Italy braces itself for the most exciting part of the SuperLega Credem Banca season – the playoffs. Starting with the four first-leg matches of the best-of-five quarterfinal series, all scheduled on Wednesday at 20:30 local time (19:30 UTC), the playoff race for the national men’s volleyball title is on, with Itas Trentino Trento against Valsa Group Modena, Sir Susa Vim Perugia against Rana Verona, Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza against Allianz Milan and Cucine Lube Civitanova against Mint Vero Volley Monza in the unpredictable battles for the spots in the semifinals.
Superlega 2023
In Italy it’s playoffs time!
Watch the quarterfinals of Italian SuperLega matches live on VBTV
Published 01:09, 06 Mar 2024
Lube’s Aleksandar Nikolov spikes between Vero Volley’s blockers
“Except for Ivan Zaytsev, who is starting to touch the ball again, but will be out for a while, everyone is available. We are aware of our means, but also that between the championship and the Champions League, we will have little time to train. We will have to optimize rest and manage mental resources without looking too far ahead. Monza eliminated us from the Italy Cup and we haven't forgotten that. We want to impose ourselves and get the upper hand in the series against a rival who will give us a hard time.” Gianlorenzo Blengini, head coach of Cucine Lube Civitanova
Monza vs. Civitanova | Highlights | Coppa Italia | Quarterfinals
“These playoffs are the last big objective we have left. We will give our all from the first match. We face a tough and well-organized team. We know this very well given that they eliminated us from the Italy Cup. In these matches, Milan becomes very tough and difficult to face. We will have to go full force straight away, from the first ball of the first set. Winning game one at home is fundamental in the series.” Yuri Romano, opposite of Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
Piacenza vs. Milano | Highlights | Superlega | 13a Giornata
“We will face one of those matches that everyone likes to play. It's the start of the playoffs and we're excited to start this journey and to try to start off on the right foot. During the playoffs, many things that seem a little easier in the regular season become a little more complicated. Our coach tells us every day that we have to stay connected from the first point to the last point of each match. It is the victories that count and this is what we must and want to achieve.” Wilfredo Leon, outside hitter of Sir Susa Vim Perugia
Perugia vs. Verona | Highlights | Superlega | 18a Giornata
“I believe that this edition of the payoffs will be characterized by great balance. The prediction of every single quarterfinal is more uncertain than ever. Not even the series that will see us face Modena escapes this impression. We know well that in the Valsa Group squad there are many players who have proven experience in matches like these, and as we know, we will miss Riccardo Sbertoli's contribution. We are preparing with great determination to enter the court ready to fight for every ball, aware that we will have to build our future step by step and action by action.” Fabio Soli, head coach of Itas Trentino Trento
Trentino vs. Modena | Highlights | Superlega | 20a Giornata
