The leader of the standings Cucine Lube Civitanova arrived in Verona determined to win. Gianlorenzo Blengini’s team in a great shape in this part of the season, fresh winner of Del Monte Italian Cup, qualified for PlayOff 12 in Champions League, and in first place in Unipolsai Superleague. But also Calzedonia Verona is running a great moment, 7 wins in last 8 games under coach Nikola Grbic. In front of Pala Agsm sell out crowd, these two teams made up a great volleyball show. First two sets saw a complete dominion of Lube, who won more or less easily 25-21 and 25-17 the two partials. It seemed like another 3-0 in favour of the Italian Cup champs, but Nikola Grbic’s team fought back, stepping up with authority and personality, won third set 25-16 and fourth 25-23, grabbing the tie break. It was a madhouse at PalaAgsm, great enthusiasm for Verona’s comeback. But in the fifth set Lube dominated since the start, four consecutive aces for bomber Svetan Sokolov gave Lube a 5-1 lead early in the tie break, and Civitanova never look back, taking to Marche two points. With these two points Cucine Lube clinched the first place in the standings of Superleague, and a direct qualification to Champions League 2018.
Attendence 5282
MVP: Tsvetan Sokolov
Osmany Juantorena (Cucine Lube Civitanova): “It was a tough game for us. We knew it would be tough. After our 2-0, Verona came back fighting, and in the tie break everything can happens. We were good and focused in the fifth, and we bought home the win”.
Andrea Giovi (Calzedonia Verona): “In first two sets we weren’t at their level, they are number one in standings, and they showed it. Then we grew up in the serve and in attack, and they gave us something. In the tie break they were great, more consistent and focused. We have to see the good things we did in this game, because we always been in the game, challenging, versus the best team of the League”.
