Italy: Monza scare Perugia but fail to stage upset in Game 1 of semifinals – Piacenza beat Verona 3-2 for 5th place

Sir Safety Conad Perugia narrowly avoided a big upset at the start of the 2020/21 Italian Volleyball Championship playoff semifinals.
The regular-season champions Sir Safety Conad Perugia were pushed against the wall by no.4 Vero Volley Monza. However, thanks to the 25 points of Cuban-Polish Wilfredo León, who included 5 aces in his output (also the one who closed the match), they manage to prevail in the tie-break. MVP award went to Perugia’s Libero Massimo Colaci, author of an amazing performance in defense, but also in reception with 67% positive.

First Game 1 of Semifinal was not the only Superlega match played today, as the playoffs for fifth place have also begun for a place in Challenge Cup, the third CEV trophy in order of importance, recently won by Milano.
In the advance, Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza defeats at home NBV Verona at tie break with 32 points of German superstar Grozer!

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| 2020/21 Superlega Credem Banca Playoffs
| Semifinals Game 1 | March 27, 2021
• Sir Safety Conad Perugia – Vero Volley Monza 3-2 (21:25, 25:21, 25:19, 23:25, 15:12)
Sir Safety Conad Perugia: Travica 3, Leon Venero 25, Ricci 2, Ter Horst 9, Plotnytskyi 12, Solé 10, Biglino (L), Russo 8, Colaci (L), Vernon-Evans 0, Muzaj 9, Piccinelli 0, Zimmermann 0. N.E. Atanasijevic. Coach. Heynen.
Vero Volley Monza: Orduna 1, Lanza 13, Beretta 2, Lagumdzija 22, Dzavoronok 22, Galassi 8, Brunetti (L), Ramirez Pita 0, Holt 6, Federici (L), Calligaro 0, Davyskiba 0. N.E. Falgari, Poreba. Coach. Eccheli.

| March 28
• Cucine Lube Civitanova – Itas Trentino 2-3 (25:23, 21:25, 25:21, 24:26, 12:15)

| Playoffs 5th place | Round 1

| March 27, 2021
• Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza – NBV Verona 3-2 (27:29, 21:25, 25:22, 25:15, 15:8)
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza: Baranowicz 0, Clevenot 15, Polo 12, Grozer 32, Antonov 11, Mousavi 5, Fanuli (L), Scanferla (L), Tondo 1, Botto 1, Finger 0, Izzo 0, Candellaro 5. N.E. Coach. Bernardi.
NBV Verona: Spirito 2, Kaziyski 26, Aguenier 6, Jensen 13, Magalini 10, Zingel 9, Donati (L), Bonami (L), Zanotti 0, Caneschi 0, Jaeschke 0, Peslac 0. N.E. Asparuhov. Coach. Stoytchev.

| March 28
• Leo Shoes Modena – Consar Ravenna 2-3 (23:25, 25:23, 25:14, 20:25, 17:19)
• Allianz Milano – Kioene Padova 3-2 (16:25, 25:20, 22:25, 25:17, 15:9)
• Top Volley Cisterna – Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia 3-0 (25:12, 25:18, 25:18)

| STANDINGS (updated on March 27)
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza 2, NBV Verona 1, Allianz Milano 0, Consar Ravenna 0, Kioene Padova 0, Leo Shoes Modena 0, Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia 0, Top Volley Cisterna 0.

| NEXT ROUND – March 31
• Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia-NBV Verona
• Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza-Leo Shoes Modena
• Allianz Milano-Top Volley Cisterna
• Consar Ravenna-Kioene Padova