Civitanova Marche (Macerata), 21 March 2024

Cucine Lube-Trentino Itas 3-2, the match report

Match report. Fabio Soli confirms the lineup already seen on the court on Sunday at home against Modena for Game 3 of the Scudetto Playoff quarterfinals and the first leg; Trentino Itas starts the match with Acquarone as setter, Rychlicki as opposite, Lavia and Michieletto in place 4, Kozamernik and Podrascanin as middle blockers, Laurenzano as libero. Host Cucine Lube responds with De Cecco as setter, Lagumdzija opposite, Yant and Nikolov as outside hitters, Anzani and Chinenyeze as middle blockers, Balaso as libero. The start is all Trentino's brand, with Lavia and Michieletto immediately managing to make the difference on the counterattack (5-3 and 8-4), facilitated in their attempt by the hosts' errors. After Blengini's time out, the yellow-blue still accelerated (12-6) thanks to an ace by the Calabrian outside hitter and a block by Rychlicki on Yant; the Cucino coach interrupted the game again and on resumption got the desired response from his men, who with Lagumdzija brought themselves back under (14-12). Trento tries to run away again with Podrascanin (ace for 17-13), but later Lube gets close again with Yant's attacks (17-17). The final is played point-to-point all the way (20-20, 23-23); the Italian champions cancel the first set ball with Rychlicki, but fall on the second (24-26), precisely because of an invasion at the net by its opposite number.
Trentino Itas reacted immediately after the change of court (5-0 and 7-3), taking advantage of the streak at the net of Michieletto and Podrascanin. The Cuccinieri struggle in reception and take refuge in a time out, but in this case the Marche's redemption does not manifest itself immediately afterwards, so much so that the Yellow-blues travel fast (13-8 and 15-10), hoisted forward by Kozamernik and Alessandro himself. Civitanova, with Bottolo on the court for Yant, still suffers in the second line (21-16), climbs up to 22-18 with Anzani, before surrendering on 25-20 under the blows again of the Slovenian center who blocks  the same Bottolo.
On the wave of enthusiasm, Trentino Itas opened its third period well (7-3 and 10-7), thanks to the accuracy at the net of Lavia and the great contribution offered by Michieletto. Lagumdzija, almost alone, to the tune of aces and attacks, writes parity at 12, but at the most difficult moment Kozamernik is unleashed from the nine-meter line (15-12). The Yellow-blues with errors by the same Turk fly to +5 (19-14) and manage the margin well until 25-22 (Chinenyeze's serve error) that delivers qualification to the Final.
In the fourth set, Fabio Soli offers space to his entire bench, inserting Garcia at director, Nelli opposite, Berger and D'Heer as middle blockers, Cavuto and Magalini at band and Pace as libero. Trentino Itas tried to keep up with their opponents (4-7 and 7-10), before reasonably losing contact under the blows of Nikolov and Lagumdzija, which Blengini kept on the court and allowed Cucine Lube to quickly reach the tie break, already up 25-18.
In the tie break the yellow-blue , still in an experimental formation, struggled until 4-5 then gave way to the hosts, who won the match 9-15.

Trentino Volley Srl
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