Catania, 10 February 2024

Farmitalia Catania-Itas Trentino 0-3, the match report

The chronicle of the match. Itas Trentino showed up for the second time in its history in Sicily (the first twenty-three years ago in Palermo) with a standard line-up: coach Fabio Soli confirmed Sbertoli as setter, Rychlicki opposite, Lavia and Michieletto as outside hitters, Podrascanin and Kozamernik as middle blockers, Laurenzano at libero. Farmitalia Catania replied with Orduna as setter, Buchegger opposite, Randazzo and Massari as outside hitters, Tondo and Masulovic as middle blockers, Cavaccini at libero. The yellow-blue’s start was, as often happens, very determined: Michieletto immediately scored twice in attack, imitated at the block by Kozamernik (on Randazzo) and by Lavia on serve. At 4-0 outside the hosts already interrupted the game and when the game resumed, the same Sicilian setter and Buchegger tried to rebuild the gap (6-5), forcing the guests to call a timeout in turn. After the Emilian coach's advice Trento returned to playing effectively in the ball changeover phase but also in the break point phase, building an increasingly consistent lead thanks to Kozamernik and Michieletto (9-6, 14-10 and 19-13). The 1-0 lead came quickly, as early as 25-15, because the yellow-blue conceded nothing to their opponents and also controlled Buchegger well, the only one who had managed to ground the ball with some continuity in the first part of the set. A block by Podrascanin on Randazzo sent the set to 25-15.
The music did not change in the second period; Kozamernik immediately scored the groove (4-0) and Catania immediately took refuge in a time out inserting Bossi in place of Tondo. Michieletto tackles Buchegger for 7-1 and then shortly afterwards scores with an ace on Randazzo that makes it +7 (11-4). Farmitalia is lost and is unable to offer any kind of reply. Trento did not let up and continued to score with regularity at the net (15-9, Michieletto's attack); Catania only managed to raise its head again in the final (21-16), after it had suffered another breakaway led by Sbertoli (two attacks, a block and an ace for 21-13). It was Wout D'Heer, who had just taken over from Kozamernik, who removed the chestnuts from the fire with a block on Randazzo, then it was Lavia who ensured 2-0 on 25-20.
At 8-4 in the third set, the match was already definitively set: Soli took advantage of this to make some turnover, also inserting Magalini in place of Lavia after D'Heer had found a place for Podrascanin from the start. Rychlicki hammered relentlessly (14-8 and 17-10), Catania could no longer reply and succumbed 25-17 with Acquarone also on the court.

Trentino Volley Srl
Press Office