hero with a block on Le Roux.

Rocco Barone (Sir Safety Perugia): “We played to the best of our ability tonight. It’s been incredibly tough, but if you give everything with all your heart than you can obtain great victories. I want to thank all the fans, they really helped us a great deal. Saturday will be another battle. Extremely difficult, but with this intensity we have our chance”.

Luca Monti (Coach Copra Elior Piacenza): “Some run of serves decided the game. I am proud to coach this team. They found themselves in trouble but reacted and had their chance right until the end. Now it’s 1-1 and we’ll start over on Saturday”.

Play Off Serie A1 UnipolSai – SEMIFINALE Gara 2

Wednesday April 9

Casa Modena – Cucine Lube Banca Marche Macerata 0-3 (24-26, 22-25, 21-25)

Sir Safety Perugia – Copra Elior Piacenza 3-2 (25-22, 25-23, 15-25, 21-25, 16-14)

Playoffs Serie A1 UnipolSai – SEMI-FINAL Game 3

Saturday April 12 at 5.30pm

Copra Elior Piacenza (2) – Sir Safety Perugia (3) Live on RAI Sport 1

Sunday April 13 at 6.30pm

In Osimo: Cucine Lube Banca Marche Macerata (1) – Casa Modena (5)  Live on RAI Sport 2

GAME 4

Wednesday April 16 at 8.30pm

Casa Modena (5) – Cucine Lube Banca Marche Macerata (1)

Sir Safety Perugia (3) – Copra Elior Piacenza (2)

One live game on RAI Sport 2