Trento, 13 March 2024

Trentino Itas-Cucine Lube 3-1, the match report

Chronicle of the match. The team chosen by Fabio Soli for this important match does not differ one iota from the one seen three days earlier in Modena: Acquarone as setter, Rychlicki as opposite, Lavia and Michieletto in area 4, Kozamernik and Podrascanin in the middle, Laurenzano as libero. Cucine Lube Civitanova responded with De Cecco as setter, Lagumdzija as opposite, Yant and Nikolov as spikers, Anzani and Chinenyeze in the middle, Balaso as libero. The start was evenly balanced (3-3, 5-5) and even when Trento tried to run away (7-5) the guests soon caught up with Yant (7-7). Lavia signed the new +2 with an ace (confirmed by the ‘challenge’), which this time the yellow-blue team defended well until 12-10, before another point serve (this time by Michieletto) forced Marche coach Blengini to interrupt the game. On resumption, Lube were immediately back in front (14-13, Lavia's invasion), but Kozamernik with a first-half volley on a rebuilt set pushed them back to within three (17-14). An error at the net by Lagumdzija further widened the gap (19-15, another Cucinelli time out), then it was Kozamernik again with his serve to score another break point (21-15), facilitating the run that led to the 1-0 home lead, which came as early as 25-17.
After the change of court the guests tried to put more physicality and more incisiveness on the serve, immediately finding an important cue (2-5 and 3-7). Soli immediately interrupts the game and Rychlicki and Michieletto provide the desired response (7-9), but it's a short-lived jolt as Yant then pushes his team ahead again in a big way (11-15). Trentino Itas did not give up, and with its opposite player again on the shields and Lavia's ace, it climbed back up to minus two (14-16). Lube sensed the danger and with Nikolov at the net and Lagumdzija from nine metres, they created another gap (14-20); the margin was unbridgeable and Soli then threw Magalini and Cavuto into the fray to give the starters some rest at 16-23, with Lube levelling the score immediately afterwards (16-25) thanks to two more aces.
The contest became balanced again in the third set, thanks in part to Lavia's great ideas between attack and block that kept Trentino Itas glued to the opponent, who appeared more brilliant (7-8). The Italian champions took the lead with the serves of Rychlicki and Michieletto, both scoring on Nikolov's bagher (12-11); after Blengini's time out, Lavia took the lead (15-12). The Gialloblù picked up speed, also thanks to an error by Lagumdzija at the net (17-13) and an attack by Michieletto (19-15). The locals flew to 2-1 (23-18), which came at 25-18 with two consecutive blocks by Kozamernik.
Still galvanized, Trentino Itas started well in the fourth set (6-4), led forward by Michieletto, but the red-white team reacted immediately with Yant and Nikolov (7-9). Alessandro retaliates on his own and builds parity as early as 10, giving the match a new point-to-point battle (12-12, 15-15). Trento increased their defensive intensity and flew to +4 (19-15), but the Marche immediately retaliated with Yant (19-18). The final sprint is vibrant and beautiful (21-21); Rychlicki provides the +2 with a block (23-21) and then signs the ace that makes the final 25-23 after Lube had once again tied the score at 23.

Trentino Volley Srl
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