Serie A1 Sustenium
Round 3
Six of the seven games will be played this weekend as Padova versus Trentino has taken place last September 28 (0-3). The game had to be forwarded as Trento will take part in the World Club Championships in Qatar to defend its title.
Excitement guaranteed already from Saturday with Macerata versus Piacenza as Igor Omrcen is close to reach 4500 points scored in the league. Piacenza proved it was a tough team to beat that had fighting spirit when they came back from two sets down to force a tie-break against Trento. On Sunday, the highlights will come from Modena against Monza, and Cuneo versus Roma with Wijsmans doubtful because of an ankle injury.
Fixtures
Round 3 Serie A1 Sustenium
Saturday October 8 at 5.30pm
Lube Banca Marche Macerata – Copra Elior Piacenza Live on Rai Sport 1
(Boris-Zucca)
Sunday October 9 at 5.30pm
Sisley Belluno – Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia Live on Rai Sport 1
(Puecher-Balboni)
Sunday October 9 at 6pm
Andreoli Latina – Marmi Lanza Verona
(Castagna-Cesare)
Casa Modena – Acqua Paradiso Monza Brianza Live on Sportube.tv
(Sampaolo-Pasquali)
Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo – M. Roma Volley
(Bartolini-Caltabiano)
Energy Resources San Giustino – CMC Ravenna
(Sobrero-Cerquoni)
*Fidia Padova – Itas Diatec Trentino 0-3 (played on 28/09/11)
League table
Itas Diatec Trentino 8*, Lube Banca Marche Macerata 6, Casa Modena 6, Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo 5, Andreoli Latina 4, Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia 3, Energy Resources San Giustino 3, Acqua Paradiso Monza Brianza 3, Fidia Padova 3*, Marmi Lanza Verona 2, Sisley Belluno 1, Copra Elior Piacenza 1, M. Roma Volley 0, CMC Ravenna 0
*1 game more: Itas Diatec Trentino, Fidia Padova
Lube Banca Marche Macerata – Copra Elior Piacenza
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 25
Cristian Savani (Lube Banca Marche Macerata): “This is an even tougher test for us compared to the two previous ones that we have won. This team has a huge potential and is desperate to gather some points given that it did not get much so far. Last Sunday it played face to face with Trento, and it will be as determined this time round. As for us, we are eager to keep getting better. The effectiveness on the serve will definitely be key on Saturday”.
Hristo Zlatanov (Copra Elior Piacenza): “Despite the injury I picked up last Sunday, I am fine, I am working and following my therapy to get back as soon as possible. An injury at the beginning of the season is never positive, especially for us, because we need to be all united to gel as a team. Saturday’s game will be very difficult: Macerata is a strong team and probably the most in form right now. Nothing is impossible but it will certainly be a very tough challenge”.
Sisley Belluno – Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 15
Donald Suxho (Sisley Belluno): “We want to put all the energy and fighting spirit gathered during the week in the game against Vibo. We need to get back on track. We have to play without waiting for their mistakes. Let’s take control. Against Latina and Verona we lacked composure in the clutch time. We missed easy chances. In Verona we made a little improvement but we’ll need some more on Sunday in Belluno. The team is new, it is building its identity. Vibo’s players are in good form, they play fast on the wing and with the outside hitter. All their spikers are experienced, and they do a good job in dig-block. We’ll need to be focused and composed. We are motivated and we know our fans will help us, in the difficult moments too. They have been great on our debut game, we’d like to give them a good result”.
Matej Cernic (Tonno Callipo Vibo Valentia): “I expect it to be a great game in Belluno. This will surely be a tough one because they have lost two in a row and will come out ready to fight, they are not used to lose, they definitely give 120%. We’ll have to show the same fighting spirit as in the first two rounds, try to stay close and never give up. This will crucial”.
Andreoli Latina – Marmi Lanza Verona
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 14
Daniele Sottile (Andreoli Latina): “This will be an important game, like all the others, this is my former team and it’s always nice to see my former teammates. Hopefully, there will be more fans compared to last Saturday because we will really need their support this season”.
Matteo De Cecco (ass. coach Marmi Lanza Verona): “Latina did well to take three points in Belluno and they will play at home. I know the place, the fans live the event with great passion. They have two very physical outside hitters and excellent receivers. We’ll have to play without fear, without thinking too much, serving well and looking for consistency in our game. In the first two games, the team showed a positive attitude, which will be needed again in Latina”.
Casa Modena – Acqua Paradiso Monza Brianza
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 63
Daniele Bagnoli (coach Casa Modena): “This has been a very complicated week without Yosifov and Piscopo injured, and Sala with the flu. We basically trained without middle blockers. On Sunday, if we compare to football, we’ll have to play without a goal keeper and without the substitute of our goal keeper. Having said that, we’ll do everything possible to win and we have what it takes to do that. We’ll obviously have to play with maximum focus, taking care of the details. Monza is one of the teams that could aim for fourth place, this is a top quality team. This will be a very difficult game but the points at stake are very important”.
Mauro Gavotto (Acqua Paradiso Monza Brianza): “Playing in Modena is always a great emotion, this is an arena full of history and the atmosphere there is fantastic. We’re working hard to go there and have our chances. We’ll do our best to get back from this road game with something to show for. We know they have problems with their middle blockers, but they have strong spikers, it will be a tough game. We gathered an important win in Modena last season, which helped us clinch a spot in the CEV Cup, so I have positive memories. This year, the situation is different, it’s a new championship but we’ll fight to get a win”.
Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo – M. Roma Volley
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 6
Flavio Gulinelli (coach Bre Banca Lannutti Cuneo): “On Sunday, we’ll face a team that comes to Cuneo to redeem itself following its recent results, to prove it made the right choices this summer. This will be a difficult game, we have to be careful, we have to keep looking for our best volleyball”.
Ivan Zaytsev (M. Roma Volley): “Hopefully, the game against Cuneo will be different that the ones played against Modena and Macerata, hopefully the serve will not be as decisive. Otherwise, we’ll find it hard again to impose our game. The reception will have to contain the opponent better than in the last two games. I want to see a good reception, with emotion, from all the boys, to show what really is our potential. We have worked hard to improve our approach to the games and to be more consistent. Hopefully, this will be enough to play face to face with Cuneo or at least to see improvements no matter the final outcome”.
Energy Resources San Giustino – CMC Ravenna
PAST ENCOUNTERS: None
Claudio Sciurpa (President Energy Resources San Giustino): “On Sunday we want a three-point victory, the first in our PalaKemon arena, for our fans and to get up the table. Then, things will get even more difficult for us, we’ll play twice in a row away from home, in Belluno and Trento. Ravenna is a team with fighting spirit, but we play home, and if we don’t underestimate the opponent, we can win it”.
Antonio Babini (coach CMC Ravenna): “It will be very tough in San Giustino but, at least, we have been able to train at a good level for the first time this week thanks to the arrival of Quiroga, and Roberts on Thursday. Things are back to normal, and hopefully this will have an immediate and positive effect on the team”.
Serie A2 Sustenium
Round 3
There could not have been a tighter or more thrilling start to the season in the A2. The third round is expected to be as entertaining as the first two. Five unbeaten teams left, only one with maximum points: Segrate who travels to Molfetta. The latter only counts one point so far. Behind Segrate, three teams follow with five points: Città di Castello, Santa Croce and Club Italia. One of the first two will stay undefeated as they meet this weekend, while Club Italia travels to Reggio Emilia, who is still without a win and a point. Last team still unbeaten, Loreto is away at Atripalda, who will have its outside hitter back after missing the game against Segrate. Still without a point, newly promoted Cantù will count on the support of its fans to clinch its first ever win in the A2 as it takes on Genova, who only has one point and no win. Winner in Genova, Perugia is back home where it entertains Isernia, still looking for its first victory. Galvanised by last week’s triumph, Corigliano and Sora meet up for the first time in history. Coach Nacci will have newcomer Thomas Edgar at his disposal. Finally, Castellana Grotte takes on Milan, both winners in the first round but beaten last week.
Fixtures
Round 3 Serie A2 Sustenium
Sunday October 9 at 4pm
Edilesse Conad Reggio Emilia – Club Italia Roma Live on Sportitalia 1
(Bassan-Pozzi)
Sunday October 9 at 6pm
Pallavolo Molfetta – Volley Segrate 1978
(Puletti-Zingaro)
NGM Mobile S.Croce – Gherardi SVI Città Di Castello
(Venturi-Prati)
Cassa Rurale Cantù – Carige Genova
(Oranelli-Zingoni)
Sir Safety Perugia – Cicchetti Isernia
(Zanussi-Sessolo)
BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte – CheBanca! Milano
(Longo-Gentile)
Caffè Aiello Corigliano – Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora
(Canessa-Parlato)
Sidigas Atripalda – Energy Resources Carilo Loreto
(Pignataro-Stancati)
League table
Volley Segrate 1978 6, Gherardi SVI Città Di Castello 5, NGM Mobile S.Croce 5, Club Italia Roma 5, Energy Resources Carilo Loreto 4, Sir Safety Perugia 4, CheBanca! Milano 4, Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora 4, BCC-NEP Castellana Grotte 3, Caffè Aiello Corigliano 3, Sidigas Atripalda 2, Carige Genova 1, Pallavolo Molfetta 1, Cicchetti Isernia 1, Cassa Rurale Cantù 0, Edilesse Conad Reggio Emilia 0
