In its first friendly game of the season, Ravenna played host to Padova. There were ups and downs but in the end the hosts prevailed at the tie-break. Ravenna was without Polo, who recently came back from his international summer playing in World Championships U21 and U23, Van Garderen who will arrive in Ravenna at the end of the European Championships, and Della Lunga cautiously rested after some muscle pain. As for Latina, they were without Cook, Berger and Quiroga. In the fifth set, a great block from Mengozzi got Ravenna on track (5-2), another block, from Ricci got the hosts 10-6 up, while a hat-trick of aces from Koumentakis sealed the encounter 15-7.
“I did not have any particular expectative for this game – said coach Waldo Kantor – It was important to get a game under our belt, because we have not been able to play in training because of injuries and players missing. In the first set, the boys had no rhythm, they were a bit lost, but things got better as time wore on”.
CMC ROMAGNA – TONAZZO PADOVA 3-2 (20-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 15-7)
CMC Romagna: Cavanna 2, Torres 19, Mengozzi 11, Ricci 9, Koumentakis 23, Zappoli 6, Bari (L), Ricci (L), Perini, Boswinkel 1. DNP. Della Lunga, Ortali. Coach. Kantor
Tonazzo Padova: Orduna 1, Giannotti 13, Lazzaretto 8, Averill 13, Volpato 2, Milan 20, Balaso (L), Diamantini 2, Bassanello (L). DNP. Leoni. Coach. Baldovin
