Undefeated Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza are the new leaders of the Italian SuperLega Credem Banca current standings after the end of the sixth leg of the regular season played on Saturday and Sunday. Claiming a straight-set home victory over Allianz Milan, they took advantage of previous leaders Sir Susa Vim Perugia’s loss of a point to top the table. The defending champions survived a five-set battle with Cucine Lube Civitanova, in which they had to come back from two sets down.

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In Sunday’s late match, played in front of over 4,200 fans on the stands, Sir mounted a huge turnaround from two sets down at home against a daring Lube to keep their unbeaten status with a 3-2 (21-25, 25-27, 25-18, 25-18, 15-12) victory, but dropped to second place on 16 points and a 6-0 win-loss record. The team from Civitanova remained in fifth place on 10 and 3-3. The reigning club world champions started the match without Simone Giannelli and Yuki Ishikawa on the court, but the Italian playmaker and the Japanese outside entered as substitutions during the first set and were among the starters for the next four. Ishikawa was Sir’s leading scorer with 21 points, which earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match award. His Ukrainian cross-court teammate Oleh Plotnytskyi, Tunisian opposite Wassim Ben Tara and middle blocker Roberto Russo also reached the double digits on the Block Devils’ side with 13, 11 and 10 points, respectively. Lube’s Turkish opposite Adis Lagumdzija was the top scorer of the match with 26 points, including two aces.

“Perugia are a team that never gives up, capable of coming out of difficult moments in a big way, but we already knew that,” Lube’s libero Fabio Balaso commented. “They succeeded by showing off a great serve from the third set onwards, and on our part, there is regret for having lost after having a two-set lead. However, we must look forward with confidence, get back to work and think about the next challenge.”

Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza hammered out a 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-17) shutout of last season’s bronze medallists Allianz Milan with the help of 14 points from Canadian outside hitter Stephen Maar, 12 points from Turkish outside Ramazan Efe Mandiraci and another 11 from opposite Yuri Romano. Allianz’s French outside Yacine Louati put away a match-high 16 points, including one ace. The MVP award went to the winners’ French setter Antoine Brizard. Gas Sales now reign supreme on 17 and 6-0, while the squad from Milan are down to ninth place on 6 and 2-4.

“Three important points! I am really calm because we work well during the week,” said Gas Sales’ head coach Andrea Anastasi. “I liked everything about this match. Before the match, I told the boys that it is true that we are at the top of the standings, but it is also true that Milan had to get points for the standings in view of Coppa Italia. The match was certainly difficult and if in the end it became easy it was because we played good volleyball. Yes, I am satisfied. We work well and we have our feet firmly planted on the ground.”

European champions Itas Trentino Trento stayed in third place, now on 15 and 5-1, after a 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-23) comeback at SuperLega newcomers Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina, who, on the other hand, dropped to the bottom of the table again, 12^th place, on 2 and 0-6, as the only winless team remaining. Trentino’s outside Alessandro Michieletto was the top scorer of the match with a contribution of 25 points, including two aces and a kill block.

The sixth leg got underway on Saturday evening with a dramatic five-setter. Despite Malian scoring machine Noumory Keita’s impressive match high of 31 points, Rana Verona were unable to extend their four-match winning streak and were upset by their visitors from Valsa Group Modena. Outside hitter Tommaso Rinaldi led the way with 22 points, including three aces, as Modena worked their way to a 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-21, 15-12) win after coming back from a set down twice in the match. This result moved Valsa Group up one spot in the table, to sixth place on 8 and 3-3, while Verona stayed put in fourth on 12 and 4-2.

Cisterna Volley scored their first win of the season to overtake Grottazzolina at the bottom of the table. They produced a 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-23, 25-18) home victory over Sonepar Padova Padua, with their Spanish outside Jordi Ramon contributing 17 points. Padova’s Luca Porro was the best scorer of the match with 19 points. Cisterna are up to 11^th place on 4 and 1-5, while Padova are down to seventh on 7 and 2-4.

Last season’s silver medallists Mint Vero Volley Monza finally put an end to a negative streak of four defeats in a row and achieved a 3-2 (25-19, 25-21, 20-25, 21-25, 15-9) home win over Gioiella Prisma Taranto to stay third from the bottom, in 10^th place, but now on 4 and 2-4. Canadian opposite Arthur Szwarc and sub-in outside Luka Marttila of Finland led Vero Volley with 12 points apiece, while Prisma’s Filippo Lanza topped the match charts with 21 points. With the point gained, the team from Taranto moved up from ninth to eighth place on 7 and 2-4.

Next on the SuperLega programme is an advanced match between Allianz Milan and Cisterna Volley of the 10^th leg, which will be played on Thursday. Then, the full seventh leg will be held over the weekend with one game on Saturday and five on Sunday.

SuperLega Credem Banca 2024-2025 10th leg:
Nov 7, 20:00 local (19:00 UTC): Allianz Milan v Cisterna Volley

SuperLega Credem Banca 2024-2025 7th leg:
Nov 9, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Allianz Milan v Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina
Nov 10, 16:00 local (15:00 UTC): Cucine Lube Civitanova v Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza
Nov 10, 17:00 local (16:00 UTC): Sonepar Padova Padua v Mint Vero Volley Monza
Nov 10, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Itas Trentino Trento v Rana Verona
Nov 10, 18:00 local (17:00 UTC): Valsa Group Modena v Cisterna Volley
Nov 10, 19:00 local (18:00 UTC): Gioiella Prisma Taranto v Sir Susa Vim Perugia

SuperLega Credem Banca 2024-2025 schedule and results

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