Trento, 12 March 2025

2025 CEV Cup, Trentino Itas-Ziraat Bank Ankara 3-2: the match report

Match Recap. Trentino Itas took the court with their standard lineup in front of their home fans: Sbertoli as setter, Rychlicki as opposite, Michieletto and Lavia as outside hitters, Flavio and Kozamernik as middle blockers, and Laurenzano as libero. Ziraat Bank Ankara responded with Yenipazar as setter, Ter Maat as opposite, Anderson and Clevenot as outside hitters, Bülbül and Savas as middle blockers, and Baykatar as libero. The match immediately ignited with both teams battling for every point. Flavio (block and counterattack) secured the first significant lead for the yellow-blue squad (6-4), but Anderson promptly responded (7-7). A block by Bülbül on the Brazilian middle blocker momentarily shifted the momentum (11-12), but Lavia quickly turned the tide back in Trentino's favor with a sharp play (+2, 15-13). The Turkish side remained composed, using their blocking game to level the score once again (16-16), but Michieletto struck decisively on the counterattack (20-18), forcing the visitors to call a timeout. In a dramatic final stretch, Anderson equalized at 21-21 before Clevenot blocked Lavia to give Ankara a late edge (22-23). This time, Soli halted the action with a timeout. As play resumed, both teams went toe-to-toe into deuce. Trentino Itas fended off three set points (26-26), but ultimately succumbed on the fourth, courtesy of another decisive play from the American outside hitter, who sealed the set with an ace (26-28).
Trentino Itas felt the blow and, in the second set, once again found themselves chasing their opponents, struggling in reception and with high-ball attacks (1-3 and 7-9). After a net violation by Michieletto, which gave the Turkish side a three-point lead (7-10), Soli called his first timeout. However, upon resumption, the visitors continued to dictate the pace (8-12 and 10-14), supported by an imposing blocking presence. The yellow-blue squad refused to back down and found a way back into the set, capitalizing on a net touch by Yenipazar, a block by Rychlicki on Clevenot, and a perfectly placed ace to position 1 by Michieletto (14-14). Trentino then took the lead through Lavia (18-17) but had to fight hard to hold onto their advantage (20-19) before securing a crucial break point with Flavio, who blocked Anderson to push the score to 22-20. Stern, subbed in for his serve, immediately delivered an ace to level the score at 23-23, sending the set into another tight sprint finish. This time, Trento quickly earned three set points, but Ziraat Bank Ankara turned the tables following a highly contested double contact call on Michieletto's reception, whistled by referee Varbanov (25-26). On their third opportunity, Ankara closed the set 27-29, once again sealing it with a service winner from Yenipazar, taking a 2-0 lead in the match.
The reigning European champions attempted to reset after the side switch. They started the third set at full speed (6-5 and 10-7), driven by an inspired Michieletto, who took the team on his shoulders with his attacking prowess and two consecutive blocks on Ter Maat. Ankara stays close behind (12-10) and levels the score at 14 with two consecutive blocks before taking the lead with a counterattack by Anderson (16-17). As usual, Michieletto steps up at the net to swing the momentum back in Trentino's favor (19-18), followed by a Clevenot error, which gives the Italian side a two-point cushion (22-20, prompting a timeout from Kavaz). In the closing moments, Lavia (attack) and Gabi Garcia (ace) tilt the balance definitively towards Trentino Itas (24-20), sealing the set at 25-21 with a first-tempo attack from Kozamernik.
Now fully believing in the comeback, Trentino Itas starts strong in the fourth set, gaining a two-point lead (10-8) after an initial point-for-point battle, thanks to a smart play at the net by Lavia. Ziraat Bank Ankara responds by increasing their service pressure, equalizing at 14-14 with an ace from Yenipazar, and then taking the lead with a sharp diagonal attack by Ter Maat (15-16). Soli brings on Bartha (subbing in for Kozamernik), but it's once again the Dutch opposite who dictates the pace in break-point situations (17-19). However, Bartha’s serve sets up the equalizer (19-19), though the tie is short-lived as Savas blocks Rychlicki (20-22). The battle intensifies as Rychlicki himself levels the score at 23-23. Then, Bartha rises to block Anderson, and once again, the Trentino opposite delivers a clutch diagonal shot for 25-23, sending the match into a decisive tie-break.
Trentino Itas immediately took charge of the tie-break set (4-1) with a pipe attack from Michieletto. The lead was maintained by Lavia and then extended by Rychlicki, who scored an ace off the net cord for 7-3. Ankara attempted to close the gap with strong serving, but Trentino’s back row held firm (10-7). Lavia blocked Ter Maat (12-7), and then Alessandro Michieletto sealed the match with two consecutive aces (14-7). The final side-out, executed by Rychlicki, closed the set at 15-8, securing a crucial home victory for Trentino Itas.

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