Trento, 30 January 2025

2025 CEV Cup, Trentino Itas-CSM Corona Brasov 3-0: the match report

The Match Report. Trentino Itas faced its home crowd for the second time in the 2025 calendar year with a starting six that included Sbertoli as the setter, Gabi Garcia as the opposite, Michieletto and Lavia as outside hitters, Flavio and Bartha as middle blockers, and Laurenzano as the libero. CSM Corona Brasov responded with Butler as the setter, Melnikov as the opposite, Gommans and Kovacevic as outside hitters, Lupus and Magdas as middle blockers, and Kantor as the libero. After the initial exchanges of study, the home team accelerated with Michieletto (two attacks for an 8-6 lead) and Flavio (a block on Melnikov for 12-9). An ace with the help of the net by the Brazilian middle blocker brought the yellow-blues to a +4 advantage (14-10), a significant lead that forced the Romanians to take a timeout a few minutes later (17-13). Upon resumption, Gabi Garcia's block on Kovacevic guaranteed further momentum, with Trento increasing the pace even more in the subsequent phases (21-15, another block by Lavia on the newcomer Colito, and 22-15, ace by Michieletto). They also brought Kozamernik back into the game (for serving) and took the first set at 25-17.
Trentino Itas wanted to close the qualification discussion quickly and started the second set with the same intensity (3-0, 7-4, and 9-5), taking full advantage of the scoring vein of Gabi Garcia and Michieletto. CSM Corona Brasov tried to stay close (11-8), but the Puerto Rican opposite was in great form and continued to rack up points (14-10). A drop in tension in the side-out phase by the home team allowed the Romanians to get back into the game (16-14, attack by Melnikov and block by Magdas on compatriot Bartha); Soli called a timeout, and right after, the middle blocker marked the difference again (18-14). Michieletto scored with a block on Melnikov (20-15), then Lavia and Gabi Garcia finished the job (ace for 23-17). The 2-0 and the pass to the quarterfinals came at 25-18 (another point from position 2).
In the third period, Soli gave playing time to Rychlicki, Pellacani, Kozamernik, and Pesaresi, replacing Gabi Garcia, Flavio, Bartha, and Laurenzano respectively. Trentino Itas did not lose effectiveness and even provided spectacular actions that highlighted the entire attack front (from 4-4 to 8-4). The home team stung with their serves (11-5), Brasov struggled in all fundamentals but tried to finish with heads held high, fighting for every ball (13-9 and 15-12). Soli then offered playing time to Acquarone, who had started in the first leg, and it was the block by the Ligurian setter that secured a new +5 lead (17-12), allowing the beginning of the match's final moments, accelerated by Pellacani's first tempo attack (19-14) and his subsequent block on Colito (22-15). The 3-0 was confirmed at 25-16, with the debut of youngsters Fedrici and Boschini, both marked immediately by personal points: the first in attack, the second in service for the ace that closed the match.

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