The Coppa Italia holder remains undefeated in the new year, having cleanly won 3-0 (25:20, 25:19, 25:23) their away game against the tricky Piacenza. Giampaolo Medei's boys played the match with maximum concentration and did not lose the initiative for a single moment. The most intrigue was in the third set, when the hosts managed to get within one point of the opponent, and this difference remained almost until the end of the set. Botolo's attack and Bonifante's ace brought Lube within two points of victory. After a service error by Botolo, Medei took a timeout, after which he sent Aleksandar Nikolov to the front row. He finished the match with an attack from zone 5. Alex Nikolov was also brought in at the end of the second set in the opposite hitter position, where he scored two points, one of which was a set point.Thus, the Bulgarian international finished the match with 3 points, all from attack.

The most effective player for the winners was middle blocker Chinenyeze, who scored 12 points (4 blocks, 2 aces) - he also became the MVP of the match, followed by Canadian international Loeppky with 11 points (3 blocks) and opposite hitter Lagumdzija with 10 (3 aces).

For the hosts, Yuri Romano finished with the most points, 16 (1 block, 2 aces), thus reaching 3000 career points in Italy. The only other player with a double-digit score after Romano was the other Canadian international Stephen Maar, who finished with 11 points (1 block).

With this 12th victory, Medei's boys are in third place in the standings with 39 points, 4 more than Piacenza, who are fourth.

Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza – Cucine Lube Civitanova 0-3 (20-25, 19-25, 23-25)

PIACENZA: Salsi d.n.p., Kovačević 3, Ricci d.n.p., Brizard 1, Maar 11, Mandiraci 5, Scanferla (L), Galassi 7, Simon 8, Andringa, Romano 16, Bovolenta, Gueye, Loreti (L). Coach: Anastasi.

CIVITANOVA: Chinenyeze 12, Gargiulo 4, Loeppky 11, Orduna d.n.p., Bisotto (L) d.n.p., Balaso (L), Bonifante 7, Porya, Nikolov 3, Lagumdzija 10, Dirlić d.n.p., Podraščanin d.n.p., Botolo 9, Tenorio d.n.p. Coach: Medei.

Notes: set durations 31', 26', 30'. Total 87'.
Piacenza: service errors 18, aces 4, blocks 6, attack 46%, reception 31% (20%).
Civitanova: service errors 8, aces 6, blocks 8, attack 51%, reception 37% (15%).
Spectators: 3063.
MVP: Chinenyeze.