Comunicato Stampa della Lega Pallavolo Serie A

V-Day will put face to face Trentino and Cuneo on May 15 in Roma. The semi-finals series have been amongst the best in history as both teams needed the deciding fifth encounter.  This will be Trento’s fourth consecutive final, while Cuneo played two finals in 96 and 98. and will defend the title won last season.

Playoff semi-finals Game 5

Results

Itas Diatec Trentino – Casa Modena 3-1 (25-23, 28-30, 25-22, 25-11)

Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo – Lube Banca Marche Macerata 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12)

ITAS DIATEC TRENTINO – CASA MODENA 3-1 (25-23, 28-30, 25-22, 25-11)

ITAS DIATEC TRENTINO: Kaziyski 13, Birarelli 14, Della Lunga 4, Juantorena 15, Vieira De Oliveira 1, Sala 10, Sokolov, Colaci, Stokr 21, Bari (L). DNP Leonardi, Zygadlo. Coach. Stoytchev.

CASA MODENA: Manià (L), Ciabattini, Fabroni, Kooistra 12, Mossa De Rezende 2, Dennis 17, Kooy 11, Casadei 1, Creus Larry 16, Casoli 7, Diaz, Piscopo 2. Coach. Bagnoli.

3-2 the score in the series for Trento over Modena, just like it had happened between the same two teams in 2005-06. Modena fought hard for three sets before it lost Dennis injured, then the fourth set was one-way traffic.

Jan Stokr (Itas Diatec Trentino): “During this series, we have inevitably felt the pressure of the victory at all cost as we were the favourites. It’s been very hard but we made it through with character and good volleyball, I think we deserve the qualification for the V-Day. We are obviously happy but we have to focus immediately on the final in Roma”.

Daniele Bagnoli (coach Casa Modena): “We played a great series and we believed in our chance tonight as well. Dennis’ injury was key for our ambitions and that’s the worse way to get out of the playoffs.  I am very upset, taking into consideration the potential of both teams, I think we played better than them. Trento won it and I wish Stoytchev’s team the best of luck”.

BRE BANCA LANNUTTI CUNEO – LUBE BANCA MARCHE MACERATA 3-2 (22-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 15-12)

BRE BANCA LANNUTTI CUNEO: Mastrangelo 13, Henno (L), Fortunato, Montagna, Wijsmans 13, Carletti, Grbic 2, Peda 1, Nikolov 21, Patriarca 13, Volkov 10. DNP Galic. Coach. Giuliani.

LUBE BANCA MARCHE MACERATA: Lampariello, Savani 17, Paparoni (L), Vermiglio 2, Conte 14, Stankovic 10, Martino, Omrcen 28, Podrascanin 7. DNP Marchiani, Vadeleux, Van Walle, Cacchiarelli. Coach. Berruto.

In the semi-final game 5 in a  packed arena in Cuneo (5000 fans),  Cuneo came back from a 2-1 deficit to win it in the tie-break. The fans were singing “let’s defend our title” during the game. They will now have a chance to do so.

Alberto Giuliani (coach Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo): “A deserved victory, for the boys and these amazing fans. It’s been a very tough game, we all knew it would be, Macerata was in great form. We’ll celebrate tonight and on Sunday’s we’ll be in Roma to defend our title”.

Mauro Berruto (coach Lube Banca Marche Macerata): “I am proud of this team and I want to congratulate all my players. Tonight Cuneo was stronger and deserved to win. We are obviously extremely disappointed, but we have done an exceptional season, we gave it all until the end, like tonight”.

LEAGUE FINAL – V-DAY

Sunday May 15 at 6pm in Roma (Palalottomatica)

Itas Diatec Trentino – Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo Live on Rai Sport 2 from 5.30pm

European Cups 2011-2012

Trento, Cuneo and Macerata in Champions League, Monza Brianza in Cev Cup and Modena in Challenge Cup

Now that Cuneo and Trentino are through to the league final, we know which teams will take part in the various European competitions next season. Third in the regular season, Macerata joins the already qualified Trentino, Cuneo in the Champions League. In the CEV Cup, there will be Monza, fourth in the regular season, while Modena, fifth, will play in the Challenge Cup.