Itas Trentino, show of strength at PalaPanini
Modena-Trento 1-3
Show of strength by Itas Trentino, which won over Valsa Group Modena at PalaPanini in the Superleague postponement, confirming its second place in the standings behind unbeaten leader Sir Susa Vim Perugia.
Itas Trentino comes to Emilia still without Kozamernik; coach Fabio Soli therefore confirms the starting six, which also includes Sbertoli at the helm, Rychlicki opposite, Michieletto and Lavia as setters, Bartha and Flavio as middle hitters and Laurenzano as libero. Valsa Group Modena responds with De Cecco at setter, Buchegger opposite, Davyskiba and Rinaldi in the band, Mati and Sanguinetti at center, and Federici at libero. The start of the match è very balanced, with the hosts immediately trying to run away (2-4) but they are immediately taken back by the guests who hold the court well especially in the ball changeover phase (9-9). An attack out by Michieletto offers the new internal +2 (9-11), then Rinaldi misses in turn delivering the parity at 12; the new Emilian break comes with Buchegger serving (12-15), a situation that forces Soli to spend a time out. At the resumption Trento fight seems to be unable to get closer (17-19 and 19-22), also because the Gialloblù struggle to put the ball on the ground in place 4. An ace by Bartha and a subsequent counterattack by Lavia rebuilt parity at 22, but è a precarious balance, becauseé then Buchegger made it 23-25 at the first useful opportunity for Valsa Group.
In the second set, Itas Trentino quickly sews up an initial disadvantage (2-4), turning it thanks to Flavio’s net work into 11-9 in its own favor, a moment in which, però Buchegger goes wild on offense, well assisted by De Cecco on serve. Modena seals a 0-4 partial that pushes it ahead by two lengths again (11-13), forcing Soli to interrupt play. At the resumption it is up to Michieletto and newcomer Gabi Garcia to secure the points of recovery (at 16) and overtaking (19-17); again, the external +2 lasts only a short time because Davyskiba seals two pipes that reverse the score (20-21). It goes to the sprint, where Trento cancels two chances for 2-0 in favor of Modena and closes at the first chance on 27-25 with a counterattack by Lavia.
Valsa Group did not suffer the backlash and in the third partial resumed playing unscrupulous volleyball, especially on serve and attack, gaining a promising margin (5-8). Trento does not disunite and with Lavia goes up the slope and even puts the arrow, also taking advantage of opponents’ errors (12-10). Modena does not give up and with Buchegger overturns the score again (16-17), but the host lineup accelerates again with Michieletto and Lavia scoring on break points (20-18). It is not è the decisive spurt because è the Geminians tie at 21-21 (Michieletto’s dribbling error), but later è Alessandro s own stop Gutierrez (24-22), guaranteeing the break that was needed to close the period in their favor because è then De Cecco and Anzani do not agree in the middle (25-22).
On the wave of enthusiasm, Itas Trentino started well also in the fourth period (4-1 and 6-2), with the Emilians in trouble at the net and in reception that, however, resurfaced taking advantage of some errors at the net of the guests (9-7). In the middle part, the Trentino team holds the lead well (12-9, 16-13) and brings it to 21-17 thanks to a Davyskiba error; Modena still has the strength to react, going up the slope until 24-24, cancelling two match balls and then another one on 25-25. Deciding the contest è an ace by Lavia on 27-25.
