Super Simon lifts Lube to new heights in Italy men's league

Cuba's Robertlandy Simon missed just one attack (11/12 for an incredible 92%) and added two blocks and two aces to earn the MVP of the match award as he led defending champions Cucine Lube Civitanova to another convincing win, 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-15) over Top Volley Cisterna in Round 9 of the men's league in Italy.

Brazil's Ricardo Lucarelli just edged Simon for the match high of 16 points, as Lube remain firmly at the top of the standings after extending their winning streak to eight.

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But Sir Safety Conad Perugia rebounded from their first defeat of the season last week, to take down Kioene Padova 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-22, 25-17) following an MVP performance from setter Simone Giannelli and a match high of 16 points from Cuba-born Pole Wilfredo Leon who served four aces. Also on 16 points were Padova's Eric Loeppky of Canada and Linus Weber of Germany.

Taking advantage of Itas Trentino's rest day this weekend, Perugia returned to second place in the standings, still trailing Lube by six, but with three matches to spare. Trentino are on par with Perugia, with one match less than Lube.

Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza also took advantage of Trentino's day off to close in on the leaders with a 3-0 (25-18, 28-26, 25-15) win at home over Gioiella Prisma Taranto - though they had to fend off three set points of the visitors in the second.

France's Rossard Thibault, the MVP of the match, led Piacenza with a match high of 21 points and an impressive 76% (16/21) in attack.

And Leo Shoes PerkinElmer Modena scored their third back-to-back victory, shutting out Verona Volley 3-0 (27-25, 25-22, 25-21) with France's Earvin Ngapeth once again picking up the MVP of the match award and the Netherlands' Nimir Abdel-Aziz contributing the match high of 15 points (which he shared with Verona's Rok Mozic of Slovenia).

Meanwhile, Germany's Gyorgy Grozer celebrated his birthday in style on Saturday night, with a spectacular performance in Vero Volley Monza's incredible 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18, 15-6) away win over Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia.

The 37-year-old opposite scored a match high of 17 points as he fired off seven aces to lead Monza's full comeback from two sets down and earn the MVP of the match award.

And Allianz Milan denied Consar RCM Ravenna their first win of the season - depsite the latter's valiant attempt after coming back from two sets down to force a tie-break - with a 3-2 (26-24, 25-21, 23-25, 21-25, 15-12) win.

Setter Paolo Porro's performance was key to Milan's win (and for that he was named MVP of the match) as were the 25 points scored by USA's Thomas Jaeschke - though Niels Klapwijk of the Netherlands just beat the American to the post for the match high of 26 points for Ravenna.

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

The League continues next weekend with Round 10 of the Regular Season, with all matches streamed live on VolleyballWorld.tv.