Uberlandia (Brazil), 11 December 2024

Ciudad Voley-Trentino Itas 0-3, the match report

Match Recap: Trentino Itas took to the court with a revamped lineup for their second match of the tournament. Head coach Fabio Soli decided to rest Rychlicki and Flavio, fielding a starting seven featuring Sbertoli as setter, Gabi Garcia as opposite, Lavia and Michieletto as outside hitters, Bartha and Pellacani in the middle, and Laurenzano as libero. Ciudad Voley’s lineup included Gonzalez as setter, Ponzio as opposite, Conte and Gomez as outside hitters, Garcia and Maciel as middle blockers, and Albrecht as libero.
Trentino Itas had a somewhat shaky start, particularly in reception. Conte quickly made his mark with a service ace on Laurenzano, giving Ciudad a 4-2 lead. However, Michieletto leveled the score at 8-8 shortly after. Trentino then took control with a dominant performance at the net: two consecutive blocks by Pellacani and another from Gabi Garcia pushed the score to 12-8. Pellacani, a product of Trentino’s youth academy, continued to shine, helping extend the lead to 15-8. Lavia’s strong service rotation, capped with a direct ace, further solidified their advantage.
However, with a seven-point lead, Soli’s squad lost focus, nearly squandering their cushion. Gomez’s powerful attacks from zone 4 (17-16) and a few unforced errors from Michieletto allowed Ciudad to close the gap. A timeout from Soli proved effective, as Trentino regained momentum thanks to a decisive counterattack by Michieletto (23-19) and a wide attack from Gomez. Gabi Garcia sealed the first set for Trentino Itas with a sharp cross-court shot, closing it 25-22 and giving the Italian team a 1-0 lead.
The opposite from Puerto Rico keeps its performance going even during the second set, making an ace which grants the first yellow-blue score (4-2), replicated a few seconds later by Michieletto (6-3). Trento’s serve keeps damaging the backcourt of Ciudad Voley: Sbertoli also goes on record with this fundamental, propelling his team towards the +5 (10-5), which gives the Southamerican technician Ferraro the suggestion to halt the game. The timeout doesn’t change the balance of power between the teams, because right afterwards Trentino Itas keeps dictating the law with Lavia (13-8), and making points without any particular issues (17-12). When Soli’s team seems so close to the 2-0, this instead leaves enough room for the Argentinian comeback which, with Gomez’s serve (direct ace), Conte on the net, and Garcia’s block, they reach and even surpass the opponents (from 19-16 to 22-23). It’s then that Michieletto and Gabi Garcia ensure, with another point during the breakpoint phase, to re-establish the (minimal) distance: 25-23.
In the third set, the yellow-blues lay rubber, capitalizing intensely on the net thanks to Bartha’s tentacles, who blocks and counterattacks, bringing his team from 5-3 to 8-4. The Romanian is on a roll and achieves another block, even after the timeout by Ciudad Voley (10-4); the Argentinians, in this case, use less energy on the field and leavy an easy path for Trentino Itas (12-7, 17-11 and 22-15), who has no more risks. The 3-0 which grants the pass for the semifinals comes at the 25-16, even with Acquarone on the field in Sbertoli’s stead, who is in setting, and Magalini in Michieletto’s stead on position 4.

Trentino Volley Srl
Press Office