A crucial week begins for Cisterna Volley, after the important clear victory against Gioiella Prisma Taranto, which allowed the team led by coach Falasca to reach eighth place in the standings, shared with Valsa Group Modena. For the first time, the Pontini team will face Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina in an official match, after joint training in the pre-season which ended in favor of Cisterna Volley.
THE TEAM – Compared to last season, Grottazzolina has retained some fundamental players: the setter Manuele Marchiani, the libero Andrea Marchisio, the central defenders Andrea Mattei and Marco Cubito, and the spikers Michele Fedrizzi and Riccardo Vecchi, now captain and libero. Added to these are eight new signings, including the Croatian setter Tsimafei Zhukouski, the Serbian opposite player Dusan Petkovic, and the spikers Oleg Antonov, a veteran of the Italian national team, and the young Frenchman Matteo Schalk. Danny Demyanenko, returning from the Olympic Games, completes the roster together with Francesco Comparoni.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP – Coach Ortenzi’s team is experiencing a debut in the Credem Banca Super League made up of close battles, with the first historic victory still to be achieved. Even without full successes, Grottazzolina showed character by leading both Vero Volley Monza to a tie-break in the opening match and Sonepar Padova, coming close to achieving the feat. Against the battleship Sir Susa Vim Perugia, holder of the title, the match ended with a clear defeat, but not without moments of quality that reveal room for growth.
