Trento, 17 April 2025

Itas Trentino-Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza 3-1, match #3 report

Game 3 Recap: no major changes in the starting lineups. Itas Trentino lined up with Sbertoli at setter and Rychlicki at opposite, Michieletto and Lavia as outside hitters, Kozamernik and Flavio in the middle, and Laurenzano as libero. Piacenza responded with Brizard as setter, Romanò opposite, Mandiraci and Maar on the wings, Simon and Galassi in the middle, and Loreti starting at libero (in place of Scanferla).
Gas Sales had the better start (0-2, 3-5), led by a strong attacking display from Romanò. A net touch by Kozamernik extended Piacenza’s lead to 5-8, and they managed to hold that cushion, later extending it further thanks to Mandiraci (10-14). Trentino coach Fabio Soli called a timeout, but more errors from the home side (especially from Kozamernik) allowed Piacenza to maintain a 5-point gap (11-16). A strong service rotation by Lavia, combined with break points from Rychlicki, Kozamernik, and Michieletto, brought Trentino back into the game (15-16). Alessandro Michieletto tied the score at 17-17, and Lavia gave Trento their first lead at 18-17, which became 20-18 thanks to another play by the Calabrian outside hitter. Piacenza coach Travica called a timeout, but an attack error by Mandiraci pushed Trento ahead 23-20. The first set ended 25-21 after another winning diagonal hit by Lavia.
In the second set, the match was evenly balanced up to 6-6, then Itas Trentino pulled ahead thanks to Rychlicki’s serve (ace and a Simon error made it 9-6). A well-timed timeout by Piacenza helped, and after the break, Brizard (service winner) and Mandiraci (pipe) brought the score back to 10-10. Trentino tried to react through Rychlicki (14-12), but Maar responded to tie it again at 14-14. Trento struggled from that point, falling behind 15-18 due to Piacenza’s solid blocking. Coach Soli stopped the play, but errors from Rychlicki and a block by Simon on Lavia gave Piacenza a commanding 17-22 lead, effectively closing the set early. Trentino attempted a late comeback (20-22), sparked by Lavia’s serve, but Piacenza closed it 22-25 to level the match.
After the change of court, it's back to ball-by-ball action once again (4-4 and 7-7); Piacenza loses Loreti due to a sudden injury (Scanferla takes his place) and subsequently their contact with the opponents (9-7), finding themselves pushed away by Michieletto. Mandiraci is on the ball and immediately evens the odds at 11 points, but a block by Flavio on Romanò and a tight cut shot by Michieletto reoffer the +2 (15-13) which then becomes +3 with another ace by Alessandro (17-14) and +4 with Rychlicki's counterattack (20-16). The path is paved and Itas Trentino protects it well (22-18) until 25-19, which makes it 2-1 for the home team.
On a wave of enthusiasm and inspired by the roaring cheers of ilT quotidiano Arena, the home team immediately takes the lead in the fourth set (6-1 and 8-2) thanks to Michieletto's aces. Piacenza tries to stay in the game with Brizard's serve (10-6), but Rychlicki completely repels it (14-7). The second half of the set is owned by the yellow-blues and by their incredible defense put in place on every ball (16-8, 21-15); the pass to the Scudetto Final comes on 25-18 in general jubilation.

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