Superlega 2023

Championship duel between Sir and Vero Volley starts on Thursday

Watch the Italian playoffs live on VBTV

Published 05:08, 16 Apr 2024

Sir v Vero Volley (source: legavolley.it)

It is time for the final battle in Italy’s 2023-2024 SuperLega Credem Banca. The best-of-five championship series for the national title between Sir Susa Vim Perugia and Mint Vero Volley Monza starts on Thursday, April 18, at 20:30 local time (18:30 UTC) at the Pala Barton in Perugia.

With the same starting times, but on Wednesday, April 17, the first game of the best-of-five bronze medal playoff between Itas Trentino Trento and Allianz Milan, and the three matches of the last leg in the fifth place playoffs round-robin phase will take place.

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Sir Susa Vim Perugia v Mint Vero Volley Monza

Sir Susa Vim Perugia are hoping to complete an already successful season with a golden quadruple, after winning the FIVB Volleyball Men’s Club World Championship, the Supercoppa Italiana and the Coppa Italia. They are aiming at their second national title in the club’s history, after first triumphing in 2018. It will be the overall seventh SuperLega final for the club. They finished the 2023-2024 regular season in second place on 51 points and a 16-6 win-loss record. In the quarterfinal playoffs, Sir defeated Rana Verona in all three matches. Then, in the semifinals, the team from Perugia overcame Allianz Milan by 3-1 in wins.

Mint Vero Volley Monza, on the other hand, advanced to the SuperLega final for the first time. It will be the second major final for them this season. In January, they reached the Coppa Italia final in Bologna, in which they also faced Sir and the team from Perugia defeated them in four sets to take the trophy, 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-13). Vero Volley came fifth in the regular season final standings on 39 and 13-9 and followed up with upsets of fourth-placed Cucine Lube Civitanova in a five-game quarterfinal series and of defending champions and regular season winners Itas Trentino Trento in a five-game semifinal playoff.

Perugia vs. Monza | Highlights | Coppa Italia | Final

The overall head-to-head record between the two clubs stands at 24-5 in favour of Sir. This season alone, the squad from Perugia defeated their opponents three times – once in the cup final, and twice in the SuperLega regular season, 3-0 (25-23, 32-30, 25-22) away in October and 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-21) at home in January.

“Nothing needs to be added to a final playoff to make it exciting. It is an unprecedented final and it is a value for volleyball. I think that in the coming years this term will be used often, because now balance is king in the SuperLega. It's a final, something that doesn't happen often, so you have to enjoy it all and try to put on your best dress to be worthy participants in the event.” Angelo Lorenzetti, head coach of Sir Susa Vima Perugia
“This is a team in full Vero Volley style: tenacious, attentive and orderly, and can set an example for all youth teams. I'm really very happy. To get to the top at this point of the season, the completeness of the roster is certainly an important aspect.” Alessandra Marzari, president of the Vero Volley consortium
Itas Trentino Trento v Allianz Milan

The third place playoff is a new addition to the SuperLega format as of last season. Not only the bronze medals, but also a spot in next season’s CEV Champions League are at stake in this series, starting on Wednesday evening in Trento. Itas Trentino Trento dominated the regular season and topped the table on 55 and 19-3, before disposing of Valsa Group Modena with three wins in the quarterfinals. However, the heavy favourites stumbled on the absence of their injured setter Riccardo Sbertoli and were stunned by Vero Volley in the semifinals, allowing a turnaround from a two-victory advantage. Allianz Milan took sixth place in the regular season and then upset third-placed Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza in the quarterfinals by 3-2 in wins. They put up quite a fight against Sir in the semis, but won only the second of the four matches played.

Trentino have won 21 of the previous 24 encounters with Allianz. This season, the two teams met twice in the regular season and the defending champions won on both occasions, 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-19, 25-16) away in November and 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-21) at home in January.

“We must be good at immediately turning the page to immerse ourselves in the new confrontation that we are about to undertake and live through these last three weeks of activity with a single objective: to go beyond everything, in search of hidden resources. Bad luck has taken Sbertoli from us and he will not actually be available to play for another 10 days. The importance of the games that await us and our desire to compete for the next goals will be the stimulus that will guide us. The awareness that, one ball at a time, we will have the opportunity to add something precious to the positive things done so far will once again be the fire in the soul of this team.” Fabio Soli, head coach of Itas Trentino Trento
“Everyone thought that Trento would reach the final after playing such a regular season. I really hoped that we could meet them right there in the championship matches. Instead, we will meet to have some good battles for the third place. For me, these matches will be something special, because we play against my former team and against some dear friends. But I have to say that I feel really ready to fight for our place in the Champions League. We will go strong!” Matey Kaziyski, outside hitter of Allianz Milan
Fifth-place playoffs

After the fourth leg of the fifth-place playoffs, two teams, Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza and Rana Verona, secured their spots in the semifinals of that race. The fifth and final leg of the round-robin phase on Wednesday evening will set clarity on the other two semifinalists.

Third-placed Cucine Lube Civitanova, currently on 6 points and a 2-2 win-loss record, will have a difficult trip to Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, who lead the table undefeated, on 11 points, but a win by any score would propel Lube to the semis.

Cisterna Volley, now fourth on 4 and 1-3, also have a difficult visit at second-placed Rana Verona (10, 3-1), but getting the three points would certainly qualify them forward.

Bottom-placed Valsa Group Modena (2, 1-3) will entertain fifth-placed Pallavolo Padova Padua (3, 1-3) and the winner of that fixture can hope that Cisterna (or Lube in the case of Padova) stumble in their efforts to win.

SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024 championship playoff – 1st leg:
Apr 18, 20:30 local (18:30 UTC): Sir Susa Vim Perugia v Mint Vero Volley Monza

SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024 third-place playoff – 1st leg:
Apr 17, 20:30 local (18:30 UTC): Itas Trentino Trento v Allianz Milan

SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024 fifth-place playoffs – 5th leg:
Apr 17, 20:30 local (18:30 UTC): Rana Verona v Cisterna Volley
Apr 17, 20:30 local (18:30 UTC): Valsa Group Modena v Pallavolo Padova Padua
Apr 17, 20:30 local (18:30 UTC): Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza v Cucine Lube Civitanova

SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024: full schedule and results

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