Superlega 2021

Lube win third consecutive championship in 2021/22!

Zaytsev leads Cucine Lube Civitanova to an emphatic shutout in game four of the final; Simon named MVP of the series

Published 05:58, 12 May 2022

Cucine Lube Civitanova - 2022 national champions of Italy (source: legavolley.it)

Cucine Lube Civitanova - 2022 national champions of Italy (source: legavolley.it)

Cucine Lube Civitanova triumphed with a third consecutive and seventh overall national title in Italy on Wednesday, after shutting out Sir Safety Conad Perugia in game four of the SuperLega Credem Banca championship playoff and closing the series at three wins to one.

Ivan Zaytsev was the leading scorer in Lube’s convincing 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-21) home victory, while Robertlandy Simon was awarded as the Most Valuable Player of the final playoff.

Italian opposite Zaytsev produced three aces and a kill block towards the match high of 13 points, while Cuban middle blocker Simon once again showed the great efficiency of his first tempo attacks, registering a 73% success rate, and put away two kill blocks for a 10-point total in the match. His young compatriot Marlon Yant and Brazilian star Ricardo Lucarelli, Lube’s two outside hitters, also reached the double digits in scoring, with 11 and 10 points, respectively. The only player to do so on Perugia’s side of the net was American star Matthew Anderson, who finished with 12 points to his name.

“We never stopped believing... We worked hard and we managed to beat some very strong teams like Perugia and Trentino. The latter are in the Champions League final and I hope they win it. The fans suffered with us during the difficulties, the injuries, but in the end we made it. We just have to enjoy this splendid victory. The MVP is a nice recognition but it is only a prize. What mattered was to win and here we are.” Robertlandy Simon, middle blocker of Cucine Lube Civitanova
Robertlandy Simon receives the award for MVP of the championship series (source: lubevolley.it)

Robertlandy Simon receives the award for MVP of the championship series (source: lubevolley.it)

Previously, Lube won the Italian championship trophy in 2006, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2021. With the 2019-2020 season prematurely interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, it was the fourth consecutive final between the clubs from Civitanova Marche and Perugia. Perugia won the first of those in 2018, but Lube claimed the next three in a row.

It was Lube’s 25th trophy. In addition to the seven national titles, their showcase boasts one FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship crown, two CEV Champions League titles, three CEV Cup trophies, one CEV Challenge Cup triumph, seven Italian Cups and four Super Cups.

“The thrill of winning after all that happened this year is great! For months I have been saying that the suffering experienced in some moments would prove to be a winning weapon and so it was. We imposed ourselves against a really strong team and everyone gave their contribution. I could not ask for anything better.” Ricardo Lucarelli, outside hitter of Cucine Lube Civitanova

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The Italian club season is not completely over yet. The deciding game for the important fifth place in the final standings, between Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza and Top Volley Cisterna, will be played on Friday at 20:45 local time and will be available LIVE on Volleyball TV.

  • Watch all the matches of the Italian men's and women's top-division leagues live or on demand on Volleyball TV.

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