"Romeo" Sorrento's pre-season preparation concluded with a 2:2 draw in a friendly match against "Prisma" Taranto, played at the team's new home – "Palatillyana" in Sorrento. The match was competitive and full of good rallies, providing valuable insights into the readiness of Nicola Esposito's squad before the start of the Serie A2 season.
Excellent match for middle blocker Preslav Petkov
The Bulgarian middle blocker Preslav Petkov once again demonstrated stability and effectiveness in attack and block, finishing the match with 7 points. Petkov distinguished himself with an aggressive presence at the net, scoring key points in the first and fourth sets and showing increasingly better interaction with setter Ferrato. His play gave additional confidence to the entire team, and the coaching staff highly praised his contribution in both offense and defense.
Friendly match result
"Romeo" Sorrento – "Prisma" Taranto 2-2
(25-21, 20-25, 25-27, 25-17)
Romeo Sorrento:
Paragire – 15 pts, Petkov – 7 pts, Patriarca – 11 pts, Malavesi – 14 pts, Baldi – 10 pts, Brignac – 5 pts, Tullone – 3 pts, Russo (libero), Pontecorvo, Ferrato, Aprea, Gargiulo, Gragnaniello – no points.
Coach: Nikola Esposito.
Prisma Taranto:
Antonov – 20 pts, Canciota – 14 pts, Pierotti – 8 pts, Sanfilippo – 5 pts, Hoft – 4 pts, Gagliano – 3 pts, Bossi – 3 pts, Yamamoto – 1 pt, Luzzi (libero), Luisetti, Lorusso, Gollini (libero), Zanotti – no points.
Coach: Giancarlo Graziosi.
Match Analysis
The match showed that "Romeo" already has a well-balanced squad, where the middle blockers are becoming an important element of the offensive system. Petkov, along with Patriarca, formed a strong block and often neutralized Taranto's main attackers.
On the other side, Antonov was "Prisma's" leader, scoring 20 points and leading his team's attack, but inconsistent reception in key moments did not allow them to win the match.
Statement by President Fabrizio Ruggero
"We already saw a full arena tonight, and this is a historic day for our club and for Sorrento. After four months of work, we can officially say that Serie A2 is coming to our city. We hope the fans will support us and that every visiting team will feel our warm welcome and our fighting spirit on the court."
With this friendly match, "Romeo" Sorrento concluded its preparation with optimism and confidence – and the Bulgarian contribution in the person of Preslav Petkov definitely gives additional strength to the team before the start of the season.
The first official match of"Romeo" Sorrentoin Serie A2 will take place onOctober 20 at 9:30 PM Bulgarian timeagainstGruppo Consoli Sferc Brescia.
