Scudetto final, Trento wins first round against Civitanova

The law of the ilT quotidiano Arena continues to endure and hold true even in the most important match series of the season. In fact, Race 1 of the Scudetto Play Off Final immediately reserved a convincing victory for Itas Trentino men’s team, which was able tonight to hold on to the court factor by imposing a 3-0 win on Cucine Lube Civitanova.
The eighteenth consecutive success in front of the friendly public, which also this evening packed the palace of via Fersina in every order of seats (seventh “sold out” of the season) was as well-deserved as ever and, above all, valuable to start on the right foot a confrontation that already in its first act offered balance and very high level of volleyball. The home team made it its own by constantly holding the ball of the game and showing from the start great determination and precision in all the fundamentals. The tactical imprint prepared for the match allowed Soli’s team to work well in every partial between wall (11 direct) and defense, thus harnessing the guests’ attack and containing their serve. The break point opportunities were then exploited once again by Alessandro Michieletto (mvp and best scorer with 20 points, 54% at the net, one ace and four blocks), well supported by the first-half productivity of powerhouses Kozamernik and Flavio and by Gabi Garcia, who was good at immediately getting into the right match mood by taking over for a Rychlicki put out already in the first set by back problems (11 points with 56% attack and two walls). Thursday, May 1, game 2 in Marche to try to confirm the superiority that emerged in this debut challenge.

Game 1 report. The starting six does not reserve any last-minute novelties; Itas Trentino comes back in front of its public with Sbertoli at the director’s position and Rychlicki opposite, Michieletto and Lavia at the band, Kozamernik and Flavio at the center, Laurenzano as libero, while Civitanova starts again with the seven starters who only on Thursday night won the qualification to the Final: Boninfante at riser, Lagumdzija at opposite, Nikolov and Bottolo at side, Gargiulo and Chinenyeze at center, Balaso now recovered in the role of libero. The start is in the sign of balance, with the two teams taking turns leading the score (2-3 and 8-7), immediately showing good poise, especially in attack. It takes a wall by Michieletto on Nikolov to secure the first double advantage (11-9), imitated a few exchanges later by Flavio who stops Lagumdzija (14-11). On 17-14 Soli alternates Gabi Garcia with Rychlicki, who is sore in the back, but it is always Michieletto who dictates the pace: winning wall and counterattack that make it 19-14. Medei also spends the second time out at his disposal (the first one had come at 13-11) and his team pulls back to within two also thanks to Poriya’s positive entry on serve (direct ace). Trento sniffed the danger and did not concede anything more, closing quickly (25-20).

In the second set, Gabi Garcia remains on the court in place 1 and 2 and is immediately one of the protagonists of the good ball change phase set by the yellow-blacks until 8-8. Later, Sbertoli’s ace and Flavio’s wall are worth the first stretch (14-12, Lube time out), then the lead increases with Kozamernik’s block on Bottolo (17-14). Civitanova does not lose heart and with service and counterattack climbs the slope up to 18-18; Kozamernik at the net then offers another cue (20-18), which Itas Trentino protects to the end (23-20 and 25-23) with Gabi Garcia.
The home team also tries to force the tempo in the early stages of the third set with the usual Michieletto, but also with Gabi Garcia, in great ball (5-2 and 9-7). Cucine Lube suffers from the wall attention of the yellow-blues and goes down by five points, matching 13-8. Medei has already inserted Orduna, Loeppky and Podrascanin, but without finding a solution to the effective Trentino game. The wall works like a charm: Lavia seals 17-13, then the locals keep the guests at arm’s length (21-18 and 23-20) with the ability to cover and replay uncomfortable attack situations. The final 25-21 is sealed by Flavio with a first half.
“The team approached the match in the best possible way, with a lot of focus and dedication, as I had requested on the eve of the match – explained coach Fabio Soli at the end of the match – ; we started strong and determined from the first partial. Having not played any more official matches in the previous ten days there could have been the risk of arriving at this match 1 without rhythm, instead we were very efficient, especially in the fundamental of attack, an element that allowed us to keep a good distance between us and the opponent since the first set, and then end the match with the victory. In the second set what we have to do in this series came to the surface; in fact, we were very patient and precise in solving the situations that came our way, more or less unexpected. Civitanova has a formidable serve and so we need to work as a team in all those difficult receiving circumstances if we want to continue to get positive results. Tonight we took a first step, we should be proud of this victory but from Monday we must already focus on devising and building our next move. There is still a long way to go; we must continue to travel it with great patience and above all with our feet planted firmly on the ground.”
In four days, Thursday, May 1, the second challenge of the series will be played in the Marche region, with kickoff set for 6:15 p.m.: live coverage by RAI Sport, Radio Dolomiti, DAZN and VBTV.

Below is the scoreboard of Game 1 of the Credem Banca 2025 SuperLega Scudetto Play Off Final played tonight at the ilT quotidiano Arena.

ITAS TRENTINO-CUCINE LUBE CIVITANOVA 3-0 (25-20 25-23 25-21)
ITAS TRENTINO: Lavia 7, Kozamernik 5, Sbertoli 2, Michieletto 20, Flavio 9, Rychlicki 1, Laurenzano (L); Gabi Garcia 11, Acquarone, Bartha. N.e. Bristot, Pesaresi, Pellacani, Magalini, Bartha. All. Fabio Soli.
CUCINE LUBE CIVITANOVA: Bottolo 3, Gargiulo 6, Lagumdzija 17, Nikolov, Chinenyeze 6, Boninfante 2, Balaso (L); Poriya 1, Dirlic 1, Orduna, Podrascanin, Loeppky. N.e. Bisotto, Tenorio. All. Giampaolo Medei.
REBITTERS: Vagni of Perugia and Curto of Gorizia.
SET DURATION: 27′, 30′, 28′; tot 1h 25′.
NOTES: 4,000 spectators, for a box office of 61,657. Itas Trentino: 11 walls, 2 aces, 10 hitting errors, 4 action errors, 52% offense, 47% (21%) reception. Cucine Lube Civitanova: 9 walls, 7 aces, 13 hitting errors, 5 action errors, 42% offense, 44% (16%) reception. Mvp Michieletto.