Three thrilling five-set battles decorated the third leg of Italy’s SuperLega Credem Banca best-of-five quarterfinals over the weekend. Cucine Lube Civitanova squeezed out a tie-breaker victory over Mint Vero Volley Monza at home to survive in the series for at least one more match. Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza edged ahead in their playoff against Allianz Milan, while favourites Sir Susa Vim Perugia and Itas Trentino Trento wrapped it up against Rana Verona and Valsa Group Modena, respectively, to book the first semifinal spots, but in the case of Sir, it was after a captivating five-set duel.
Superlega 2023
Thrilling five-setters highlight third leg of SuperLega quarterfinals
A recap of Italian SuperLega’s third quarterfinal matches
Published 07:00, 18 Mar 2024
Monster block by Marlon Yant
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A brilliant Marlon Yant earned the Most Valuable Player award in Lube’s 3-2 (21-25, 30-28, 21-25, 25-22, 15-11) home win over Vero Volley on Sunday. The young Cuban outside hitter was on fire, hammering out a match-high 27 points towards his team’s success. He spiked 23 points at a 64% success rate and added three kill blocks and an ace to his tally. His Bulgarian cross-court teammate Aleksandar Nikolov, who played only in the first three sets, finished with 13 points, while Adis Lagumdzija added another 12. The Turkish opposite was among the starters only in sets four and five, replacing Italian star Ivan Zaytzev, who was among Lube’s main seven for the first time after a few weeks out of play.
Two Canadians led Vero Volley’s scorers. Opposite Arthur Szwarc produced 25 points while outside Stephen Maar delivered 22. Also into the double digits, Japanese outside Ran Takahashi finished with 15 points and middle blocker Gianluca Galassi with 13. Vero Volley still lead the best-of-five series by two wins to one.
“It was a very tough, intense match. We were good at staying focused and holding our own, when we were down,” commented Lube’s libero Fabio Balaso. “Well done in coming back in the third set, even though Monza won it. We were especially good in the fourth, in staying attached and managing to win the tie-breaker.”
“We were unclear in some decisive moments of the match,” said Galassi. “We know that they are a team that never gives up, that in moments of difficulty it manages to react like today. This week we will work to refine some details, because we are aware that the series is still long. Let's keep our feet on the ground and our heads held high. We're already thinking about Sunday.”
Civitanova vs. Monza | Highlights | Superlega | Round 3 of the Quarterfinals
In Saturday’s only match, Gas Sales survived a five-set rollercoaster to emerge with a tight 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 17-25, 31-29, 15-12) victory over Allianz and edge ahead in the series, which was previously tied at one win each. Cuban-born Brazilian outside Yoandy Leal led the way with 22 points, including two aces. Another four of Gas Sales’ players reached the double digits: opposite Yuri Romano, who was named MVP of the match, with 19 points, Brazilian outside Ricardo Lucarelli and Cuban middle blocker Robertlandy Simon with 13 each, and middle Edoardo Caneschi with 12. Japanese outside Yuki Ishikawa led Allianz with 21 points, followed by Belgian opposite Ferre Reggers with 20 and Bulgarian legend Matey Kaziyski with 13.
“It was a very tight match, but these are the playoffs,” Gas Sales’ head coach Andrea Anastasi stated. “We were good at believing in it all the way even when things didn't work out well. The boys were good in the fourth set when they held their nerve. At a certain point I wondered if Lucarelli was Lucarelli or someone else, but then from the fourth set he carried the team on his shoulders. There are now two opportunities to close the series, but I don't think about it. We know that it will be another battle in Milan in a week. This team knows how to suffer and above all now knows how to have patience.”
Piacenza vs. Milano | Highlights | Superlega | Round 3 of the Quarterfinals
Rana Verona put up another big battle against the reigning club world champions, but the squad from Perugia forced them to fold the flags after an extended tie-breaker that shaped up a 3-2 (25-22, 25-20, 22-25, 15-25, 17-15) final score Sir’s way and closed the series at three wins to none. The home team’s serving produced as many as 11 aces and made the big difference in the match. Tunisian opposite Wassim Ben Tara delivered five of those to finish with 14 points. Middle Roberto Russo also tallied 14 points. Ukrainian outside Oleh Plotnytskyi added another 12, while his Polish cross-court teammate Kamil Semeniuk was Sir’s best scorer with 19 points, including the match winner. Verona’s Malian opposite Noumory Keita fired a match-high 28 points, including tree aces. Middle Leandro Mosca with 12 points and Slovenian outside Rok Mozic with 11 are the other two Verona players to reach the double digits.
“As Angelo Lorenzetti told us at the beginning of the series, tie-breakers in the playoffs are a symptom of good health. Today we got there and before playing it we told ourselves to enjoy it,” said Sir’s star setter Simone Giannelli, who was honoured as match MVP. “I'm sorry about the third set because we put a lot of effort into it and this is a point to improve on. However, I am very happy being in the semifinals. This year it is not a given and you have to appreciate it.”
Perugia vs. Verona | Highlights | Superlega | Round 3 of the Quarterfinals
The game between Trentino and Modena was the only one that was not pushed to a tie-breaker. The defending champions lived up to their status of favourites in the series and closed it with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-21) shutout of the opponents at home on Sunday. Trentino’s outside Daniele Lavia was the best scorer of the match and claimed the MVP nomination. He contributed 17 points, including two aces, while Luxembourgish opposite Kamil Rychlicki added another 16 points. Belarusian opposite Uladzislau Davyskiba was Modena’s most prolific player with 12 points.
“Modena had arrived here with a different determination than usual, knowing full well that they had the last chance. We did well, we started the match perfectly, so we are happy and enjoying this victory,” said MVP Lavia.
Two of the quarterfinal playoffs continue with the fourth-leg games on Sunday. Trentino and Sir have already qualified for the semifinals, awaiting their opponents, and secured their participation in next season’s European Cups. Verona and Modena are out of the playoffs, ready to join Cisterna Volley and Pallavolo Padova Padua, ninth and 10th in the regular season standings, and the other two quarterfinal losers in the race for the fifth place, which also brings a continental entry card.
SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024 quarterfinals – 4th leg:
Mar 24, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Mint Vero Volley Monza v Cucine Lube Civitanova
Mar 24, 20:30 local (19:30 UTC): Allianz Milan v Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
