Lube extend winning streak, continue to lead in Italy league

Defending champions Cucine Lube Civitanvova continue to lead the race in Italy's top flight Credem Banca SuperLeague and Sir Safety Conad Perugia remain the only undefeated team, after weekend action for Round 7 of the Regular Season.

It was an easy Sunday evening outing for Lube, who thrashed Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-16) on the road to extend their winning streak to six matches, improve their overall record to 7-2 and retain their lead in the standings.

Argentine setter Lucian de Cecco masterminded Lube's victory and was presented with the MVP of the match award for his efforts, as Ricardo Lucarelli not only contributed solidly in reception but also registered the match high of 13 points - which he shared with fellow Brazilian Douglas Souza of Vibo Valentia.

• Watch all matches of the Italian men's and women's leagues, live or on demand, on VolleyballWorld.tv.

Lube's arch rivals Perugia are four points behind in the table, but following their emphatic 3-0 (25-10, 25-20, 25-16) sweep of winless Consar RCM Ravenna they are still the only undefeated side of the league, extending their record to 6-0 with three matches to spare compared to the leaders.

Cuba-born Pole Wilfredo Leon led Perugia at Ravenna's Pala Mauro de Andre with an incredible seven aces and a match high of 12 points, despite starting in only two sets (first and third) - a performance that earned him the MPV of the match award.

But Itas Trentino stumbled, going down 3-0 (28-26, 25-15, 25-22) at the PalaPanini over Leo Shoes PerkinElmer Modena - though they still hold on to second place, three points behind Lube and one ahead of Perugia.

The Netherlands' Nimir Abdel-Aziz was top scorer of the game on 18 points and a 70% (14/20) attacking efficiency plus three aces and a block, but France's Earvin Ngapeth was named MVP of the match.

Vero Volley Monza also fell behind in the race for the top, when they dropped a point to Top Volley Cisterna in Saturday's only match. They were lucky not to drop more, but Cisterna failed to convert two match points at 14-12 in the tie-break, before Monza finished off the match with a four-point run for a final 3-2 (15-18, 23-25, 25-23, 16-25, 16-14).

Belarus' Vlad Davyskiba who was named MVP of the match and the Czech Republic's Donovan Dzavoronok with his match high 25 points (including six aces) were key to Monza's win.

Elsewhere over the weekend, France's Jean Patry bagged 26 points as he attacked for 61% (20/33) to help Allianz of Milan overcome a one-set deficit for a 3-1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-20, 25-18) win over Verona Volley.

And Kioene Padova wrapped up the weekend stunning Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza with an incredible comeback from two sets down for an epic 3-2 (20-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-8) win.

A match high of 24 points by Germany's Linus Weber and five aces by Mattia Bottolo for Padova was just enough to counter the 23 points for Piacenza by Turkey's Adis Lagumdzija.

Get all the details from all the matches of the Italian League here.

The League continues midweek with Round 8 of the Regular Season, with all matches streamed live on VolleyballWorld.tv.