The Italian grand team Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA continues its flawless run in Group E, after leaving no chances for Volley Haasrode LEUVEN on their home court – 3:0 (25:10, 25:19, 25:19) in one hour of play. This success is Lube's fourth in a row without losing a set and solidifies the team's first place in the standings.
The Belgians only held out at certain moments in the second and third sets, but overall, the class and depth in the hosts' squad made the difference from the very beginning of the match.
Alex Nikolov played another strong match and finished as the top scorer with 14 points, with an impressive +11 rating, 1 block, 56% positive reception, and 72% attack efficiency. The MVP award, however, went to Noah Deflo Rossi, who added 12 points to the categorical victory.
For the guests from Leuven, Gomez and Pieter finished with 10 points each.
In the battle for second place in the group, Montpellier is second before their away game against Warsaw, who currently hold the third position.
Team statistics
| Indicator | Lube | Leuven |
|---|---|---|
| Attack points | 38 | 31 |
| Block points | 11 | 1 |
| Serve points | 4 | 2 |
| Opponent errors | 21 | 13 |
| Total points | 74 | 47 |
The statistics show Lube's complete superiority, especially in blocking – 11:1, which completely shattered the Belgian attack. The Italians were also more aggressive on serve, and the high number of errors provoked in Leuven is indicative of the constant pressure. The 27-point difference in total clearly summarizes the course of the match.
The next challenge for Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA is an away game against Montpellier on February 10, a match that could definitively sort out the top of Group E and give a serious advantage to the Italians before the knockout stage.
photos: cev.eu
