Second game of the quater-finals series this weekend. Civitanova had a sense of dejà vu and feared history would repeat itself but in the end they came out on top against Latina in its opening game. The visitors played loose and forced the hosts to come-back from behind to clinch it at the tie-break. While captain Miljkovic was feverish, his counterpart Maruotti made his fans believe the breakthrough was possible as 6 match points were cancelled out on his run of serves (he scored 5 aces in the game). But Juantorena eventually had the last word.
Easier debut game for Modena at the PalaPanini arena, where they sprinted off the starting blocks flying towards a 3-0 win over Padova. It was the second set in which Baldovin’s men made it the hardest for the hosts (32-34) but there was always Ngapeth in the clutch time to sort things out for Modena (76% in attack). Modena could have new signing Thiago Henrique Sens already on the bench for Game 2.
Special night in Trento in which the return of super fan favourite Matey Kaziyski coincided with a 3-0 victory over Molfetta. Kaziyski did more than his part on his debut game, finishing top scorer with 16 points. Tough match for Molfetta who never found its rhythm, while its Cuban outside hitter Hernandez had a rare night in which he was not prolific. Hernandez will receive the Gazzetta award 2016 before the start of Game 2.
Another marathon at the PalaOlimpia in what has become a classic rivalry between Verona and Perugia. The hosts dictated things for the first two sets and threatened to make it a quick one but Kovac’s men did not give up and, led by Atanasijevic and Russel (29 and 24 points respectively), they ignited a come-back from the third set that led to a tie-break road victory.
League playoffs, Quarter-finals Game 2
Sunday 13 March at 5pm
Exprivia Molfetta – Diatec Trentino Live on RAI Sport 1
Live streaming on www.raisport.rai.it
Sunday 13 March at 6pm
Ninfa Latina – Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova Live on Lega Volley Channel
Sir Safety Conad Perugia – Calzedonia Verona Live on Lega Volley Channel
Tonazzo Padova – DHL Modena Live on Lega Volley Channel
Quarter-finals game 3
Saturday 19 March at 8.30pm
Diatec Trentino – Exprivia Molfetta Live on Lega Volley Channel
Sunday 20 March at 6pm
Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova – Ninfa Latina Live on Lega Volley Channel
DHL Modena – Tonazzo Padova Live on Lega Volley Channel
Wednesday 23 March at 8.30pm
Calzedonia Verona – Sir Safety Conad Perugia Live on RAI Sport 1
Live streaming on www.raisport.rai.it
SuperLega UnipolSai League playoffs quarters Game 2
Past encounters: 43 (35-8 Civitanova)
This season: 4 times – twice in the league (3-2 Civitanova then 3-0 f0r Latina). Twice in the cup quarter-finals (Civitanova won both 3-0).
In the playoffs: 11 times in the quarter-finals (7-4 Civitanova)
Gabriele Maruotti (Ninfa Latina): “This will be a very important game because we have to win it at all cost to extend the series. We have to build on the good things done in Civitanova. We must prove that Latina is still in it and wants to have a say in the matter. We have to play with determination, and will to fight from the first to the last point”.
Klemen Cebulj (Cucine Lube Banca Marche Civitanova): “After the long battle in Game 1, we’ll reset it all and put behind us that difficult win. We’ll focus on Game 2 as if we were at 0-0. If we want to win in their PalaBianchini arena, we’ll have to be extremely aggressive and focused. Latina will have nothing to lose and they’ll play all out. We want to play a better match than the one we had on Thursday night”.
Paste encounters: 85 (70-15 Modena)
This season: 2 in the league, Both won away from home, first Modena 3-0 then Padova 3-1.
In the playoffs: 11 times: once in the 8th of finals (Modena), three times in the quarters (Modena won all 3), 3 times in the semi-finals (all Modena) and 4 times in the finals (All Modena again).
Stefano Giannotti (Tonazzo Padova): “Game 1 put on show the quality of the stars who compose the Modena roster. Shame we did not manage to seal the second set which could have got us back in the game. Sunday’s game will obviously be difficult, but we’ll have to be courageous and play without any fear. This will be the opportunity for Padova and our fans to experience the emotions of the playoffs, it’s been years since the last time the club participated. We will just play with maximum fighting spirit”.
Andrea Sartoretti (GM DHL Modena): “We started the playoffs on the right foot. That was a good performance against a tough opposition, and we expected it to be difficult. Now we have a couple of days to prepare Game 2, we know we’ll need maximum focus to grab a victory that could be crucial in this series. Big thank you to our fans, I know many will follow us again and yesterday they were fantastic”.
Past encounters: 11 (8-3 Trento)
This season: 4 times – twice in the regular season (both won 3-0 at home, first Molfetta then Trento). And twice in the cup quarter-finals: (Trento won the first leg 3-0 away, then Molfetta won 3-2 away).
In the playoffs: Three times in the quarters (Trento won all 3).
Ninni de Nicolo (Sport Director Exprivia Molfetta): “We knew we were up against a well-organised team. Besides, the addition of Kaziyski turned out to be key. Now we’ll play in Molfetta, where it is not easy to win. We have to give everything and make it hard for them. We’ll try to extend the series”.
Tine Urnaut (Diatec Trentino): “Winning in the PalaPoli arena is never easy and we know that. In front of their fans, they always play well and they’ll be keen to bounce back from their defeat in Game 1. In order to obtain another victory, we’ll need to play with maximum concentration just like on Thursday night. That was important to get off to a good start”.
Past encounters: 16 (12-4 Perugia)
This season: 4 times – Verona won both regular season game (3-0 away then 3-2 home). Perugia won the 2 Italian Cup games (3-2 away then 3-1 home).
In the playoffs: 4 times in the quarter-finals (Perugia 3-1).
Simone Buti (Sir Safety Conad Perugia): “Yesterday’s game 1 victory gave us a lot of confidence. In the playoffs it’s important to stay composed in the important moments and yesterday we did a good job. But Verona is a great team, they proved it in this first game. Sunday is already upon us so we have to reset it all and prepare for another battle”.
Michele Baranowicz (Calzedonia Verona): “After the tie-break lost home against Perugia, we’ll travel to the Umbria region to play our game and try to win it. We have to forget about the opening game of the series and the defeat. We have to face this new match with determination as if it was a final”.
Teams classified from 9th to 12th missed out on the league playoffs but they remain with a big opportunity to make it a special season. Romagna, Monza, Milan and Piacenza enter the Challenge playoffs, the winner of which will play European volleyball next season in the Challenge Cup. The last four of the regular season will first play a group phase. Then, according to their standings, they will take on the four losers of the league playoffs quarter-finals. Semi-finals and final will follow.
Romagna and Milan will play a remake of the last regular season game but this time in will be in Forlì. Before the game, Puerto Rican spiker Maurice Armando Torres will receive the MVP award for the month of February. Monti’s men won both regular season games at the tie-break this season against Milan. Ravenna won the Challenge playoffs in 2014 when Marco Bonitta was coach. They beat Cuneo in the final and went as far as the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup 2015 (knocked out by Benfica Lisboa).
Third meeting of the season between Monza and Piacenza. The latter will try to bounce back from a poor regular season in which they finished bottom of the table. On the other hand, Monza was not far at all to make it in the top 8. Their loss in Verona in the last round while Padova won in Modena left them out. This remains a good season for Vacondio’s men who took part in the SuperLega Italian Cup for the first time in history. Piacenza have already managed to take part in the Challenge Cup by winning the Challenge playoffs. It was in 2012 and the following year, they made it an incredible twelve 3-0 wins in as many games to win the trophy.
Challenge playoffs first round
Saturday 12 March at 8.30pm
CMC Romagna – Revivre Milano Live on Lega Volley Channel
Gi Group Monza – LPR Piacenza Live on Lega Volley Channel
UnipolSai Challenge playoffs first round
CMC Romagna – Revivre Milano
Past encounters: 4 (2 each)
This season: 2 (2 in Regular Season, Milan won both, 3-2 away then 3-2 home)
Waldo Kantor (coach CMC Romagna): “We start this new phase willing to show why we finished 9th. We have everything to lose but our goal will be to find consistency. Milan beat us twice this year, both at the tie-break. We failed to seal the games in spite of being 2-0 up at home and 2-1 up in Milan last Sunday. We struggle to receive their serve. We’ll have to limit their break point, make the most of their bad receptions to prevent players like Skrimov to get in a rhythm”.
Luca Monti (coach Revivre Milano): “We did not manage to train too well this week because we had many little problems. Our goal will be to play a good game in Forlì and win as many games as possible in this group phase”.
Gi Group Monza – LPR Piacenza
Past encounters: 4 (3-1 Monza)
This season: 2 (2 in Regular Season, Monza won both, 3-2 away then 3-1 home).
Thomas Beretta (Gi Group Monza): “We’ll face Piacenza for the third time this season. In spite of our two wins, we know they have a lot of quality and they’re capable of playing excellent volleyball. We have started to play with more consistency and determination of late in spite of the defeats. It will be important to fight for every point and get off to a good start in the Challenge playoffs”.
Emanuel Kohut (LPR Piacenza): “We’re working well in the gym, with intensity even if we had our share of problems that penalised us when we played. One thing is for sure, we don’t want to give up. We had a hard time this season but we want to show our worth. This is a new phase for us, everybody is back at the same level. We want to prove we can play some good volleyball”.
In round 24, Tuscania will take on Brescia on Saturday night. Beaten 3-0 in Siena, they lost their third place and they have Cantù and Reggio threatening just two points behind. Last from bottom, tied with Club Italia and Castellana Grotte after their home loss against Cantù at the tie-break, Cisolla and co, however, took half of their season points in the last six round, which goes to show how they improved their game of late.
On Sunday at noon, Castellana Grotte will try to bounce back from the sweep conceded in Monterotondo against Civita Castellana when they meet Sora. The latter is full of confidence after stopping Reggio’s uncontrollable winning streak, and they will have Romolo Mariano available.
Club Italia Roma is keen to get back on track after a severe defeat in Ortona. Totire’s young guns played every game as if it was a final, everybody knows how dangerous they can be. They will face Siena, who will need to play with maximum focus if they don’t want to come back empty handed from the capital like other big favourites did.
Tricky game against Vibo Valentia for Cantù who’s on the chase for third place. They’re looking for a third consecutive win after the 3-1 home against Potenza and the 3-2 away in Brescia. Fourth place and Tuscania are just two points away. In its last round, Vibo defeated Mondovì. Cristian Casoli reached a new milestone with 3000 spikes while he’s close to 4500 points in the Serie A.
Home sweet home for Alessano who only managed to find the necessary consistency to take points on its home floor. The perfect start in Potenza was only an illusion for Bramato’s men, who finished on the losing end once again on the road. This Sunday, they will host Ortona, a team on the up in spite of being without Fiore. Last Sunday, they easily had the better of Club Italia and moved up to ninth, four points away from the playoffs zone.
Same challenge for Mondovì, who stands five points from the playoffs. They will give it all against Potenza Picena, who was back on the winning track in the last round against Alessano after six consecutive defeat and only one point taken. On his game back, Moretti finished top scorer. He will be eager to do well again on the eve of the Provincial Sport Gala, in which he will receive the Sports Man of the Year award. Andrea Ippolito is still out.
Reggio has just lost its second game in the second half of season, 3-0 against Sora. They’ll try to get right back on track as they stand fifth in the table, tied with Cantù. They’ll entertain Civita Castellana, who will try to keep Reggio at distance as they try to lock up third place. They’re looking for a third consecutive win after the ones obtained at the expense of Siena and Castellana Grotte.
Serie A2 UnipolSai round 24
Saturday 12 March at 8.30pm
Maury’s Italiana Assicurazioni Tuscania – Centrale del Latte McDonald’s Brescia Live on Lega Volley Channel
Sunday 13 Marcg at noon
Materdominivolley.it Castellana Grotte – Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora Live on Lega Volley Channel
Club Italia Roma – Emma Villas Siena Live on Lega Volley Channel
Sunday 13 March at 4pm
Cassa Rurale Cantù – Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia Live on Lega Volley Channel
Sunday 13 March at 6pm
Aurispa Alessano – Sieco Service Ortona Live on Lega Volley Channel
BAM Mondovì – Potenza Picena Live on Lega Volley Channel
Conad Reggio Emilia – Globo Scarabeo Civita Castellana Live on Lega Volley Channel
League table
Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia 51, Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora 50, Globo Scarabeo Civita Castellana 43, Maury’s Italiana Assicurazioni Tuscania 41, Cassa Rurale Cantù 39, Conad Reggio Emilia 39, Emma Villas Siena 35, Potenza Picena 34, Sieco Service Ortona 30, BAM Mondovì 29, Centrale del Latte McDonald’s Brescia 24, Club Italia Roma 24, Materdominivolley.it Castellana Grotte 24, Aurispa Alessano 20
