Once again, Trentino conquered Belgium in the Champions League. The Italian champs came back from Maaseik with a valuable tie-break win over Asse-Lennik. Still without Lanza, and Djuric cautiously rested, Stoytchev’s men will now need to win the return leg in Italy on any score to go through. In spite of the fact the game went to the fifth set, Giannelli and co proved they were one level above in terms of fundamentals and tactics. They tallied 16 blocks and registered a nice 59% in attack. The Italian setter shined with 6 blocks. The hosts managed to make it as far as the tie-break mainly thanks to their setter Depestele and their outside hitter Overbeeke, who scored a huge 28 points.
“We knew it was going to be a difficult as well as crucial game for many reasons but I am happy with the way we handled it and with the victory – said coach Radostin Stoytchev – I think the last point where Giannelli and Solé combined brilliantly to take an extremely difficult rally was emblematic of this encounter”.
Volley Asse-Lennik-Trentino Diatec 2-3 (25-23, 17-25, 22-25, 25-21, 13-15)
ASSE-LENNIK: Depestele 3, Andringa 9, Sugranes Martinez 12, Overbeeke 28, Baetens 11, Colson 9, Sparidans (L); Pekmans 3, Cosemans, Fasteland, Staszewski 1. DNP. Kindt. Coach. Johan Devoghel.
TRENTINO DIATEC: Antonov 13, Van de Voorde 12, Giannelli 7, Urnaut 16, Solé 16, Nelli 17, Colaci (L); Bratoev, De Angelis, DNP. Mazzone T., Djuric, Mazzone D. Coach. Radostin Stoytchev.
