Sunday’s results in Italy’s SuperLega Credem Banca answered the last question over the composition of the upcoming playoffs. Valsa Group Modena defeated Farmitalia Catania and took advantage of Cisterna Volley’s home loss to Rana Verona to grab the last vacancy in the quarterfinals, against defending champions Itas Trentino Trento. However, the other three quarterfinal match-ups will be decided in the very last leg of the regular season next Sunday. Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza shut out Cucine Lube Civitanova in the direct battle for the third place, guaranteeing themselves at least a fourth-place finish, but the teams currently in fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh places are all within a one-point range in the current standings.
Superlega 2023
Modena book last playoff spot, Gas Sales shut out Lube in third-place duel
A recap of Italian SuperLega’s 21st-leg matches
Published 06:49, 26 Feb 2024
Modena’s players celebrate
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Modena persevered through a first-set scare and came back to celebrate a 3-1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-15, 25-12) win over already relegated Farmitalia. Outside hitter Tommaso Rinaldi aced three times towards a match-high 21-point contribution to his team’s vital victory and claimed the MVP nomination. Cuban-born Brazilian star Osmany Juantorena and Belarusian opposite Uladzislau Davyskiba added 15 and 14 points, respectively, while Farmitalia’s French outside Luka Basic produced 20 points, supported by Austrian opposite Paul Buchegger with another 12.
Meanwhile, Rana Verona put an end to Cisterna’s playoff hopes with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 28-26) away shutout that left the home side in ninth place four points away from Modena with one leg to go. Malian opposite Noumory Keita led the way with 21 points, including four aces and two kill blocks. Outsides Donovan Dzavoronok of Czechia and Rok Mozic of Slovenia added 13 and 11 points, respectively, while Spanish outside Jordi Ramon (five aces) and French opposite Theo Faure (three kill blocks) finished with 16 points apiece for Cisterna.
Rana Verona kept their fifth place in the table on 36 points and a 13-8 win-loss record, followed by Mint Vero Volley Monza (12-9) and Allianz Milan (11-10), also on 36 points each, after these two teams also took three-point victories over the weekend. On Saturday, Vero Volley celebrated a 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 23-25, 25-13) away win over Pallavolo Padova Padua with a 22-point match high from Canadian outside Eric Loeppky, while Allianz claimed a four-set away victory, 3-1 (27-29, 25-22, 25-14, 25-21), over Gioiella Prisma Taranto on Sunday, with Belgian opposite Ferre Reggers leading the way with 23 points.
Taranto vs. Milano | Highlights | Superlega | 21a Giornata
Verona, Vero Volley and Allianz are now just a point below fourth-placed Lube (37, 14-7) in the standings, after Gas Sales hammered out a 3-0 (25-21, 29-27, 25-22) shutout of their hosts on Sunday, thus regaining the third place in the table on 40 and 12-9. Opposite Yuri Romano contributed 13 points towards his team’s success. Middle blocker Edoardo Caneschi (four aces, two kill blocks) and Brazilian star outside Ricardo Lucarelli added 11 points each, while libero Leonardo Scanferla snatched the MVP award. Turkish opposite Adis Lagumdzija and Bulgarian outside Aleksandar Nikolov were Lube’s top scorers with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
“I'm very happy with the boys' performance,” said Gas Sales’ coach Andrea Anastasi. “It's an important victory because it gives us the certainty of finishing the regular season at least in fourth place. I saw a very focused team that approached the match in the best way. When we play at these levels we are also beautiful to look at. I liked how the team played on the court. Winning at Lube is never easy, but I'm already thinking about the next match. The advantage today was that we played well. I liked the attention and the level of play, but it's just one match, we have to stay focused on our path.”
Civitanova vs. Piacenza | Highlights | Superlega | 21a Giornata
Second-placed Sir Susa Vim Perugia defeated visiting table leaders Itas Trentino Trento in the big match of the 21st leg, which, however, had no effect on the final regular season standings. Trentino suffered their second defeat of the SuperLega season, but retained the top of the table on 55 and 19-2, well above Sir on 50 and 16-5. Tunisian opposite Wassim Ben Tara erupted with 26 points, including four aces and three blocks, towards a 3-1 (27-25, 25-20, 22-25, 25-17) victory in front of nearly five thousand spectators on the stands and earned the MVP award. Ukrainian outside Oleh Plotnytskyi finished with 17 points, while three players reached the double digits on Trentino’s side – opposite Gabriele Nelli with 16 and outsides Daniele Lavia with 14 and Alessandro Michieletto with 12.
“It's great to play at a stadium like this. I hope it's just a taster in view of the playoffs - we will need such a fiery PalaBarton,” commented Sir’s setter Simone Giannelli. “We also needed this match. Since we don't have the Champions League we need to play high-level games like this. I'm happy. We obviously have some things to sort out as it should be.”
Full house in Perugia for the top clash of the SuperLega
The regular season will end on March 3, when all six games of the 22nd leg will be played.
SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024 22nd leg:
Mar 3, 17:30 local (16:30 UTC): Mint Vero Volley Monza v Cisterna Volley
Mar 3, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza v Valsa Group Modena
Mar 3, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Allianz Milan v Sir Susa Vim Perugia
Mar 3, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Farmitalia Catania v Gioiella Prisma Taranto
Mar 3, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Itas Trentino Trento v Pallavolo Padova Padua
Mar 3, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Rana Verona v Cucine Lube Civitanova
