Superlega 2024/25 - News.

Vero Volley v Prisma (source: legavolley.it)

The 17th leg in the Italian men’s SuperLega Credem Banca will offer interesting match-ups at all levels of the current standings. However, the one that stands out this weekend is the direct clash between Gioiella Prisma Taranto and Mint Vero Volley Monza, the two bottom-placed teams in the table, who are in a race for survival in the top division of Italian volleyball.

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Gioiella Prisma Taranto will host Mint Vero Volley Monza in Sunday’s SuperLega opener at 16:00 local time (15:00 UTC). The home team is two points above the opponents in the table, in 11th place on 11 points and a 16-3 win-loss record. Last season’s silver medallists from Monza trail bottom, in 12th place on 9 and 4-12. The stakes in this duel are very high. Taking three or even two points from this match would give Prisma a much needed breath of fresh air as it would widen the gap between them and relegation. On the other hand, if Vero Volley take the win, the race for survival will get tighter. A 3-0 or a 3-1 victory would even put them a point above their opponents from Taranto in the standings.

When the two teams met in Monza in early November, they put up a five-set battle, in which the home team celebrated the victory in the end. The all-time head-to-head record is heavily in favour of Vero Volley as they have won seven of the eight previous encounters with the club from Taranto. Prisma’s only win in the series dates back to October 2022.

“I expect all sets to be hard-fought. It will be a match played with a lot of grit by both teams. This time, however, we will be at Pala Mazzola. I hope it turns into ‘hell’ for Monza, as the home venue could be an important boost for us. It will be a tough challenge, but we want to face it with determination and grit to win at home.” Jan Zimmermann, setter of Gioiella Prisma Taranto
“It's a really intense week for us, not only with many matches, but also travel and away games. We arrive in Taranto with the Champions League challenge in Greece against Olympiacos Piraeus still in our legs and in our heads. We've had little time to prepare, but we'll give it our all.” Massimo Eccheli, head coach of Mint Vero Volley Monza

At the other end of the table, fourth-placed Cucine Lube Civitanova will welcome leaders Sir Susa Vim Perugia in the weekend’s closing game on Sunday at 19:30 (18:30). Lube, standing on 33 and 10-5 with a game in hand, will try to get back at Sir for the five-set turnaround in Perugia in early November. The defending champions, on the other hand, will try to recover from the first loss they have suffered since April, last week at home against Itas Trentino Trento. Sir lead the standings on 42 and 15-1.

In another high-level encounter, Allianz Milan will entertain Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza on Sunday at 17:00 (16:00), as both sides are aiming at better positioning in the playoff bracket. Allianz are currently sixth on 27 and 9-7, while Gas Sales are in third place on 34 and 12-4. In November, the team from Piacenza produced a straight-set win over their Milan opponents at home, but now last season’s bronze medallists are on a three-game winning streak between the SuperLega and the CEV Champions League.

Yet another game between top-eight teams will take place on Sunday. Serving off at 18:00 (17:00), Valsa Group Modena will welcome Rana Verona. Both sides have had somewhat shaky performances lately, but based on their better standing, fifth-placed Verona (27, 9-7) might be the slight favourites against seventh-placed Modena (18, 6-10). However, Modena celebrated the victory at the end of a dramatic five-setter in Verona in the fall.

Also on Sunday, at 17:00 (16:00), Itas Trentino Trento will host trending Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina. The reigning European champions are running second in the table on 38 and 13-2 with a game in hand, while the SuperLega rookies have enjoyed a recent rise to 10th place on 14 and 4-12.

The 17th leg will open on Saturday evening. In the day’s only match, at 20:30 (19:30), Sonepar Padova Padua will lock horns with Cisterna Volley with a spot in the playoff zone at stake. Currently, the hosts from Padova are just below the cut-off line, in ninth place on 14 and 4-11, while Cisterna are just above it, in eighth place on 15 and 5-10.

SuperLega Credem Banca 2024-2025 17th leg:
Jan 18, 20:30 local (19:30 UTC): Sonepar Padova Padua v Cisterna Volley
Jan 19, 16:00 local (15:00 UTC): Gioiella Prisma Taranto v Mint Vero Volley Monza
Jan 19, 17:00 local (16:00 UTC): Allianz Milan v Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
Jan 19, 17:00 local (16:00 UTC): Itas Trentino Trento v Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina
Jan 19, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Valsa Group Modena v Rana Verona
Jan 19, 19:30 local (18:30 UTC): Cucine Lube Civitanova v Sir Susa Vim Perugia