Italy: Milano stun Civitanova in a thriller! 3-2 win in Game 1 of Quarterfinals. Away victory also for Piacenza

Quarterfinals Game 1 of 2024/25 Superlega CredemBanca continued today after two home victories celebrated on Saturday won by favorites Sir Susa Vim Perugia and Itas Trentino, No.2 and No.1 in regular season, respectively.
In an exciting five-set battle, No.6 in regular season Allianz Milano collected a stunning 2-3 (29:27, 23:25, 25:18, 23:25, 15:17) victory over No.3 Cucine Lube Civitanova.
In a rematch of the Del Monte Coppa Italia quarterfinal, lasted nearly two and a half hours, it was decided by the narrowest of margins in front of 3,242 fans at the Eurosuole Forum.
The winners displayed resilience, overcoming season-long challenges to defeat one of the league’s top teams. Despite Civitanova’s dominant third set, Milano fought back, forcing a tie-break that was decided by a monster block from Tommaso Barotto, who was subbed in by coach Roberto Piazza for the match point!
Civitanova’s Mattia Bottolo, who had played a great game leaving the court with 24 points, made a crucial attacking error before being blocked on match point while, on the other side of the net, MVP Tatsunori Otsuka played a decisive role while Ferre Reggers, with 26 points to his name, 11 only in fourth set (71% in attack) led the charge.

“We knew Lube was stronger at home, but we stayed focused. Our improved serving made the difference. Now, we enjoy this win and prepare for Game 2 in front of our fans,” said setter Paolo Porro.

With the series shifting to Milan for Game 2, Allianz Milano has a chance to build on this crucial away victory.

Also No.5 Gas Sales Bluenergy Volley Piacenza started the Scudetto Playoff Quarterfinals with a strong performance, defeating the hosts and fourth-placed Rana Verona 1-3 (23:25, 25:23, 17:25, 20:25) on the road. After losing all three previous matches this season against the same rivals, Piacenza turned the tables with a great team performance, led by MVP Stephen Maar, who left the court with 19 points to his name, Yuri Romanò, who also contributed with 16, Efe Mandiraci and Robertlandy Simon, who added 13 each.
Despite missing captain Mozic due to injury, Verona fought hard, winning the second set and keeping the match competitive. However, the rivals’ offensive firepower, highlighted by an amazing 86% attack efficiency in the third set, proved to be decisive.
Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday, March 16, at 16:00 CET in PalabancaSport.

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🏐| Superlega CredemBanca 2024/25 | QUARTERFINALS

Game 1

Saturday, March 8, 2025
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Sir Susa Vim Perugia (2) – Valsa Group Modena (7) 3-1 (23:25, 32:30, 25:22, 25:18) Series: 1-0
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Itas Trentino (1) – Cisterna Volley (8) 3-0 (25:23, 25:19, 25:14) Series: 1-0

👉🏼Sunday, March 9, 2025

• 17.00 (Local Time) | Cucine Lube Civitanova (3) – Allianz Milano (6) 2-3 (29:27, 23:25, 25:18, 23:25, 15:17)
Cucine Lube Civitanova: Bottolo 24, Chinenyeze 2, Lagumdzija 22, Loeppky 1, Podrascanin 12, Boninfante 2, Gargiulo 5, Orduna 0, Balaso (L), Hossein Khanzadeh 1, Nikolov 15, Dirlic 1. N.E. Tenorio, Bisotto. Coach. Medei.
Allianz Milano: Porro 2, Louati 8, Schnitzer 12, Reggers 26, Kaziyski 5, Caneschi 9, Larizza 1, Zonta 0, Catania (L), Barotto 1, Piano 1, Gardini 0, Otsuka 16. N.E. Staforini. Coach. Piazza.

• 19.30 (Local Time) | Rana Verona (4) – Gas Sales BluEnergy Piacenza (5) 1-3 (23:25, 25:23, 17:25, 20:25)
Rana Verona: Abaev 1, Sani 10, Cortesia 3, Jensen 15, Ewert 15, Zingel 0, D’Amico (L), Keita 2, Spirito 0, Bonisoli (L), Vitelli 4. N.E. Chevalier, Mozic, Zanotti. Coach. Stoytchev.
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza: Brizard 6, Mandiraci 13, Simon 13, Romanò 16, Maar 19, Galassi 7, Scanferla (L), Bovolenta 1. N.E. Salsi, Kovacevic, Ricci, Andringa, Gueye, Loreti. Coach. Travica.

Game 2

Sunday, March 16, 2025
• 16.00 (Local Time) | Gas Sales BluEnergy Piacenza (5) – Rana Verona (4) 3-0 (25:22, 25:20, 25:18) Series: 2-0
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Allianz Milano (6) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (3) 0-3 (16:25, 16:25, 20:25) Series: 1-1
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Cisterna Volley (8) – Itas Trentino (1) 3-1 (25:21, 27:25, 19:25, 26:24) Series: 1-1
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Valsa Group Modena (7) – Sir Susa Vim Perugia (2) 0-3 (21:25, 26:28, 15:25) Series: 0-2

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Game 3

Saturday, March 22, 2025
• 21.00 (Local Time) | Rana Verona (4) – Gas Sales BluEnergy Piacenza (5) 1-3 (25:16, 17:25, 20:25, 19:25) Series: 0-3

Sunday, March 23, 2025
• 15.30 (Local Time) | Itas Trentino (1) – Cisterna Volley (8) 3-1 (25:17, 25:16, 23:25, 25:21) Series: 2-1
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Cucine Lube Civitanova (3) – Allianz Milano (6) 3-1 (25-23, 25-22, 21-25, 25-19) Series: 2-1
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Sir Susa Vim Perugia (2) – Valsa Group Modena (7) 3-1 (25:17, 25:22, 18:25, 25:22) Series: 3-0

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GAME 4

Wednesday, March 26, 2025
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Allianz Milano (6) – Cucine Lube Civitanova (3) 1-3 (17:25, 25:17, 20:25, 22:25) Series: 1-3
| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
• 20.30 (Local Time) | Cisterna Volley (8) – Itas Trentino (1) 1-3 (25:17, 20:25, 14:25, 25:27) Series: 1-3

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