Trento beats Modena again and goes to semifinals

The fourth success of the season (out of a total of five matches played) over Valsa Group Modena opens wide the doors of the 16th Scudetto Play Off Semifinal (out of twenty-one total participations) to Itas Trentino. Overcoming today by 3-0 at the ilT quotidiano Arena the Emilian team, as it had already happened eleven days before and also exactly one month ago in the regular season, the Italian Champions have in fact closed the account of the Quarterfinal series already in game 3, earning the possibility to devote only to their European path (on Thursday the Champions League return semifinal is played in Civitanova) during the next week.

The first of three opportunities to get past the first round of the draw that awards the 2024 tricolor è was capitalized tonight in front of its own audience by Soli’s team, which will have to wait until at least next Sunday to know the name of the opponent to be challenged in the next round of the draw: either Monza or Civitanova itself, which winning today at home took the challenge to game 4. The one offered tonight è was an even more convincing test than the previous two in the series, with the tricolors able to create the gap already in the first half of each set, and then manage in the second half the lead and close the matter already in the third fraction. Leading the way on this occasion was Daniele Lavia, absolute mvp and best scorer of the match with 17 points, 54% in attack and two aces; together with the Calabrian setter, great performance also for Rychlicki (16 with 67%) and the central pair Podrascanin-Kozamernik: eight of the nine walls realized tonight bear their signature.

The chronicle of game 3. Fabio Soli confirms the sextet used consistently during the last three games: without Sbertoli è so again Acquarone acting as director and Rychlicki in the opposite role, Michieletto and Lavia are placed in the band, Kozamernik and Podrascanin act in the center of the net, Laurenzano in the second line as libero. Modena responds with Bruno at the dribble with Davyskiba on the diagonal, Juantorena and Rinaldi setters, Brehme and Sanguinetti center, Gollini libero. The first acceleration è signed by Michieletto (4-2), imitated a few moments later by Podrascanin, who stops Brehme at the wall for 6-3 (time out Giuliani). When play resumed, two aces by the number 5 from Trentino widened the gap even further (8-3), before Juantorena did not try to sound the charge (9-7). The hosts sniffed the danger and in the middle part kept their opponents at arm’s length (11-8 and 14-11 and 18-15), also thanks to the many direct service errors the guests committed and to the efficiency of their own ball changeover phase. On 20-17, a ball change, a wall by Davyskiba on Michieletto and an ace by Sanguinetti on the same dunker put the situation back on a level playing field at 20. Itas Trentino took refuge in a time out and soon after restarted in a big way, with Rychlicki and Lavia (23-20) and closed the account on 25-22 with an attack by Lavia.

After the change of court, Modena tries to impact the second set with a different flair (3-5), but its escape attempt lasts only a few moments, becauseé Lavia and Michieletto immediately ensure the’hooking at six and the subsequent overtaking (8-7). As time goes by, the Italian Champions take more and more speed (13-11 and 17-13) thanks to the post 4 pair but also at the hands of an increasingly incisive Rychlicki. In the final, the hosts ramped up (21-14), increasing their defensive intensity and ability to capitalize on what they gathered in the second line; the 2-0 came already on 25-19, after Soli on 22-17 had wanted to call a time out anyway.

On the wave of enthusiasm, the tricolors rocket off again in the third set (6-3 and 10-6), dragged by Podrascanin and Lavia; Giuliani then changes the main diagonal (in Boninfante and Sapozhkov), which brings his team back on the waterline (12-10). Itas Trentino does not disunite, suffers (13-12, Sanguinetti’s wall on Michieletto), but then restarts with Rychlicki (16-13). The decisive shove seems to be given by Lavia (20-16 and 22-17), Modena però struggles until 22-21 with its Russian opposite player in evidence on serve. The 3-0 è endorsed on 25-21 thanks to a decisive double attack by Rychlicki interspersed with an ace by Kozamernik on Rinaldi.

“It was by no means a foregone conclusion to be able to close the series already on 3-0 against a Modena team that in every match was able to play good volleyball, and so I congratulate all the players for the great achievement – explained coach Fabio Soli at the end of the match – . As for tonight’s match, I think it was not one of our best performances; in some aspects we were not perfect, but this season we have shown that even though we were not, we were still often able to bring home a positive result. We accused some empty passes in attack and reception, forò we managed very well with what è a’weapon that our team has always had in this league: the break point phase, in which we played at a high level and put great pressure on Modena”s attack.

Next engagement on Thursday, March 21 in Civitanova Marche for the 2024 CEV Champions League semifinal return match with Cucine Lube: 8:30 p.m. at the Eurosuole Forum (live Radio Dolomiti and DAZN). In the Play Off Scudetto, on the other hand, the closest date is Sunday, March 31, with game 1 of the semifinals, to be played at Trento’s ilT quotidiano Arena regardless of the opponent.

Below is the scoreboard of game 3 of the quarterfinals of the Play Off Scudetto SuperLega Credem Banca 2024 played tonight at the ilT quotidiano Arena.

Itas Trentino-Valsa Group Modena 3-0
(25-22, 25-19, 25-21)
ITAS TRENTINO: Lavia 17, Kozamernik 7, Rychlicki 16, Michieletto 8, Podrascanin 9, Acquarone 1, Laurenzano (L); Nelli. N.e.  D’Heer, Cavuto, Pace, Berger, Magalini, Garcia. All. Fabio Soli.
VALSA GROUP: Brehme 4, Bruno 2, Juantorena 9, Sanguinetti 5, Davyskiba 12, Rinaldi 8, Gollini (L); Pinali G., Federici (L), Sapozhkov 6, Boninfante. N.e. Stankovic, Pinali R., Sighinolfi. All. Alberto Giuliani.
REFEREE: Lot of Santa Lucia di Piave (Treviso) and Brancati of Città di Castello (Perugia).
SET DURATION: 30’, 26’, 29’ tot 1h and 25’.
NOTES: 3,101 spectators, takings 33,876. Itas Trentino: 9 walls, 6 aces, 10 hitting errors, 6 action errors, 52% offense, 32% (17%) reception. Valsa Group: 3 walls, 4 aces, 10 hitting errors, 7 action errors, 46% offense, 44% (19%) reception. Mvp Lavia.

Trentino Volleyball Press Office