Cucine Lube Civitanova will go into the winter break undefeated at home. Gianpaolo Medei's team broke the resistance of a direct competitor for the top spots – Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza, defeating them 3:1 (25:21, 26:24, 18:25, 25:21). With their eighth victory of the season, "the Chefs" climbed to fifth place in the standings.
The visitors arrived in Civitanova with personnel problems – without middle blocker Simon, who underwent surgery, and unable to rely on Mandarajiev. Nevertheless, Piacenza played a strong match, led by young Bovolenta, who was the top scorer of the encounter with 26 points (2 blocks).
Alex Nikolov shone for Lube once again. The Bulgarian international finished with 21 points, adding 1 block and 3 aces, and was a key figure in the decisive moments of the first, second, and fourth sets.
The hosts started the first set with more concentration. In the middle of the set, they briefly allowed Piacenza to take the lead, but Lube gradually extended their advantage. At 22:17, Nikolov executed an important attack, and shortly after, the first set point came. Erik Loeppky closed the set at 25:21, with Alex Nikolov finishing the set with 5 points.
The second set offered the most intrigue. Piacenza took a five-point lead – 14:19 after another attack by Bovolenta. A strong run by Mattia Bottolo followed, through which the hosts erased the deficit, and after two consecutive aces from the Italian international, the score was tied at 19:19. The visitors were the first to reach set point at 22:24, but failed to close the set. An ace from Alex Nikolov made it 24:24, and after deuce, Lube won the set with an attack from Loeppky – 26:24.
The third set started evenly, with Lube leading up to 12:11. A drop in the hosts' game followed, and Piacenza intensified their serve. In this set, Galassi reached the 100-point mark for the season. The statistical superiority of the visitors (11/15 attack points, 2 blocks to 1, as well as more points won from hosts' errors 3/6, and better efficiency in decisive rallies) tilted the scales, and Piacenza took the set 25:18.
In the fourth set, Lube again showed greater concentration. Nikolov scored his 18th point of the match with a skillful tip for 5:3. Bovolenta responded, recording his 200th point of the season and 23rd in the match. After a series of ties and a score of 11:11, the hosts pressed on, managing to block Bovolenta for the first time. At 18:14, middle blocker Gargiulo scored his 100th point of the season. Piacenza closed to 23:21, but it was Bottolo's moment – first he brought match point, and then he served an ace for the final 25:21.
A third consecutive MVP award for Loeppky, who scored 16 points with 65% attack efficiency and added one block. Two of Loeppky's teammates also finished with double-digit points – Bottolo with 13 points, including 4 aces, and Gargiulo with 11 points, including 4 aces and 1 block.
In Piacenza's lineup, the top scorer was Bovolenta with 26 points at an impressive 77% attack efficiency and 2 blocks, while Gutierrez added 16 points, contributing 2 aces and 2 blocks.
With this victory, Cucine Lube Civitanova remains undefeated at home and overtakes Piacenza in the standings. The team from Civitanova is fifth with 25 points, while Piacenza remains sixth with 23. The victory confirmed Lube's excellent form in their home arena and highlighted Alex Nikolov's key role in the decisive moments of the match.
