Italy: Civitanova make a statement in Verona as Aleksandar Nikolov leads a convincing opening-day win

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Six months after their Scudetto semi-final clash, Rana Verona and Cucine Lube Civitanova were reunited for the opening match of the new SuperLega CredemBanca season.
The setting was familiar, but the circumstances had changed: with a long campaign still ahead, both sides were looking to establish their ambitions from the outset. It was Civitanova, however, who made the stronger statement, taking control of the contest and eventually completing a straight-sets victory despite a late fightback from the hosts.

Verona began the season with significant problems to manage. First-choice setter Micah Christenson remained sidelined following knee surgery, while middle blocker Lorenzo Cortesia was unavailable because of a muscular issue. Rok Mozic’s involvement was also limited, with the outside hitter used sparingly as the match progressed. The precise nature of his condition remained unclear, but his reduced role further restricted Verona’s options.
Civitanova wasted little time exploiting the situation.
More aggressive from the service line and far more effective at the net, the visitors established their authority early, putting pressure on Verona’s reception and disrupting the rhythm of the home side’s attack. The gap between the teams was particularly evident in the opening set, when Civitanova converted its opportunities with impressive efficiency while Verona struggled to build a consistent offensive game.

The opening numbers told the story. Lube attacked at 65 per cent in the first set, compared with just 40 per cent for Verona, with Aleksandar Nikolov particularly influential. The Bulgarian outside hitter converted three-quarters of his attacks in the opening period, giving the visitors a reliable point of reference whenever the rally demanded a decisive finish. Civitanova also dominated at the net, recording three blocks to Verona’s none, and closed out the set 25–20.
The second set followed a similar pattern, even as Verona improved its attacking efficiency. The hosts found more ways to score, but they continued to struggle in reception, making it difficult for setter Kellian Motta Paes to provide his hitters with consistently favourable conditions. Civitanova, meanwhile, remained composed and capitalised on the moments that mattered most.
A block by Nikolov against Lukas Glatz helped the visitors move ahead, before Giovanni Gargiulo added an ace to extend the advantage to 16–10. Verona continued to compete, but the combination of Lube’s serving pressure and its ability to produce points at crucial moments kept the home side at arm’s length. Civitanova did not need to reproduce its outstanding opening-set attacking figures to maintain control; its greater efficiency in the decisive exchanges was enough to secure the second set 25–19.
Verona’s situation became more complicated when Mozic’s involvement remained limited and Glatz took on a greater role. The hosts nevertheless showed more resistance as the match progressed, finding a better balance in attack and finally putting Civitanova under sustained pressure. For the first time, Verona moved in front, opening up a 15–13 lead and offering their supporters a glimpse of a possible turnaround.
The response from Civitanova was immediate. Simeon Nikolov’s serving proved decisive, with two aces helping the visitors turn a deficit into a 16–15 advantage. Verona refused to fold, however, and Noumory Keita became increasingly important as the hosts fought to keep the match alive. The third set developed into the most competitive phase of the evening, with neither side able to establish a decisive margin.
The contest eventually moved beyond the regulation 25 points, giving Verona a genuine opportunity to extend the match. Yet when the pressure peaked, Civitanova once again found the extra quality required. At the fourth match point, Aleksandar Nikolov stepped up to deliver the decisive ace, sealing a 28–26 set and completing the 3–0 victory.

The final statistics underlined the difference between the teams. Civitanova finished with a 61 per cent attacking efficiency against Verona’s 55 per cent, while the visitors recorded seven winning blocks and nine aces, compared with just two in each category for the hosts. Verona’s reception was another major concern: overall positive reception stood at only 27 per cent, with perfect passes accounting for just 15 per cent. Those figures made it considerably harder to construct the kind of varied, fast-paced offence that can trouble a well-organised opponent.
For Civitanova, the performance was an encouraging way to begin the campaign. The team applied pressure from the service line, controlled the net and showed the composure to close out a match even when Verona finally found its rhythm. Aleksandar Nikolov was the standout figure, finishing with 19 points and delivering the decisive blow at the end of the third set. His contribution reflected the wider strength of a Lube side that repeatedly found solutions when the match demanded them.
Verona, by contrast, will take little comfort from the late rally alone. Their reaction in the third set demonstrated resilience, but the problems in reception and the absence of key players left them chasing the game for too long. The circumstances offer important context, particularly given Christenson’s unavailability and Cortesia’s absence, but the team will need greater stability if it is to turn competitive passages into sets and victories.

The season is only beginning, and this opening encounter will not define either side’s campaign.
Nevertheless, the rematch of last spring’s semi-final offered an early indication of the challenge ahead: Civitanova have started with a convincing display of serving, blocking and attacking efficiency, while Verona must find a way to navigate their injury problems without allowing them to dictate the course of their season.

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🇮🇹| 2026/27 Superlega CredemBanca | 1ª Giornata Andata – Round 1 of First Leg

👉🏼Saturday October 17, 2026
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Rana Verona – Cucine Lube Civitanova 0-3 (20:25, 19:25, 26:28)
📸| PHOTOGALLERY OF THE MATCH
Rana Verona: Motta Paes, Mozic 3, Zingel 1, Buchegger 12, Keita 11, Anzani 5, Staforini (L), Scanferla, Sani, Glatz 6, Mol, Vitelli 2, Christenson ne.
Coach. Soli Fabio.
Cucine Lube Civitanova: Nikolov S. 5, Bottolo 6, Howe 6, Nikolov A. 19, Loeppky 8, Gargiulo 6, Balaso (L),
Klimes, Bisotto, Tonkonoh, Zoppellari ne, Gardini ne, Kujundzic ne, Polo ne.
Coach. Medei Gianpaolo.

Sunday October 18, 2026
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Pallavolo Padova – Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Cisterna Volley – Allianz Milano
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Acqua Sant’Anna Cuneo – Sir Susa Scai Perugia
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Tinet Prata di Pordenone – Vero Volley Monza
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Valsa Group Modena – Itas Trentino

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🏐| STANDINGS (updated on this day)
1. Cucine Lube Civitanova 3
2. Pallavolo Padova 0
3. Valsa Group Modena 0
4. Vero Volley Monza 0
5. Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza 0
6. Itas Trentino 0
7. Cisterna Volley 0
8. Allianz Milano 0
9. Sir Susa Scai Perugia 0
10. Tinet Prata di Pordenone 0
11. Acqua Sant’Anna Cuneo 0
12. Rana Verona 0

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🏐| NEXT GAMES | 2ª Giornata Andata – Round 2 of First Leg

Sunday October 25, 2026
• 17.00 (Local Time) | Itas Trentino – Cisterna Volley
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Sir Susa Scai Perugia – Tinet Prata di Pordenone
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza – Valsa Group Modena
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Cucine Lube Civitanova – Pallavolo Padova
• 18.00 (Local Time) | Volley Monza – Rana Verona
• 19.00 (Local Time) | Allianz Milano – Acqua Sant’Anna Cuneo

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