Italy: Round 18 is over! Verona and Padova stun Perugia and Milano by winning at tie break. 3 points for Civitanova and Modena

After two advances played yesterday, won by Mint Vero Volley Monza, who stun Piacenza at tie break, and leaders Itas Trentino over last-placed Farmitalia Catania, Round 18 of 2023/24 Superlega CredemBanca (Round 7 of second leg) has been closed today with the other four games.
In the first match of the day, a super Rana Verona won on the field of Sir Susa Vim Perugia at tie break, 2-3 (20:25, 25:21, 14:25, 25:17, 13:15).
Coach Stoytchev’s side took the lead twice, then the hosts re-opened the game but, in decisive fifth set, managed to close the game with the minimum gap, earnint two very important points for Playoffs.
Interestingly, in the history of Verona Volley, a win against Perugia had been missing since 2016!
It was a great game for the winners in attack, with 58% of team performance and 65% in counterattack, with a great Francesco D’Amico, author of several great receptions and defenses, and a Rok Mozic, able to close the game with 20 points, including 2 aces and 3 winning blocks. Decisive also Aleks Grozdanov with 12 points including the one that closed third set through 80% in attack. For Perugia Wilfredo Leon, who returned to the starting six after three months, was the most prolific players with 19 points, followed by Kamil Semeniuk with 17.
Tie break win also for Pallavolo Padova, who surprisingly down Allianz Milano with the score of 3-2 (25:23, 22:25, 25:22, 21:25, 18:16)
Double derby at Kioene Arena, the one between Porro’s Brothers, with setter Paolo with the jersey of Milano and Luca, outside hitter for Padova, and the other between Japanese players Ishikawa and Yamaguchi.
Not a good start for the hosts, even though they were able to take first set, suffered a comeback in tue second one, struggled but won the third set but, again, Milano, despite the absences of Matteo Piano and Matey Kaziyski, reacted to level the score, in a match that has been solved only 18-16 in fifth set.
Top scorer of the match Davide Gardini with 21 points through 57% in attack including 4 aces, while Yuki Ishikawa tallied 20 points for Milano with the same percentage in attack. MVP, however, to Luca Porro, author of 16 points through 50% in attack and 3 aces.
Cucine Lube Civitanova struggled more than expected on the field of Gioiella Prisma Taranto, but eventually managed to win the game with the score of 1-3 (25:23, 22:25, 22:25, 28:30), confirming themselves to the fourth place with 35 points in the standings, now very close to the third one taking advantage for the defeat of Piacenza (36 points) over Monza in a game played yesterday.
To make the difference today the attack of the winners (53% to 47%) in decisive moments of a very balanced game, while Aleksandar Nikolov was named MVP with 15 points, including the one that closed the game, well supported by Adis Lagumdzija and Mattia Bottolo, who added 16 each, and Barthlemy Chinenyeze, 12 points with 4 winning blocks.
Among the hosts, Filippo Lanza was the most prolific player with 18 points, followed by Gutierrez (15), Sala (12) and Gargiulo (11 with 4 winning blocks). The game has been closed after a thrilling final with five set balls in favor of Taranto canceled, before closing set and game 28-30 with Nikolov at first match ball.
Close the picture the straight sets home win of Valsa Group Modena over an unrecognizable Cisterna Volley, 3-0 (25:18, 25:18, 25:21).
Despite a bad Maksim Sapozhkov, and the absence of libero Federici, injured on Tuesday (his season is over), Modena collected first seasonal straight sets win and the return to 8th place, the last spot avaible for playoffs. Cisterna, on the other hand, suffered the rivals’ play and the bad day of Theo Faure, decisive in the previous game but today author of 10 points with only 30% in attack.
Superlega will continue on Wednesday, February 14, with all games of Round 19, including the derby between Allianz Milano and Mint Vero Volley Monza and the big match, at least on paper, between Itas Trentino and Cucine Lube Civitanova, a remake of last season’s final.

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🇮🇹| 2023/24 Superlega CredemBanca | 7ª Giornata Ritorno – Round 7 of Second Leg

Saturday February 10, 2024
• 17.30 (Local Time) | Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza – Mint Vero Volley Monza 2-3 (21:25, 25:19, 23:25, 25:20, 11:15)
• 18.30 (Local Time) | Farmitalia Catania – Itas Trentino 0-3 (15:25, 20:25, 17:25)

👉🏼Sunday February 11, 2024

• 16.00 (Local Time) | Sir Susa Vim Perugia – Rana Verona 2-3 (20:25, 25:21, 14:25, 25:17, 13:15)
Sir Susa Vim Perugia: Giannelli 7, Semeniuk 17, Resende Gualberto 7, Ben Tara 13, Leon Venero 19, Russo 7, Toscani (L), Held 0, Herrera Jaime 1, Solé 0, Colaci (L), Ropret 1. N.E. Candellaro, Plotnytskyi. Coach. Lorenzetti.
Rana Verona: Spirito 3, Dzavoronok 16, Grozdanov 12, Esmaeilnezhad 11, Mozic 20, Zingel 8, Bonisoli (L), D’Amico (L), Jovovic 0, Keita 7, Sani 0. N.E. Cortesia, Mosca, Zanotti. Coach. Stoytchev.

• 18.00 (Local Time) | Gioiella Prisma Taranto – Cucine Lube Civitanova 1-3 (25:23, 22:25, 22:25, 28:30)

• 18.00 (Local Time) | Pallavolo Padova – Allianz Milano 3-2 (25:23, 22:25, 25:22, 21:25, 18:16)

• 19.00 (Local Time) | Valsa Group Modena – Cisterna Volley 3-0 (25:18, 25:18, 25:21)

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Itas Trentino 49
2. Sir Susa Vim Perugia 41
3. Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza 36
4. Cucine Lube Civitanova 35
5. Rana Verona 30
6. Allianz Milano 30
7. Mint Vero Volley Monza 27
8. Valsa Group Modena 22
9. Cisterna Volley 22
10. Pallavolo Padova 16
11. Gioiella Prisma Taranto 11
12. Farmitalia Catania 5.

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🇮🇹| NEXT GAMES| 8ª Giornata Ritorno – Round 8 of Second Leg

Wednesday February 14, 2024
• 20.00 (Local Time) | Allianz Milano – Vero Volley Monza
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Cisterna Volley – Sir Susa Vim Perugia
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Itas Trentino – Cucine Lube Civitanova
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Rana Verona – Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Farmitalia Catania – Pallavolo Padova
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Valsa Group Modena – Gioiella Prisma Taranto

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