Italy will definitely have a new champion. Cucine Lube Civitanova eliminated the reigning champion Trentino after a 3:1(25:22, 25:27, 25:17, 26:24) away victory in Trento in the third match of the quarterfinal series, and with an overall score of 3:0 wins, qualified for the semifinals.
The big hero for the team from the Marche region was once again Alex Nikolov. The Bulgarian international played another strong game and finished with 25 points, and it was he who sealed the deal with a pipe attack at 25:24 in the fourth set.
At first glance, the match seemed easier for the guests, who arrived in Trento with immense confidence after their two victories. Trentino, on the other hand, was seriously weakened, as they could not rely on two of their biggest stars " Alessandro Michieletto and Daniele Lavia.
Nevertheless, the hosts did not give up at all and offered a real battle, full of twists and turns and tension until the very last ball.
Lube started the first set furiously and led 12:4, but then allowed the hosts to get back into the game. Trentino even had a chance to make a complete comeback and lead 22:21, but a video review took away that opportunity. In the decisive moments, the guests remained more composed, and after a service out by Gabi Garcia, followed by a successful attack by Alex Nikolov, they closed the set 25:23.
The second set unfolded in an almost identical scenario. Again, Lube dictated the tempo, and at 8:3 for the guests, Mattia Bottolo scored his 300th point of the season. Gradually, Trentino drew closer and capitalized on a series of service errors by the opponent at the end of the set. At 24:22 for Lube, everything seemed decided, but an ace by Sbertoli brought back the hosts' hopes. They managed to equalize and forced the set into overtime, where errors by Bottolo and Nikolov tipped the scales in favor of Trentino for 27:25 and 1:1.
The third set again began with Civitanova's dominance. The guests once more took a convincing 12:4 lead, but this time they did not allow any shakiness. They maintained a high level in attack and serve, and Bottolo ended the set with a pipe attack for 25:17.
The fourth set was the most dramatic. In it, Trentino managed to be an equal opponent and even held the initiative at times. The hosts capitalized on Lube's service errors and maintained equality until 20:20. Then Théo Faure put Trentino ahead, but Alex Nikolov immediately responded with his 24th point of the match. Towards the end, the champions reached a set point after another service error by the guests, but the drama was yet to unfold. A serve followed, which initially looked out, but after a video review, it was ruled an ace by DeHeer for 23:23. The Belgian immediately added another ace and brought Lube their first match point. Flavio equalized through the middle, but then the guests got another chance to finish the match after a block. It was then that Alex Nikolov soared above the net and with a beautiful pipe shot, set the final score at 26:24, sending Civitanova to the semifinals.
| Team | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Trentino | Alessandro Bristot | 17 |
| Trentino | Jordi Ramon | 15 |
| Trentino | Théo Faure | 15 |
| Lube Civitanova | Alex Nikolov | 25 |
| Lube Civitanova | Mattia Bottolo | 16 |
| Lube Civitanova | Eric Loeppky | 13 |
| Lube Civitanova | Giovanni Gargiulo | 10 |
Alex Nikolov was the undisputed leader of Lube and the top scorer in the match with 25 points, also boasting an impressive efficiency of +17, adding 2 aces and 2 blocks, and achieving 54% in attack.
He deservedly became the MVP of the match.
He deservedly becomes the MVP of the match.
The support from Bottolo and Loeppky provided the necessary balance in attack, while Gargiulo brought stability in the middle.
On Trentino's side, the absence of key scorers was felt, but Bristot, Ramon, and Fore managed to keep the team competitive in individual sets. Nevertheless, Lube's greater variability and attacking efficiency proved to be the decisive factor for the final outcome of the match.
Team statistics from the match
| Metric | Trentino | Lube Civitanova |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 6 | 11 |
| Attack (%) | 52% | 57% |
| Points from attack | 52 | 56 |
| Positive reception | 35% | 39% |
| Aces | 6 | 5 |
| Service errors | 22 | 21 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 26 | 30 |
The numbers clearly outline Lube's superiority in key elements. The most significant difference comes from blocking (11 against 6), where the visitors exerted constant pressure and limited Trentino's attack options. The higher attack percentage (57% against 52%) and more points scored from attack also highlight Civitanova's better efficiency.
In reception, the difference is minimal, but again in Lube's favor, which allowed for a more stable attack organization. Trentino somewhat compensated with more direct service points, but this was neutralized by a similar number of serving errors.
The "opponent's errors" factor also proved crucial, where Lube gained more points (30 against 26), which in such a close and tense match often makes the difference between victory and defeat.
Thus, Lube not only eliminated the champion but also sent a clear signal that they are ready to attack the title. And Alex Nikolov once again showed that he is the man for the big moments.
photos:legavolley.it
