SuperLega Play Offs at the starting line

SuperLega Regular Season ended last Sunday.
The last two classified, Emma Villas Siena (13th) and BCC Castellana Grotte (14th), are relegated to Serie A2.

This year the Play Off Challenge will not take place: the best ranked team that doesn't participate in the Champions League or the CEV Cup, will enter the next Challenge Cup.

The first eight take part in the Play Offs, which start today at 6:00 pm, with the game between Modena and Milano.
Here are the quarterfinal matches:

• Sir Safety Conad Perugia (1st) - Vero Volley Monza (8th) 
• Azimut Leo Shoes Modena (4th) - Revivre Axopower Milano (5th) 

• Itas Trentino (2nd) - Kioene Padova (7th) 
• Cucine Lube Civitanova (3rd) - Calzedonia Verona (6th)    

In the semifinals, the winner between 1st and 8th will play against the winner between 4th and 5th, while the winner between 2nd and 7th will face the winner between 3rd and 6th. 

Let the show begin! 

       

Challenge Cup: Monza stops a step away from the dream

Vero Volley Monza didn't manage to win the Challenge Cup. It went to the Russians of Belogorie Belgorod, who add this trophy to their rich collection.
The disappointment remains for Soli's team, which stopped a step away from the title. However, it is aware of having made a good competition, managing to reach the final in the year of its debut in a European cup.


Belogorie Belgorod - Vero Volley Monza 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-19)

MVP: Denis Zemchenok


   

Wilfredo Leon is the March MVP

The best player of the month is Wilfredo Leon Venero.
The Cuban outside hitter of Sir Safety Conad Perugia, who was already the MVP of October, will get the Credem Banca MVP award on Sunday, before the match against Monza.


       

CEV Cup: another trophy for Trento

After winning the Club World Championship, Itas Trentino also wins the CEV Cup.

The Italian team started from the excellent 3-0 victory of the first leg, but Galatasaray Istanbul didn't give up and put the opponents in difficulty in the first two sets. Trento managed to react and win the third and fourth sets, necessary to take the European title, without having to play the golden set.
Lorenzetti's players also maintained the concentration necessary to win the tie-break, thus ending the competition without defeat.
With this great victory, Trento added to its collection the only missing trophy.
  

Galatasaray Istanbul - Itas Trentino 2-3 (25-22, 25-21, 16-25, 16-25, 5-15)

MVP: Uros Kovacevic


   

Dusan Petkovic is the best scorer of the Championship

For the second consecutive year, Dusan Petkovic (player of Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora) is the best scorer of the SuperLega regular season.

This year, however, the Serbian opposite has also set the record of points scored: 590, while Angel Dennis had made 588 in the 2009/2010 season with Modena shirt.


     

Results and Ranking of the 26th turn of regular season

Results:

• Itas Trentino - Vero Volley Monza 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18) 

       MVP: Luca Vettori

• Revivre Axopower Milano - Sir Safety Conad Perugia 3-2 (16-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, 15-10) 

       MVP: Jan Kozamernik

• Calzedonia Verona - Azimut Leo Shoes Modena 2-3 (15-25, 20-25, 25-23, 25-19, 12-15) 

       MVP: Micah Christenson

• Emma Villas Siena - Consar Ravenna 3-2 (18-25, 25-23, 26-28, 25-14, 15-12) 

       MVP: Fernando Hernandez Ramos

• Kioene Padova - Top Volley Latina 3-0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-23) 

       MVP: Yacine Louati

• Cucine Lube Civitanova - Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia 3-0 (28-26, 25-22, 25-15) 

       MVP: Jacopo Massari

• Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora - BCC Castellana Grotte 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-19) 

       MVP: Dusan Petkovic





Ranking:

  1° Sir Safety Conad Perugia: 67    
  2° Itas Trentino: 66 
  3° Cucine Lube Civitanova: 65  
  4° Azimut Leo Shoes Modena: 49   
  5° Revivre Axopower Milano: 49   
  6° Calzedonia Verona: 44    
  7° Kioene Padova: 40 
  8° Vero Volley Monza: 39     
  9° Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora: 28 
10° Consar Ravenna: 27   
11° Top Volley Latina: 25 
12° Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia: 20 
13° Emma Villas Siena: 17  
14° BCC Castellana Grotte: 10  

       

     

Sora: Joao Rafael renews

At the end of a good season, Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora already has a first great certainty for the next one, called Joao Rafael De Barros Ferreira.
In fact, the Brazilian outside hitter renewed his contract for a year.

At the end of Sunday's match, Joao Rafael also celebrated the first place in the individual performance ranking, drawn up by Lega Pallavolo Serie A, for the number of perfect receptions made during the Regular Season: 190.


   

Champions League: Perugia and Civitanova qualify for the semifinals

In the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, both Italian teams had won at the tie-break; a week later, in return matches, both defeated the opponents 3-0 and qualified for the semifinals.

In the semifinals Perugia and Civitanova will face Zenit Kazan and PGE Skra Belchatow, both qualified thanks to the Golden Set.
The first leg will be played between 2 and 4 April, while the return will be the following week. 


The results:

• Sir Colussi Sicoma Perugia - Chaumont VB 52 HM 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-17) 
• Cucine Lube Civitanova - Dinamo Moscow 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-21) 
• Zenit Kazan - Trefl Gdansk 2-3 (23-25, 23-25, 25-23, 29-27, 15-17) --> Golden Set: 15-12
• Zenit Saint Petersburg - PGE Skra Belchatow 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20) --> Golden Set: 11-15 

         

Challenge Cup: Monza wins the first leg of the final

What a match!
The first leg of the Challenge Cup final was an emotional roller coaster.
It was a difficult match, played with overwhelming intensity and rhythm by Vero Volley Monza and Belogorie Belgorod.
Monza players have had the right amount of determination and the attitude of those who never give up.
27 points apiece for Plotnytskyi and Dzavoronok, the latter unstoppable in the decisive moments.
The hosts had some match-points in the fourth set, but the Russian team managed to reverse the situation and get to the tie-break, in which Monza ended the game.

The return match will be played next Wednesday in Russia.


Vero Volley Monza - Belogorie Belgorod 3-2 (29-27, 22-25, 25-23, 32-34, 15-12)


           

CEV Cup: Trento wins the first leg of the final

In front of more than 3,000 spectators in the BLM Group Arena, Itas Trentino won the first leg of the CEV Cup final in just over an hour.
Trento dominated the game with a great team performance and maintained a high level of play throughout the whole match.
The return will be played in Turkey next Tuesday and the Italian team is two sets away from winning the trophy.


Itas Trentino - Galatasaray Istanbul 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-20)


               

Results and Ranking of the 25th turn of regular season

Results:

• Vero Volley Monza - Emma Villas Siena 3-1 (22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20) 

       MVP: Marco Rizzo

• BCC Castellana Grotte - Cucine Lube Civitanova 0-3 (24-26, 19-25, 16-25) 

       MVP: Tsvetan Sokolov

• Top Volley Latina - Calzedonia Verona 1-3 (25-23, 14-25, 21-25, 35-37) 

       MVP: Stephen Boyer

• Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia - Revivre Axopower Milano 2-3 (16-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-22, 12-15) 

       MVP: Sebastiano Marsili

• Consar Ravenna - Kioene Padova 2-3 (26-28, 19-25, 25-16, 25-12, 12-15)  

       MVP: Maurice Armando Torres

• Sir Safety Conad Perugia - Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora 3-1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-12) 

       MVP: Wilfredo Leon Venero

• Azimut Leo Shoes Modena - Itas Trentino 0-3 (19-25, 17-25, 22-25) 

       MVP: Uros Kovacevic





Ranking:

  1° Sir Safety Conad Perugia: 66    
  2° Itas Trentino: 63 
  3° Cucine Lube Civitanova: 62  
  4° Azimut Leo Shoes Modena: 47   
  5° Revivre Axopower Milano: 47   
  6° Calzedonia Verona: 43    
  7° Vero Volley Monza: 39 
  8° Kioene Padova: 37     
  9° Consar Ravenna: 26 
10° Top Volley Latina: 25   
11° Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora: 25 
12° Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia: 20 
13° Emma Villas Siena: 15  
14° BCC Castellana Grotte: 10  

       

     

Siena is relegated to Serie A2

Today's match was very important for Emma Villas Siena.
There were two rounds left at the end of the Regular Season, the team was 4 points away from Vibo Valentia, and 5 points were needed to try to avoid relegation. In case of equal score between Vibo Valentia and Siena, Vibo would have remained in SuperLega for the number of victories.
But the calculations are no longer needed, because today, in the match against Vero Volley Monza, Siena surrendered in four sets. And so, its SuperLega adventure ended after only one season.
The Club didn't expect a relegation, given the good roster coached by Cichello.
During these months, President Giammarco Bisogno also tried to reinforce the team and make some changes, but the situation remained the same. 

Looking forward to seeing Siena again in SuperLega, good luck for next season.


   

Champions League: the first leg of the quarterfinals

This week there was the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.

After the first set completely dominated by Cucine Lube Civitanova, Dinamo Moscow got back into the game, and the match ended after more than two hours, at the tie-break. An important victory for Civitanova, which next week will have to win with any result to make it to the semifinals.

Sir Colussi Sicoma Perugia also won at the tie-break. Bernardi's team started well, but suffered two setbacks that brought its opponents back into the game: the first during the second set, in which Sir led 19-12 and then lost; the second in the tie-break, when the French team went from 5-10 to 14-13. Perugia, therefore, managed to return home with an important victory.


The results:

• Dinamo Moscow - Cucine Lube Civitanova 2-3 (10-25, 25-23, 25-23, 18-25, 13-15) 
• Chaumont VB 52 HM - Sir Colussi Sicoma Perugia 2-3 (21-25, 31-29, 25-17, 19-25, 14-16) 
• Trefl Gdansk - Zenit Kazan 2-3 (19-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 13-15) 
• PGE Skra Belchatow - Zenit Saint Petersburg 3-1 (25-18, 13-25, 25-22, 25-18)  

   

Results and Ranking of the 24th turn of regular season

Results:

• Sir Safety Conad Perugia - Kioene Padova 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-22) 

       MVP: Wilfredo Leon Venero

• Cucine Lube Civitanova - Revivre Axopower Milano 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 27-25, 25-21) 

       MVP: Bruno Mossa De Rezende

• Emma Villas Siena - Azimut Leo Shoes Modena 2-3 (14-25, 19-25, 29-27, 30-28, 9-15) 

       MVP: Ivan Zaytsev

• Itas Trentino - Consar Ravenna 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 25-22) 

       MVP: Uros Kovacevic

• Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora - Top Volley Latina 2-3 (25-21, 25-19, 22-25, 23-25, 15-17) 

       MVP: Simone Parodi

• Calzedonia Verona - Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-15) 

       MVP: Stephen Boyer

• Vero Volley Monza - BCC Castellana Grotte 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-19, 26-24) 

       MVP: Donovan Dzavoronok





Ranking:

  1° Sir Safety Conad Perugia: 63    
  2° Itas Trentino: 60 
  3° Cucine Lube Civitanova: 59  
  4° Azimut Leo Shoes Modena: 47   
  5° Revivre Axopower Milano: 45   
  6° Calzedonia Verona: 40    
  7° Vero Volley Monza: 36 
  8° Kioene Padova: 35     
  9° Consar Ravenna: 25 
10° Top Volley Latina: 25   
11° Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora: 25 
12° Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia: 19 
13° Emma Villas Siena: 15  
14° BCC Castellana Grotte: 10  

       

     

Coach Tubertini renews with Latina

Top Volley Latina has renewed the contract of coach Lorenzo Tubertini for the next two seasons.


   

Klemen Cebulj returns to Milano

After winning the Chinese championship, Klemen Cebulj returns to Revivre Axopower Milano to reinforce the team in the last regular season matches and in the playoffs.
The Slovenian outside hitter is ready to play immediately, so we could see him on the court already in tomorrow's match against Civitanova.

This will be his seventh season in Italy: he has already played in Milano (2017/2018), Civitanova (2015/2017), Ravenna (2013/2015) and San Giustino (2012/2013).


         

Challenge Cup: Monza is in the final

In the debut year in a European Cup, Vero Volley Monza qualified for the final.

In the first leg, the Italian team led 2-0 but lost at the tie-break. This time the players remained concentrated and a great team performance allowed them to win and reach a historic final.

For the second consecutive year, there will be an Italian team in the Challenge Cup final: in fact, last year Ravenna won the title, and in that team there were Orduna and Buchegger (MVP of the match) on the court and Soli as head coach. Now they are players and head coach of Monza.


In the other semifinal, Belogorie Belgorod was defeated at the tie-break, but needed to win only two sets to reach the final. In this team, Perrin and Petric, former players of the Italian Championship, play an important role.


The first leg of the final will be in Italy on March 20, while the return is scheduled for March 27 in Russia.


The results:

SC Portugal Lisboa - Vero Volley Monza 0-3 (20-25, 23-25, 17-25)

Stade Poitevin Poitiers - Belogorie Belgorod 3-2 (20-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 17-15)


       

CEV Cup: Trento is in the final

Itas Trentino will play a European final for the fourth time in the last five seasons and the seventh overall.

Trento needed two sets to make it to the final, but even after reaching this goal the Italian team remained concentrated and defeated the Greek opponents in four sets.
After the certainty of qualification, coach Lorenzetti made many changes to the starting six and, after losing the third set, the players reacted and won.
This is Trento's third final this season, after that of the Supercoppa in October and that of the Club World Championship in December.


In the other semifinal, Galatasaray Istanbul defeated Kuzbass Kemerovo at the golden set.


The first leg of the final will be played in Trento on March 19, while the return is scheduled for March 26 in Turkey.


The results:

Itas Trentino - Olympiacos Piraeus 3-1 (25-19, 25-19, 17-25, 25-17)

Galatasaray Istanbul - Kuzbass Kemerovo 3-1 (18-25, 25-19, 25-21, 25-17) --> Golden Set: 15-10


   

Matey Kaziyski is the February MVP

The best player of February is Matey Kaziyski.
The Bulgarian outside hitter of Calzedonia Verona will get the Credem Banca MVP award on Sunday, before the match against Vibo Valentia.


     

Results and Ranking of the 23rd turn of regular season

Results:

• BCC Castellana Grotte - Emma Villas Siena 3-2 (28-26, 23-25, 16-25, 25-22, 15-13) 

       MVP: Wojciech Wlodarczyk

• Kioene Padova - Calzedonia Verona 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-15) 

       MVP: Maurice Armando Torres

• Consar Ravenna - Sir Safety Conad Perugia 0-3 (19-25, 23-25, 22-25) 

       MVP: Wilfredo Leon Venero

• Top Volley Latina - Cucine Lube Civitanova 0-3 (14-25, 15-25, 18-25) 

       MVP: Yoandy Leal

• Revivre Axopower Milano - Itas Trentino 1-3 (25-19, 19-25, 17-25, 23-25) 

       MVP: Uros Kovacevic

• Azimut Leo Shoes Modena - Vero Volley Monza 1-3 (22-25, 26-28, 25-20, 18-25) 

       MVP: Santiago Orduna

• Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia - Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora 1-3 (27-25, 16-25, 23-25, 20-25) 

       MVP: Joao Rafael De Barros Ferreira 





Ranking:

  1° Sir Safety Conad Perugia: 60    
  2° Itas Trentino: 57 
  3° Cucine Lube Civitanova: 56  
  4° Azimut Leo Shoes Modena: 45   
  5° Revivre Axopower Milano: 45   
  6° Calzedonia Verona: 37    
  7° Kioene Padova: 35 
  8° Vero Volley Monza: 33     
  9° Consar Ravenna: 25 
10° Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora: 24   
11° Top Volley Latina: 23 
12° Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia: 19 
13° Emma Villas Siena: 14  
14° BCC Castellana Grotte: 10  

       

     

2019 World Cup: participating teams

The teams that will take part in the 2019 World Cup have been announced.
The men's event will take place in Japan from 1 to 15 October.

Last time, in 2015, USA won the gold medal, followed by Italy and Poland.
This year, the tournament will not lead to the Olympic qualification.
The event will be attended by the hosts, the reigning World Champions, and the best two teams from each continental confederation according to the FIVB World Rankings.

Here are the participating teams:

• Japan (Host) 
• Poland (World Champion) 
• Egypt (Africa) 
• Tunisia (Africa) 
• Iran (Asia) 
• Australia (Asia) 
• Italy (Europe) 
• Russia (Europe) 
• USA (North and Central America) 
• Canada (North and Central America) 
• Brazil (South America) 
• Argentina (South America) 

As in previous editions, the format used is that of the single round-robin tournament, that is each team plays against all the other participants once.

         
 

Castellana Grotte wins but doesn't avoid relegation

The 23rd round of regular season started today with the match between Castellana Grotte and Siena.

During the second set, De Togni, captain of Castellana Grotte, had to leave the court and go to the hospital, due to a shoulder dislocation.

The team was losing 1-2 and then in the tie-break 11-13, but managed to react, to get back into the game and win.

This wasn't enough to avoid relegation in Serie A2, but after the first victory of the season reached at the 22nd round of SuperLega, this second consecutive success is very important, especially for the way it arrived.
At the end of the match, the players dedicated the victory to captain De Togni.   

BCC Castellana Grotte - Emma Villas Siena 3-2 (28-26, 23-25, 16-25, 25-22, 15-13)

MVP: Wojciech Wlodarczyk


     

Kevin Tillie will play for Modena

After the end of the Chinese Championship, Kevin Tillie will play for Azimut Leo Shoes Modena.
The Italian club, in fact, has announced that the French outside hitter will arrive in Modena in the middle of next week.
For Tillie this is a return to Italy: he played in Ravenna in the 2013-2014 season.


   

Champions League quarterfinal draw

The draw for the Champions League quarterfinals took place today in Luxembourg.
The first round will be between 12 and 14 March, while the return matches will be played one week later.

Here are the matches:

• Chaumont VB 52 HM - Sir Colussi Sicoma Perugia 
• Trefl Gdansk - Zenit Kazan 
• PGE Skra Belchatow - Zenit Saint Petersburg 
• Dinamo Moscow - Cucine Lube Civitanova