The Challenge Playoffs quarter-finals series are over. The Final Four will take place in Verona from Friday 22 to Sunday 24. All the games will be live on Lega Volley Channel.
Results:
Calzedonia Verona-CMC Romagna 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-20);
Exprivia Molfetta-Gi Group Monza 3-1 (26-24, 25-20, 20-25, 25-23)
CALZEDONIA VERONA – CMC ROMAGNA 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-20)
CALZEDONIA VERONA: Zingel 12, Kovacevic 14, Pesaresi (L), Gitto 14, Lecat 15, Spirito, Baranowicz 1, Starovic 14, Bellei, Anzani 3. DNP Frigo, Sander, Bucko. Coach. Giani.
CMC ROMAGNA: Mengozzi 16, Ricci 7, Cavanna 2, Della Lunga 6, Van Garderen 13, Polo, Koumentakis 1, Goi (L), Torres 16, Boswinkel 1, Bari (L), Perini De Aviz 1. DNP Zappoli. Coach. Kantor.
Verona conceded the first set against CMC Romagna but fought back to win the series and qualify for the Final Four. Carmelo Gitto’s performance stood out, he was named MVP as he tallied 14 points at 100% in attack.
Carmelo Gitto (Calzedonia Verona): “I am happy with my performance and the victory. We’re in the Final Four. This is a difficult season with so many games to play in quick succession. Today the will to play and to remain united made the difference”.
Valdo Kantor (coach CMC Romagna): “All the teams always have regrets in such a difficult and long season, but I’m not going to complain. The team did what it had to do. They fought for the playoffs. In terms of effort and sacrifices I can’t argue because the boys gave everything. We did our job and played our game till the very last points”.
EXPRIVIA MOLFETTA – GI GROUP MONZA 3-1 (26-24, 25-20, 20-25, 25-23)
EXPRIVIA MOLFETTA: Candellaro 12, Del Vecchio, De Barros Ferreira 10, Barone 7, Mustedanovic, De Pandis (L), Hierrezuelo 9, Fedrizzi 12, Hernandez Ramos 19. DNP Kaczynski, Spadavecchia, Mariella, Porcelli. Coach. Di Pinto.
GI GROUP MONZA: Raic 15, Galliani 11, Mercorio 4, Jovovic 3, Rizzo (L), Botto 10, Verhees 6, Beretta 9. DNP Sala, Daldello, Brunetti, Gao. Coach. Cattaneo.
Molfetta qualified for the Challenge Playoffs Final Four thanks to a 3-1 win over Monza. It’s not been easy at all against a worthy opponent but the will from Molfetta to be among the best led them to this important achievement. Hernandez was back and on fire with 19 points to lead his team to a 2-0 lead before Monza got back in it through some effective attack (58%). Molfetta had to dig dip to clinch victory as setter Hierrezuelo helped the team with some magical touches. He was named MVP with 9 points, among which 6 blocks. The serve and reception proved key: the hosts collected 13 aces, four each for Fedrizzi and Hernandez, while the team received at 57%.
Daniele De Pandis (Exprivia Molfetta): “We all wanted this win badly. The Challenge Final Four was our goal and I think the court advantage proved key in this qualification. The serve and reception were crucial in this game”.
Marco Rizzo (Gi Group Monza): “We started off tense in the first set, we immediately made four mistakes in reception. We might have been able to extend it to the tie-break with a different attitude. Hernandez’s presence might have got us off track but I still think it was tight. I congratulate Molfetta and wish them the best of luck for the Final Four”.
Fixtures
Challenge Playoffs Final Four
Semi-finals
Friday 22 April
Calzedonia Verona – Ninfa Latina Live on Lega Volley Channel
Exprivia Molfetta – LPR Piacenza Live on Lega Volley Channel
Final
Sunday 24 April
Live on Lega Volley Channel
Semi-final Game 2 result:
Conad Reggio Emilia-Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia 2-3 (27-25, 30-28, 22-25, 23-25, 13-15); Maury’s Italiana Assicurazioni Tuscania-Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora 0-3 (19-25, 17-25, 20-25)
MAURY’S ITALIANA ASSICURAZIONI TUSCANIA – GLOBO BANCA POPOLARE DEL FRUSINATE SORA 0-3 (19-25, 17-25, 20-25) – MAURY’S ITALIANA ASSICURAZIONI TUSCANIA: Calonico 1, Straino, Hueller, Bonami (L), Vitangeli 3, Ottaviani 7, Mrdak 13, Mazzon 3, Monopoli 1, Shavrak 8, Esposito 3. DNP Pieri. Coach. Tofoli.
GLOBO BANCA POPOLARE DEL FRUSINATE SORA: Fabroni 3, Santucci (L), Bacca 6, Rosso 15, Hoogendoorn 20, Giglioli 5, Sperandio 5. DNP Mariano, Festi, Lucarelli, Buzzelli, Marrazzo, Mauti. Coach. Soli.
Winner of the opening encounter, Sora made it 2-0 against Tuscania thanks to this dominant road victory. The visitors were the better team in every fundamentals: they were terrific in attack (64%) behind their top scorer Hoogendoorn (20 points) and Mattia Rosso (15 points), while they had no mercy at the net (13 blocks to 2). Soli’s men will therefore have their first chance of qualification in their home gym and might have a chance to make up for the disappointments of recent years.
Fixtures
Serie A2 playoffs, semi-finals Game 3
Wednesday 20 April at 8.30pm
Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia – Conad Reggio Emilia Live on Lega Volley Channel
(Canessa-Zingaro)
Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora – Maury’s Italiana Assicurazioni Tuscania Live on Lega Volley Channel
Game 4 (If needed)
Monday 25 April at 6pm
Conad Reggio Emilia – Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia Live on Lega Volley Channel
Maury’s Italiana Assicurazioni Tuscania – Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora Live on Lega Volley Channel
