Cucine Lube (Civitanova) is just one win away from qualifying for the semifinals of the Italian SuperLega playoffs, after recording their second success against Itas Trentino. In front of their home crowd, the team defeated their opponent 3:0 (25:22, 25:14, 25:20) in match #2 of the quarterfinal series and solidified their excellent form in the decisive phase of the season. The visitors could not rely on their star Alessandro Michieletto, nor on Daniele Lavia.
At the center of events once again was Aleksandar Nikolov, who finished as the top scorer in the match with 19 points and a +13 efficiency rating. The Bulgarian international scored 1 ace, 1 block, finished with 67% positive reception and an impressive 65% attack efficiency. Mattia Bottolo also made a significant contribution to the victory with 13 points (thus surpassing 300 points scored since the start of the season), while for Trentino, Georgi Ramon was the only player with double-digit points, also with 13 points.
Before the first whistle, Nikolov also received individual recognition. Lube's outside hitter was awarded MVP for February in SuperLega Credem Banca. The award comes after two 'Most Valuable Player' awards during the month – after the matches against Verona and Cisterna, as well as after he won the top scorer ranking for the 2025/2026 regular season with a total of 450 points.
Lube asserted control over the match right from the start. The home team clinched the first set after a more contested battle, and in the second, they literally steamrolled their opponent. In the third set, Trentino tried to stay in the match, but the team from Civitanova once again showed more power in attack and a much more stable blocking game.
Lube did not allow the match to turn into a long and exhausting battle. Only the first set was more evenly matched, and after that, the hosts raised their level and closed the encounter in three sets.
The second set was the most telling, in which Lube made a decisive run after the halfway point and left Trentino with just 14 points. In the third set, the visitors stayed closer, but they still failed to turn the momentum.
| Team Statistics | Cucine Lube | Itas Trentino |
|---|---|---|
| Total Points | 75 | 56 |
| Attacks | 38 | 26 |
| Blocks | 10 | 4 |
| Aces | 4 | 4 |
| Points from Opponent Errors | 23 | 22 |
The big difference came from attack and, most notably, from blocking. Lube finished with 12 more attack points and 6 more block points, which practically decided the match. In serving, the two teams were equal, and points after opponent errors were also almost even, indicating that the hosts' superiority was built primarily through their own quality, rather than due to a breakdown in Trentino's play.
With this success, Lube took a 2:0 lead in the series and is now very close to a spot among the top four. For Trentino, the next match is a matter of survival, while the team from Civitanova will be looking for a third consecutive strike to put an end to the quarterfinal dispute.
photos: legavolley.it
