The latest round in the Italian Serie A2 did not bring joy for the Bulgarian volleyball players. Sorrento, Ravenna, Cantù, and Macerata recorded losses, while the Bulgarian athletes were once again in the spotlight "," with different roles and contributions.
Sorrento – Preslav Petkov
RomeoSorrento – Emma Villas Siena 1:3 (25:19, 19:25, 24:26, 19:25)
Sorrento started confidently and took the first set, but then the Tuscans gradually imposed a more stable serve and more effective play in attack. The hosts fought to the end, especially in the third set, but failed to maintain momentum.
Preslav Petkov started as a middle blocker and scored 6 points, showing presence at the net and activity in transition. In the crucial moments of the third set, Siena showed more composure.
Ravenna – Hristiyan Dimitrov and Samuil Valchinov
(with the participation of Manuel Zlatanov)
Lagonegro – Ravenna 3:0 (25:22, 25:23, 25:20)
Ravenna was constantly playing catch-up throughout the match, as the hosts started strong in all three sets. The Italians from Lagonegro dictated the pace with aggressive serving and a solid block.
Hristiyan Dimitrov finished with 11 points, and Samuil Valchinov also added 11. Manuel Zlatanov scored 8 points. At certain moments, Ravenna showed character, but failed to find rhythm in the decisive rallies.
Cantù – Nikolay Ivanov
Cantù – Taranto 1:3 (25:21, 19:25, 21:25, 15:25)
Cantù started strong and won the first set, but then Taranto gradually imposed greater stability in their play. The visitors improved their serve and block, while the hosts failed to maintain their rhythm and allowed too many fluctuations in crucial moments.
Nikolay Ivanov entered the match and scored 2 points. The top scorers for Cantù were Quagliuzzi and Meschiari with 17 points each, but the team finished with only 2 aces, a total of 9 service errors, and 11 successful blocks – an indicator that the block worked well, but the poor effectiveness of the serve helped Taranto control the match.
Macerata – Rusi Zhelev and Denis Karyagin
Porto Viro – Macerata 3:1 (22:25, 25:19, 25:17, 25:18)
Macerata started excellently and won the first set, but then the hosts raised their level of block and defense. Porto Viro dominated in the second and third sets, gradually breaking the resistance of the visitors.
Denis Karyagin scored 10 points, and Rusi Zhelev added 16 points for Macerata. Despite individual contributions, the team could not maintain their rhythm against the inspired play of the opponent.
Standings in Serie A2 after 19 rounds
| Pos. | Team | Points | Matches | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prata | 47 | 19 | 15 | 4 |
| 2 | Pineto | 41 | 19 | 14 | 5 |
| 3 | Ravenna | 38 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| 4 | Brescia | 36 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| 5 | Aversa | 34 | 19 | 11 | 8 |
| 6 | Lagonegro | 32 | 19 | 10 | 9 |
| 7 | Macerata | 24 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 8 | Sorrento | 24 | 19 | 8 | 11 |
| 9 | Catania | 23 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 10 | Taranto | 23 | 19 | 8 | 11 |
| 11 | Siena | 23 | 19 | 7 | 12 |
| 12 | Fano | 22 | 19 | 7 | 12 |
| 13 | Porto Viro | 22 | 19 | 7 | 12 |
| 14 | Cantù | 10 | 19 | 4 | 15 |
Ravenna remains third despite the defeat, but the gap to leaders Prata and Pineto remains significant. In the bottom half, Macerata and Sorrento are in a tight group, while Cantù continues to face serious difficulties and remains in last place with only 10 points.
After the Italian Cup break, the tension in the battle for the playoffs and survival will become even more serious – and the Bulgarian contingent in A2 will be looking for revenge.
