Playoff scudetto: Civitanova seeks rematch against Perugia

Cucine Lube Civitanova relies on the law of the Eurosuole Forum to get back in the game in the Scudetto Semifinals series. Down 1-0 against Sir Susa Vim Perugia after a three-set defeat last Saturday at the PalaBarton Energy, tomorrow, Saturday, April 12 in Game 2 (6 p.m. with live coverage by Rai Sport, VBTV and Radio Arancia), Giampaolo Medei’s men want to ambush the reigning Italian champions coached by Angelo Lorenzetti at home. The warmth of their home (they are heading for a sold out) will be the extra weapon attempt to shuffle the cards on the table and bring the series to 1-1.

Before the match, Red and White opposite Adis Lagumdzija will receive the Credem Banca MVP of the Play Off Quarterfinals award from the hands of Mauro Giusepponi, Credem Banca’s Marche small corporate development manager.

The call of Lube nel Cuore is to show up at the Palas all wearing red jerseys to form a monochromatic stain and push the cucinieri to the feat.

In the ranks of the home team will be summoned as the second libero Diego Gatto, a 2008 youth player, 196 cm tall, from Osimo.

In Game 1, last Saturday, Perugia beat Lube 3-0 at PalaBarton Energy by arranging with the diagonal Giannelli-Ben Tara, Plotnytskyi and Semeniuk on the sides, Loser and Solé in the middle, Colaci free.

Speaker Alex Nikolov (Cucine Lube Civitanova setter): “To fight on par with Perugia, we don’t have to make upheavals or revolutions, but take care of the details and show what we really know how to do. I am sure that if we are ourselves, repeating the good performances already offered at home this year, we will play at the level of a strong opponent like Sir. The Eurosuole Forum and the Predators are able to instill confidence and trust in us. I am convinced that, all the more so in this Game 2 of the Semifinals, the overwhelming supporters of Lube nel Cuore will do everything in the stands to ignite our game from the first to the last ball. Coming to the purely technical aspect, we obviously have to raise the level from nine meters to trouble our opponents. I would insist on this speech because in the first round we didn’t spare ourselves and created problems for the Block Devils, but without the effectiveness and consistency of our service then we risk losing ground or being taken back even when we are up by several points!”

Speaker Oleh Plotnytskyi (setter Sir Susa Vim Perugia): “We are in the Semifinals and as always everyone wants to win! Race 1 taught us that Civitanova is a team capable of pushing, not giving up and they showed it on our court without their captain. I think in Game 2 we should expect an even stronger Lube. In this week they will have become even more familiar with the set-up without Balaso and it will become even tougher to confront. But we, too, have been training very well We have to play as we know and do what we have prepared. This is the best time of the season and we expect a very high level, especially it will be tough at Eurosuole Forum because they have shown this season that they are tough at home. Batting will definitely be able to help us, but we know you can’t go to serve without first getting side outs. We have good hitters who can make breaks or put opponents in trouble. In the Play Offs a lot of aces can’t be made anymore because even if you hit harder teams are much more careful to receive every ball, you have to work more in wall-defense correlation.”

Match number 69: the teams have met 68 times: in the overall tally, Cucine Lube has hit 33 wins, Sir Susa Vim Perugia 35.

Three previous in season: 2 times in Regular Season (1 Civitanova success, 1 Perugia success), 1 in Play Off Semifinals (Perugia success).

Twenty-seven previous in the Play Off Scudetto: 1 in Scudetto Semifinal 2024/25 (Perugia win), 4 in Scudetto Final 2021/22 (3 Lube wins, 1 Sir win), 4 in Scudetto Final 2020/21 (3 Lube wins, 1 Sir win), 5 in Scudetto Final 2018/19 (3 Lube wins, 2 Sir wins), 5 in the 2017/18 Scudetto Final (3 Sir wins, 2 Lube wins), 4 in the 2015/16 Scudetto Semifinal (3 Sir wins, 1 Lube win), 4 in the 2013/14 Scudetto Final (3 Lube wins, 1 Perugia win).

Ex: Davide Candellaro at Civitanova in 2016/17-2017/18. Marko Podrascanin in Perugia from 2016/17 to 2019/20.

Players on the hunt for records
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In Play Offs: Adis Lagumdzija – 9 winning attacks to 300, Eric Loeppky – 7 winning attacks to 200, Aleksandar Nikolov – 14 points to 400, (LUBE). Simone Giannelli – 1 point at 300, Agustin Loser – 19 points at 300 (SIR).

In career: Petar Dirlic – 16 winning attacks at 1000, Adis Lagumdzija – 33 points at 2500, Aleksandar Nikolov – 1 match at 100 played, – 8 winning attacks at 1000 (LUBE). Jesus Herrera Jaime – 15 points at 500 (SIR).

How to follow the match
Directed by Rai Play with commentary by Maurizio Colantoni and Andrea Lucchetta.

Live TV streaming on Volleyball TV with commentary by Gianluca Pascucci.

Radio Arancia Network streaming with radio commentary by Stefano Donati and Mario Sposetti. You can also download the Radio TV app Arancia & more to listen to the radio commentary on your device.

Live updates also on official Lubevolley profiles.