Trento, 11 November 2023

Itas Trentino-Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza 3-1, the match report

Itas Trentino comes down on the tricolor mondoflex of the ilT quotidiano Arena with a standard lineup: Sbertoli as setter, Rychlicki as opposite, Michieletto and Lavia as spikers, Kozamernik and Podrascanin in the middle, Laurenzano as libero. While Piacenza, deprived of Romanò and Scanferla, responds with Brizard as setter, Gironi as opposite, Leal and Lucarelli in area 4, Simon and Ricci as middle blockers, Hoffer as libero. The start is balanced (2-2 and 4-4), then an ace by Michieletto on Leal breaks the sequence of ball changes, offering the first cue (6-4), taken by Podrascanin (8-6). Piacenza, however, is on the ball and, after momentarily tying at 6-6, also ties at 9-9 with a block by Simon on Rychlicki. It is precisely the new opposite who creates, again with his serve, a new breakaway (13-11), which the champions hold for long (15-13 and 17-15), until Simon blocks Kozamernik (17-17). Later, the Emilians strike with Leal (18-19), forcing Soli to call a time-out; on resumption, a block by Gironi on Michieletto and a hand out by Lucarelli at the break widens the gap between the two teams (19-22). Alessandro tries to lead a charge with another ace (21-22), imitated shortly after by Kozamernik (first time on rebuilt for 23-23). The set goes to the advantages: Trento cancels a set ball to the guests (error by the newly-entered Recine at serve), gains one by taking advantage of another gift (error by Leal) and closes at the first opportunity with Sbertoli's ace (26-24), snatching the first set from Gas Sales Bluenergy in the championship.
Galvanized, the Italian champions got off to a rocket start in the second set, thanks to Lavia's serving streak (5-1) and the following excellent block reading. Piacenza gets nervous, misses a lot (10-6, out Leal and in Recine) and suffers another heavy break with Sbertoli serving (even an ace going 13-6). Anastasi calls time-out and tries to redesign his team tactically, but to no immediate avail (14-9 and 17-13). However, Itas Trentino suffers a couple of too many blocks, which revive the guests (18-15); Lavia and the award-winning Sbertoli-Kozamernik duo pull the chestnuts out of the fire (21-17 and 23-18): the 2-0 lead already arrives at 25-19.
Piacenza is back making a show of force in the third set, pushing hard right away with serves and blocks, led by a very alert Simon at the centre of the net (4-6, 6-9 and 7-12). Michieletto tries to reverse the scoreboard several times (9-12 and 11-15), but he preaches a little too much on his own; it doesn’t help that the serves are less precise than before. Soli throws Nelli and Acquarone into the mix, after making room for Cavuto for Lavia. Trento kept fighting until 15-18 (attack by the Tuscan opposite player), then gave way to the opponents, who flew to the fourth set (15-21 and 16-25), effectively reopening the contest thanks to a wild Recine on the serve.
The challenge seems to go back to being hard-fought blow by blow in the fourth set, but Itas Trentino quickly goes from 5-5 to 12-8 (time out Anastasi) with an outstanding Sbertoli, not only at the direction but also at the block and at the serve. Piacenza suffers the yellow-blue forcing and makes mistakes, even Simon (14-8). Lavia puts on the turbo (16-10), followed by Rychlicki (18-12) and Podrascanin (two aces for 22-14); the 3-1 comes already on 25-18 in the jubilation of the tricolor ilT quotidiano Arena.

Trentino Volley Srl
Press Office