Intense start to the new year in the A2. The opening games of 2016 were played on January 3, three days later everybody was back on court with the first return games and this Sunday they’re back at it again with all the games live on the Lega Volley Channel. Second in the table, Vibo began the year with games against its three main rivals: Sora, Civita Castellana and now Tuscania.
3-1 winner in Brescia coming back from 1-0 down, Ortona will play host to Siena, who stopped Potenza’s four game winning streak on Wednesday. The two teams are tied in the table with 22 points. Both clubs had a disappointing start to the season but have recently turned things around and are now close to the top teams. Siena hopes to have middle blocker Braga fit, he is 2 blocks away from a thousand. But given how well Bortolozzo and Di Marco played, coach Caponeri does not need to worry too much.
Potenza Picena had taken points for seven consecutive rounds before falling in Siena. They will try to bounce back at home against Brescia, who lost Fabio Bisi on Thursday’s bitter night. The hosts will wait news from the medical staff regarding Federico Moretti, who has a hand injured.
Happy feeling in the Club Italia and Cantù camps. Both are coming off four-set wins over teams from the Apulia. Club Italia won in Castellana Grotte, while the giants of Cantù had the better of Alessano at home. The young guns from the capital are currently ninth, and they want to reduce the six-point gap on their opponents.
Beating the winter champs of Sora is the dream of Alessano, who wants to forget about the 3-1 defeat conceded in Cantù. Sora’s last victim was Mondovì. Soli’s men would love to increase their lead on Vibo by taking the points but Alessano is a tough place to go for everyone. The Apulia side needs points and oxygen.
Vibo Valentia was quick to learn the lesson of its home loss against Sora at the tie-break. They immediately bounced back by beating Civita Castellana in five sets. They now host Tuscania, currently third in the table tied with Civita. Thrashed by Ortona, they came back with a vengeance and swept Civita Castellana and Reggio Emilia.
Reggio Emilia had their three-game winning streak interrupted in Montefiascone. It will entertain Castellana Grotte, who lost twice in Potenza and Rome (vs Club Italia) after its breakthrough over Vibo Valentia.
In round 15, there is also the clash between the two rookies, Mondovì and Civita Castellana. After a start to the season that went beyond all expectations, Mondovì realised how important it was to be consistent. Indeed, they conceded seven defeats in a row, the last one in Sora. Spanakis’ men had a totally different run that led them to third place in the table. But they lost their star spiker Paulo Da Silva and that hurts the team, which was defeated in the derby against Tuscania and then surprised at the death by Vibo. Still, this remains a very positive first part of season so far.
Serie A2 UnipolSai Round 15
Sunday 10 January at 6pm
Sieco Service Ortona – Emma Villas Siena Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Rossetti-Cerra)
Potenza Picena – Centrale del Latte McDonald’s Brescia Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Piperata-Turtù)
Club Italia Roma – Cassa Rurale Cantù Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Rolla-Palumbo)
Aurispa Alessano – Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Vecchione-De Sensi)
Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia – Maury’s Italiana Assicurazioni Tuscania Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Spinnicchia-Pecoraro)
Conad Reggio Emilia – Materdominivolley.it Castellana Grotte Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Bellini-Piubelli)
BAM Mondovì – Globo Scarabeo Civita Castellana Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Montanari-Fretta)
League table
Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora 33, Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia 32, Maury’s Italiana Assicurazioni Tuscania 27, Globo Scarabeo Civita Castellana 27, Potenza Picena 24, Emma Villas Siena 22, Sieco Service Ortona 22, Cassa Rurale Cantù 22, Club Italia Roma 16, Materdominivolley.it Castellana Grotte 16, Conad Reggio Emilia 15, Aurispa Alessano 13, BAM Mondovì 13, Centrale del Latte McDonald’s Brescia 12
