First round semifinal against Civitanova goes to Perugia

The Red and White’s 20th adventure in the Semifinals Scudetto opens with a misstep in Umbria. The first round of the best-of-five match series was won by the hosts at PalaBarton Energy. Giampaolo Medei’s Cucine Lube Civitanova succumbed in three sets (25-22, 25-19, 25-22) to Angelo Lorenzetti’s Sir Susa Vim Perugia in the primetime face-off. On Saturday, April 12 (6 p.m.), at the Eurosuole Forum, the Marche team will try to bring the provisional balance of the series back into balance.

Lagumdzija closes as top scorer with 16 points, in double figures also Nikolov with 10, but Lube lacks lucidity in the climaxes. Perugia is more consistent in attack, with Plotnytskyi (14), Semeniuk (10) and Ben Tara (10) in double figures.

The RACE

Cucinieri lined up with Boninfante at the dribble and Lagumdzija as offensive terminal, Bottolo and Nikolov at the band, Chinenyeze and Podrascanin (as captain) at the center, Bisotto at libero. Given the unavailability of Balaso, on the bench in the Lube group is also Diego Dolcini, an athlete from the 2007 class nursery. The hosts set up with Giannelli at the director’s box and Ben Tara at set 2, Plotnytskyi and Semeniuk at the band, Loser and Solé at the center, Colaci libero.

In the first set Lube regained 6 lengths of disadvantage, but in the final slammed the home wall against a steady Sir in attack (57%). Cuckoos stung at the start (3-6), Sir grew in defense and tied with Ben Tara’s diagonal (7-7) and then found the lead on a break (10-9), the break at the wall (14-12) and +3 with Semeniuk’s hit (15-12). In the middle phase the Umbrians took over and went to 18-13 after Loser’s attack. Medei’s men reacted and got back in their wake by packing -1 with Lagumdzija’s attack and Nikolov’s wall (19-18). Lagumdzija’s ace (5 points in the set as Nikolov) makes it even (20-20). Breaking the balance are two HCL walls (24-21). Semeniuk closes 25-22.

In the second set, Lagumdzija scores 7 points, but the Umbrians attack and receive better than Lube On the comeback, it starts point-to-point, on two white-black lightnesses Sir finds +3 (9-6). Medei inserts Loeppky for Bottolo, but redemption comes on Lagumdzija’s ace and Boninfante’s wall (11-11). Lorenzetti’s team finds the sprint with a block and goes to +3 with Semeniuk’s attack (14-11). Gargiulo enters among the Marche players. Sir hits hard and is aggressive at the wall. On Giannelli’s ace the score is 17-12. Lube redeems itself at the wall (17-14), but Sir is dragged by the PalaBarton Energy and doubles forces (22-16). On 22-17 Poriya enters on serve and Lube shortens with Lagumdzija (22-18). In the final Sir accelerates and closes with the 25-19 block.

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In the third set Civitanova gives the feeling of reopening the match, but thwarts an important lead and cashes in on the comeback of the Perugini in an evenly matched set. Lube goes ahead on Boninfante’s ace (9-10) and finds +4 with Nikolov’s attack and Lagumdzija’s two aces (12-16). The momentum is propitious, but the HCL collective manages to get back up with Semeniuk’s serves and after an ace by the dunker it ties on a wall (19-19). On 20-20 Herrera takes to the nine-meter line and engages the guests. The result is an awkward ball for Lagumdzija who cannot find the court (21-20). Civitanova retaliates for a heart-stopping finish (21-21). Solé’s feat and Lube’s attack out closed the match (25-22).

Table

Sir Susa Vim Perugia – Cucine Lube Civitanova 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-22)

Sir Susa Vim Perugia: Giannelli 2, Plotnytskyi 14, Solé 7, Ben Tara 10, Semeniuk 10, Loser 8, Piccinelli (L), Cianciotta 0, Herrera Jaime 0, Colaci (L). N.E. Candellaro, Zoppellari, Usowicz, Ishikawa. All. Lorenzetti.

Cucine Lube Civitanova: Boninfante 3, Bottolo 1, Chinenyeze 4, Lagumdzija 16, Nikolov 10, Podrascanin 1, Gargiulo 1, Loeppky 4, Orduna 0, Bisotto (L), Hossein Khanzadeh 0, Dirlic 0, . N.E. Tenorio, Dolcini (L). All. Medei.

ARBITERS: Giardini (VR) and Zavater (RM).

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NOTE: Duration: 31′, 32′, 30′. Total: 1h 33′. Perugia: Wrong serves 16, aces 3, walls 8, attack 52%, reception 49% (15% perfect). Civitanova: wrong serves 17, aces 6, walls 6, attack 39%, reception 40% (12% perfect). Spectators: 4,738. MVP: Colaci.