Superlega 2023

First SuperLega semifinalists to emerge on Sunday?

Watch the Italian quarterfinals live on VBTV

Published 08:46, 15 Mar 2024

Sir’s Wilfredo Leon on the serve during the second quarterfinal match in Verona (source: legavolley.it)

Sir’s Wilfredo Leon on the serve during the second quarterfinal match in Verona

As many as three SuperLega Credem Banca semifinalists may become known in Italy on Sunday. While the tied quarterfinal series between Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza and Allianz Milan, the only one to have its third leg on Saturday, will for sure be extended to at least four matches, it is quite possible that all three of the other best-of-five playoffs end with their third games on Sunday, as one side in each of them leads the series by two wins to none.

  • Watch Italy’s SuperLega Credem Banca live and on demand on VBTV.
Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza v Allianz Milan

The game between Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza and Allianz Milan, set to be played at 18:00 local time (17:00 UTC) on Saturday at the PalaBancaSport, will open the third leg of the quarterfinal playoffs this weekend. Allianz, placed sixth in the final regular season standings, are returning to the venue, where they delivered a 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-22, 15-10) upset of third-placed Gas Sales in the most exciting match of the first quarterfinal leg. The team from Piacenza reacted well and tied the playoff series at one win each after a 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-14) victory in Milan last weekend, extending their lead in the all-time head-to-head to 12-5.

“The playoffs are very complicated. Every match is a new story. For the moment, I'm happy to have all the responsibility they've given me and which I also believe I've earned. I just think to win. We all want to win and we know how important the next match against Milan is. The nine blocks in game two are in the past. The important thing is to have won that match. No doubt, there's still a very difficult challenge ahead of us.” Robertlandy Simon, middle blocker of Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
“We are going to Piacenza aware that we have not made the most of the opportunities to play in front of our fans. They know they have conceded something to an opponent who certainly didn't need it. We recognize that Piacenza played a great match, but we are also aware that everything is still at stake in this quarterfinal. We have now overcome the home-court factor, so I say that it will truly be a fight to the death.” Roberto Piazza, head coach of Allianz Milan
Itas Trentino Trento v Valsa Group Modena

Defending champions Itas Trentino Trento are unlikely to allow a surprise at home as they welcome Valsa Group Modena on Sunday at 17:00 (16:00) after a 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-18) at home in the first leg and a 3-2 (25-22, 26-28, 15-25, 25-19, 15-13) away in the second, but the tight battle Modena put up in the last game showed that anything is possible, especially when the underdogs have players like Bruno Rezende, Osmany Juantorena or Uladzislau Davyskiba on the squad. The team that finished the regular season in eighth place will visit table toppers Trentino well aware that another loss would mean the end of the road for them in these playoffs, while the home side might feel a bit tired after a big midweek encounter with Cucine Lube Civitanova in a CEV Champions League semifinal, which they won in four sets at home, with 23 points from Alessandro Michieletto, ahead of the away re-match next week. The long-running head-to-head series between Trentino and Modena now stands at 51-35 Trentino’s way.

“The series isn't over and we have to keep our feet on the ground.” Marko Podrascanin, middle blocker and captain of Itas Trentino Trento
“We will go to Trento for a very difficult match, but we are convinced of our abilities and it showed in game two. Certainly the defeat was a blow, but we recovered, we are working hard to improve the things that didn't go well for us, and on Sunday we will go there to show it. Our goal is to bring the series back to the PalaPanini. Winning on Sunday in Trento would give us the chance to play at home in front of our big fans again.” Tommaso Rinaldi, outside hitter of Valsa Group Modena

Modena vs. Trentino | Highlights | Superlega | Round 2 of the Quarterfinals

Cucine Lube Civitanova v Mint Vero Volley Monza

Despite the Champions League setback in Trento on Wednesday, Cucine Lube Civitanova’s rising star Aleksandar Nikolov was on fire with a match high of 25 points and showed a good shape ahead of the crucial home game against Mint Vero Volley Monza on Sunday at 18:00 (17:00). Vero Volley, fifth in the regular season, are aiming to close this quarterfinal series against fourth-placed Lube in the third match, after a 3-1 (28-26, 20-25, 25-11, 25-20) away victory in the first leg and a 3-1 (24-26, 25-18, 25-21, 25-20) home win in the second. The club from Civitanova leads the head-to-head record against the team from Monza by 20-7.

“Now we have our backs against the wall both in the SuperLega and in the Champions League, but we take this situation calmly and with the awareness that, to beat certain opponents of such great quality, we must do certain things better.” Gianlorenzo Blengini, head coach of Cucine Lube Civitanova
“It was important to have won the second game as well, but it's not over yet, because now another battle awaits us.” Marco Gaggini, libero of Mint Vero Volley Monza
Sir Susa Vim Perugia v Rana Verona

While reigning club world champions Sir Susa Vim Perugia are getting ready to wrap up their quarterfinal playoff with Rana Verona as they host the third match of the series on Sunday at 18:00 (17:00), the opponents from Verona, who finished the regular season in seventh place, are counting on another chance to upset the second-ranked rivals and stay alive in the playoffs. In both matches of the series so far, Sir found a way to come back from a set down to deliver four-set victories - 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-19) at home and 3-1 (21-25, 25-21, 25-16, 25-15) away - to get to within a win from the semifinals. History is also heavily on Sir’s side as the club from Perugia leads the all-time head-to-head count by 32-7.

“We have three opportunities to earn the third victory of the series. It's not about doing it immediately - we want to do it by playing a good game.” Angelo Lorenzetti, head coach of Sir Susa Vim Perugia
“The season is not over! We must think of game three as if it were the first match of the year - with humility, a lot of work and suffering during training to be able to express our best game on the court.” Radostin Stoytchev, head coach of Rana Verona

SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024 quarterfinals – 3rd leg:
Mar 16, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza v Allianz Milan
Mar 17, 17:00 local (16:00 UTC): Itas Trentino Trento v Valsa Group Modena
Mar 17, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Cucine Lube Civitanova v Mint Vero Volley Monza
Mar 17, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Sir Susa Vim Perugia v Rana Verona

SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024: full schedule and results

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