Italy: Perugia still alive! Final series vs. Lube to Game 4!

Sir Safety Conad Perugia finally showed the expected reaction their fans have hoped for and reopened the finals of the 2021/22 SuperLega Credem Banca playoff finals against Cucine Lube Civitanova.
Perugia canceled the first chance of the rivals to defend the title, winning a 3-1 comeback encounter at home valid for Game 3 and forcing the rival’s lead in the series at 2-1. Leon was the man of the match with 21 points and 5 aces.

The match had started badly for the hosts, who made lot of errors in the first set. However, Nikola Grbić’s team was able to recover with character, dominating the 2nd and 3rd sets, fighting point by point in the 4th to close the match at 3-1 (24:26, 25:19, 25:18, 26:24). But now Lube will have another opportunity to put an end to the series, on Wednesday, May 11, in front of their own supporters at Eurosuole Forum.

In details, almost a perfect start for Lube, led by an excellent Simon, already author of 4 points only on 5-7! But the hosts, led by Leon and Rychlicki, react and level the score already on 10-10. Since then a very balanced battle, with even some errors. A defense on Anderson is worth the break of Lube, who tried to escape with the point from Yant for 16-18. With Rychlicki from the service line, Mengozzi is the author of the monster block on Simon who level the score again, 20-20. Time out for Lube with an upset on the return to the field: Rychlicki make an ace on libero Balaso for the ball of 21-20, an an error of the same Rychlicki breaks the equilibrium, with Lube ahead 23-24. Close a heavy error by Leon in attack, 24-26. Interestingly enough, Perugia is better in all element in this set, but to make the difference are 12 their errors!

Great start for the hosts in second set, with Leon, Rychlicki, and another block by Mengozzi on Simon, for 7-4. Perugia, moreover, increase their rhythm, and an ace from Giannelli is worth the 11-5. Coach Blengini put on the field Kovar and Gabi Garcia in place of Zaytsev and Lucarelli, and also Juantorena in second line, but Perugia continue to dominate, with 0 errors in attack and a conspicuous 21-14 lead. Solé blocks and attack by Juantorena for the 22-15. Gabi Garcia, with two attacks, try a desperate comeback until the 23-18, but Mengozzi closes 25-19 a great set with only 5 errors, 60% of team performance in attack and 4 winning blocks.

Balance in third set, with Giannelli who causes difficulties in serving, and Lucarelli heavily blocked by Rychlicki for first break of the set, 8-6. Leon not close the attack of a possible 9-6, and Lube impact without lot of difficult 9-9. An ace by Lucarelli ace marks the 10-11, and with an error by Yant, the score is leveled again with a bomb by Leon from the service line that is worth 13-12. Error from Yant and again +2 for Perugia, 14-12. Mengozzi finds the ace of 16-13, and then Solè blocks Anzani for the 17-13. Time out Lube, who now struggles a lot in attack and not only. Yant left the field after an error from the service line 18-14, and is replaced by Kovar. But Perugia continue with Leon, and an ace by Rychlicki on Balaso for the 22-17. Coach Grbic asks a time out with Simon from the service line, who sends the ball to the net, 23-18. Leon close: 25-18.

Lube start fourth set with Kovar and Gabi Garcia on the field in place of Yant and Zaytsev, but Leon is unstoppable and make the break with 5-3 with an ace. Gabi Garcia levels the score with the attack of 7-7, but are heavy the two errors in attack by Lucarelli and Simon, and it’s 10-8. But Gabi Garcia levels the score again after a defense from De Cecco on Leon. Ter Horst replaces Rychlicki after a block by Kovar, 13-14. WithGabi Garcia in serving, Anzani blocks Anderson for a dangerous 14-16 and, on 18-19 Rychlicki back to the field. Plotnytskyi in serving makes a half point then closed by Leon, but Gabi
Garcia impacts 20-20. 22-22 and Leon misses the serve for the 22-23. Anderson level the score 23-23, Kovar don’t close two attacks, and Anderson put down the heavy ball of 25-24. Kovar attacks out, and videocheck confirmed it: 3-1 Perugia, and it’s Game 4!

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🏐| Superlega CredemBanca 2021/22 | Playoffs | FINAL

Best-of-five

| GAME 1 | May 1, 2022
• Sir Safety Conad Perugia – Cucine Lube Civitanova 2-3 (17:25, 28:26, 25:20, 17:25, 13:15) Serie: 0-1
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

| GAME 2 | May 4, 2022
• Cucine Lube Civitanova – Sir Safety Conad Perugia 3-0 (25:21, 29:27, 25:22) Serie: 0-2

👉🏼 GAME 3 | May 8, 2022
• Sir Safety Conad Perugia – Cucine Lube Civitanova 3-1 (24:26, 25:19, 25:18, 26:24)
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH

Sir Safety Conad Perugia: Giannelli 1, Anderson 12, Solé 9, Rychlicki 13, Leon Venero 21, Mengozzi 9, Piccinelli (L), Travica 0, Colaci (L), Plotnytskyi 0, Ter Horst 0. N.E. Dardzans, Ricci, Russo. Coach. Grbic.
Cucine Lube Civitanova: De Cecco 0, Santos De Souza 10, Anzani 8, Zaytsev 7, Yant Herrera 11, Simon 8, Marchisio (L), Balaso (L), Sottile 0, Kovar 3, Garcia Fernandez 11, Juantorena 0, Diamantini 0. N.E. Jeroncic. Coach. Blengini.

| GAME 4 | May 11, 2022
• Cucine Lube Civitanova – Sir Safety Conad Perugia 3-0 (25:23, 25:16, 25:21) Serie: 3-1

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