Serie A1
Round 2
Vibo Valentia and Roma will inaugurate the second round of the A1. It will be live on Rai Sport 1 on Saturday. Vibo will try to redeem itself after an opening loss against Roma. The game will also be broadcasted in 22 European nations in Europe. The TV cameras will move on to Modena on Sunday for the classic against Treviso.
Round 2
Saturday 30 October at 4pm
Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia – M. Roma Volley Live on Rai Sport 1
(Gnani-Pol)
Sunday 31 October at 6pm
Casa Modena – Sisley Treviso Live on Rai Sport 1
(Rapisarda-Boris)
Yoga Forlì – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
(Caltabiano-Puecher)
Acqua Paradiso Monza Brianza – Lube Banca Marche Macerata
(Tanasi-Satanassi)
BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte – Andreoli Latina
(Santi-Sampaolo)
Marmi Lanza Verona – Copra Morpho Piacenza
(Perri-Saltalippi)
RPA-LuigiBacchi.it San Giustino – Itas Diatec Trentino
(Cesare-Ippoliti)
Standings
Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo, Lube Banca Marche Macerata, Itas Diatec Trentino, Acqua Paradiso Monza Brianza, Sisley Treviso 3, Casa Modena, M. Roma Volley 2, Marmi Lanza Verona, Andreoli Latina 1, Yoga Forlì, Copra Morpho Piacenza, BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte, Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia, RPA-LuigiBacchi.it San Giustino 0
Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia – M. Roma Volley
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 2 (Roma won both)
Filippo Callipo (President Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia): “I am so excited about the home debut of our team. Hopefully a lot of people will come to the gym, it’s important to encourage and support our players, many are young and playing their first championship in Italy. It will be tough to win it but not impossible. Our libero will wear the new shirt on Saturday, it was realised with the collaboration of sponsor Macron, I wanted to dedicate it to the region with the colours of the sun, the see and the message from which I take inspiration every day: “Me, I’m staying in Calabria”.
Gianluca Saraceni (M. Roma Volley): “If we want to get out of this one unscathed, we’ll need heart. Vibo is a city lacking distractions, that’s why they will always have the support of the fans, Everybody has this special feeling. This is another reason why I think the home debut of a team is always very important. The gym will be packed with a great atmosphere and the players will be up for it. But the fans are clean. The Vibo supporters live the games in a healthy way, they have a club in which when they can’t go to the away game, they have the technical support to watch their team anyway. I repeat, to get out of this with a result, we’ll need to play with our hearts because we still need time for the team to jell. Last Sunday, Paolucci’s experience and mine were key. I don’t want to take anything away from what the others have done but I think the difference between Verona and us, was the fact we are used to face the tough clutch moments”.
Casa Modena – Sisley Treviso
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 97 (51-46 Treviso)
Sebastian Creus (Casa Modena): “I tell you the truth, I can’t wait to play this Modena-Treviso, I am a little be “nervous”. I started to play volleyball watching the Modena vs Treviso clashes, I would never have dreamt to take part in it but today here I am. I was glad to play this first game against Latina, but not totally satisfied with the performance, I can and must do better. We are three middle blockers, there is a long season ahead, with many games between the league and Cev Cup, this is my first year in the A1 and I’m trying to give 100% every day to improve and be ready for the coach. This was a very important week for us: We trained hard, we know we have to improve as a team in every area of the game. Treviso is a very strong team, they have great quality in attack, even with the middle blockers: I think this is important to force their reception away from the net. The two teams are more or less of the same level even if the rosters have changed since last year. In these first few games, we both have to find our balance. This will be a very difficult and intense game. We are at home, hopefully the gym will be packed”.
Roberto Piazza (coach Sisley Treviso): “We played a friendly against Bled this week and I was not really impressed. But let’s focus on the Modena game, which is obviously much more important. It will be a great game, to face with determination, with our head more than physical qualities. Modena is a particular court, they breath volleyball, there will be the usual atmosphere with 5000 people, almost sold-out. The games in this gym and with this fans are really special, it’s never easy for the opponents. I talked about it to the boys, the mental aspect will be crucial. In terms of technique, I expect my boys to show some progress. Now, we know each other very well, we can play well in this period when we’ll face many very tough games. I expect the combination block-dig to work better on Sunday, this must help us to control a few more balls and I would also like a more efficient serving”.
Yoga Forlì – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 10 (8-2 Cuneo)
Andrii Diachkov (Yoga Forlì): “This will be my debut in front of the Forli fans against Cuneo. I am very happy to play here, I like the city and I think I will like the supporters too. This is my second year in the A1, I know you have to work hard, but the whole team is committed because we want to do well. My first target is to be totally fit again following the surgery on my shoulder last May. This will be a tough game against Cuneo, a team with great champions like Grbic, who in my opinion is a legend in volleyball. Even with a couple of players out, there is always somebody able to take over at any moment”.
Marco Pistolesi (General Manager Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo): “The fact we’ll be missing some players in Forli, with Mastrangelo out injured, and Wijmans, who is waiting to be able to get on court as an Italian, which won’t happen before the third round, makes us even more aware of the difficulty of the game ahead. Forli did well in Treviso last Sunday, it could have been 2-0 up had it converted a point. You also have to consider that they have been training with their full roster since the start of the season while we have started to train with everyone very late. We know it will be tough, but we still hope to bring home the three points”.
Acqua Paradiso Monza Brianza – Lube Banca Marche Macerata
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 2 (1 win each)
Luca Monti (coach Acqua Paradiso Monza Brianza): “It will be a tough match up, without a doubt. Macerata is one of the favourites for the title. We made progress thanks to the win over Piacenza last Sunday because it’s always difficult to win away from home. What we’ll have to do is fight on every play: they don’t have many weaknesses, so we’ll have to play at a higher rhythm than against Piacenza and with maximum concentration. Macerata has already shown all its technique and balance in every area of the game, they have top class players, and one of the strongest outside hitters of the league with Verrmiglio organising the play. Keeping the ball away from the net will not be enough against them, Vermiglio is unpredictable from any position”.
Igor Omrcen (Lube Banca Marche Macerata): “First away game and first extremely tough one, because I believe Monza is one of the toughest teams in the league, and the 3-0 victory in Piacenza is a testimony. This is a game between two teams which had good starts, so willing to keep going the same way. Macerata is still looking to find its rhythm but has already shown the right attitude on court, something we’ll need again on Sunday. I think the serve will be key”.
BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte – Andreoli Latina
PRECEDENTI: 4 (3-1 Latina)
Vito Primavera (Direttore Sportivo BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte): “It will be our home debut, our fans obviously expect a lot from us so we’ll have to be careful not to be overwhelmed by the emotions. Latina is an excellent team, it won’t be easy, no games will be. But we’ll play to win it and take some points, taking advantage of playing home, which will be important all season long”.
Roberto Rondoni (Direttore Generale Andreoli Latina): “It will be an important away game, and even if it is premature to say this, there could be important points in the race to stay up. This is Castellana’s first experience in the top division but they have a great experience of volleyball. They will be eager to do well in their home debut, we’ll be facing an electric atmosphere. This will be a good test after our positive outing against Modena. We’re going south to get three points”.
Marmi Lanza Verona – Copra Morpho Piacenza
PRECEDENTI: 14 (11-3 Piacenza)
Maurizio Latelli (Marmi Lanza Verona): “Everyone is ready for this home debut, especially the players that are in Verona for the first season and want to get this first contact with the fans. I think it will be a great game in terms of competitive spirit, it will be nice to show our character. We got a good impression from the game against Roma, because we fought with intensity on every ball. Character is very important in a group”.
Boris Bondi (sport director Copra Morpho Piacenza): “I think the starting line-up will be the same as in the last game with Gonzalez, Nilsson, Tencati Semenzato, Popp and Zlatanov. Holt is not fit to play yet. Shame because it would have been great to see a match-up with the other American Brunner, with whom he is battling for the spot in the National team. We are a team with 11 new players out of 12, it is important to underline it. This time, we’re facing a team with similar characteristics, with 9 new players so I guess we’ll both have trouble to find our balance. Verona will also be missing an important player, Marco Meoni, but on the other hand, they have the court advantage. There will be a great match up between wing spikers, Lasko was MVP in the last game while Nelson still has to find his best form”.
RPA-LuigiBacchi.it San Giustino – Itas Diatec Trentino
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 21 (12-9 Trento)
Danilo Finazzi (RPA-LuigiBacchi.it San Giustino): “Sunday’s game will be a tough one again, and all the others will be tough too. We are working hard and well, and I’m sure this work will pay off. We have to try to improve Sunday after Sunday. In this beginning of championship, we’ve been handed the Italian and the World Champions, but we’ll give it our best shot. This is San Giustino’s home debut in the new gym. The town hall and the club have worked so much, the gym deserves a look, it deserves to be filled with many supporters. This is the debut of our fans too”.
Jan Stokr (Itas Diatec Trentino): “I used to play for them, but I don’t think there will be any particular feeling. I really like the club but the fact we’ll play in a different gym from the one where I played for four years and against a completely renewed squad will surely take pressure off my shoulder and many memories too. I will meet some people again, the coach Zanini as well, I know him well. As for the rest, it will be a game like any others. A game to win, to stay top”.
Serie A2
Third round
The A2 third round will begin with Milan versus Perugia at 11.30am on Sunday. Jago will make its debut for Milan. The rest of the games will be at 6pm, with Pineto looking for its first win of the season as it takes on the unbeaten Padova. Same for Reggio Emilia who faces Gela, full of confidence following its three-point triumph of seven days ago. Clash at the top between Genova, third, and league leaders Santa Croce. Club Italia is looking for its first points as well against Città di Castello, which tallied two tie-breaks in the first two games. Volley Segrate and Ravenna will want to bounce back as they meet. Finally, Loreto takes on Sora.
Round 3
Sunday 31 October at 11.30am
CheBanca! Milano – Sir Safety Perugia Live on Sportitalia 2
(Florian-Carrara)
Sunday 31 October at 6pm
Pallavolo Pineto – Pallavolo Padova
(Prandi-Vagni)
Energy Resources Carilo Loreto – Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora
(Gelati-Venturi)
Carige Genova – NGM Mobile Santa Croce
(Gini-Contini)
Geotec Isernia – Canadiens Mantova
(Frapiccini-Bartoloni)
Volley Segrate 1978 – Marcegaglia CMC Ravenna
(Cardaci-Longo)
Club Italia A.M. Roma – Gherardi SVI Città di Castello
(Prati-Astengo)
Edilesse Conad Reggio Emilia – Eurogroup Gela
(Goitre-Genna)
Standings
NGM Mobile S.Croce, Pallavolo Padova 6, Carige Genova 5, Gherardi SVI Città Di Castello, Eurogroup Gela, Sir Safety Perugia, Marcegaglia CMC Ravenna, Canadiens Mantova 4, CheBanca! Milano, Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora 3, Energy Resources Carilo Loreto, Geotec Isernia 2, Volley Segrate 1978 1, Edilesse Conad Reggio Emilia, Club Italia A.M. Roma , Pallavolo Pineto 0
