The two teams started their friendly matches before the beginning of the new season with a game against each other.

Positive indications after the pre-season debut of the 'red-whites' in front of about 900 spectators, according to the club's official website.lubevolley.itThe first of three planned training derbies between Lube Civitanova and Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina took place at Eurosuole Forum. The 'Cucineri' won in three sets (25:20, 25:19, 25:22), with Petar Dirlic being the top scorer for the team (9 points). At the end of the training match, agreed upon by coach Giampaolo Medei and the visiting coach Massimiliano Ortenzi, both specialists gave most of their currently available players a chance to play and decided to play an additional set, which also ended 25:19 in favor of Civitanova.

Lube started the match with setter Mattia Boninfante and Petar Dirlic on the opposite, Loeppky and Botolo as outside hitters, Tenorio and Gargiulo in the middle, and Fabio Balaso as libero. A good start for the 'red-whites' with varied attacks, with the middle blockers also getting into action (7:5), but the visitors equalized at 9:9. The hosts took the lead again (16:14), but briefly (16:16). The new addition from Iran - Porya (3 points in a few rallies with 60% efficiency), and veteran Orduna, who took over the 'baton', changed the face of Lube as they entered the court. After a few aces from Botolo, the team reached set point at 24:19. Tenorio closed the set after an attack (25:20). Civitanova scored 3 aces, and the only block was by Gargiulo.

In the second set, the 'Cucinero' team started with a phenomenal serving run and took an 8:0 lead after the serves of the inspired Boninfante. During the set, Orduna and Porya entered again, with the Iranian scoring the point for 13:6. At 16:9, Larizza also entered to refresh the play in the middle, maintaining Lube's lead - 18:11. A slump followed in the 'red-whites'' play (20:17), but Medei's men woke up, led again by Boninfante's serve - 23:17 after two consecutive aces. Botolo's final plays in the set were decisive - it ended 25:19. Loeppky (67%) and Gargiulo were productive, scoring 4 points each, with the middle blocker making 2 blocks.

In the third set, Porya started at outside hitter with Loeppky, while Larizza started in the middle with Gargiulo. For the first time, Lube had to chase Yuasa (8:10). The turnaround in the set came at 14:13, but it didn't last long after another tie - 17:17. The 'red-whites' took the lead again at 19:17, after which parity was again reached at 20:20. A block by Botolo for 22:20 'restarted' Lube, and a direct point from Larizza's serve sealed the final 25:22.

An additional set was also played, which is normal for friendly matches. Lube on the court started with Orduna, who set for Dirlic in zones 2 and 1, Porya and Botolo at 4, Larizza and Tenorio in the middle, and the second libero Bisotto also entered the game. The 'red-whites' also won this set 25:19.

Post-match opinions:

GIAMPAOLO MEDEI (coach): "Today we took the first steps, it was a useful day to technically evaluate where we need to focus more. We couldn't be brilliant in the busiest training week. In terms of discipline and team spirit, I definitely can't complain. Even in the most delicate moments, the collective never fell apart, we laid the first 'brick'. We must continue to work hard to improve the game organization and form a solid team from a sports-technical point of view. The path is right!".

PETAR DIRLIC: "We have a tough week ahead with heavy gym workloads. We showed good things in attack and counter-attack. We have a lot of potential for growth, but we are at the beginning. Our focus was not on the result, but on the performance. The assessment is very good!".

Lineups:

CIVITANOVA: Gargiulo 7, Loeppky 8, Orduna, Bisotto (L), Balaso (L), Boninfante 3, Porya 6, Larizza 2, Dirlic 9, Botolo 7, Tenorio 5

GROTTAZZOLINA: Zhukouski, Antonov 4, Cubitone, Demianenko 4, Matei, Comparoni 3, Fedrizzi 7, Marchiani, Zwanziger 3, Tatarov 8, Marchisio (L)

For the newcomer team in the Italian Serie A1 - "Yuasa Battery", the Bulgarian outside hitter Georgi Tatarov scored the most points - 8. This was a successful debut for our young national player, while for "Lube" Alex Nikolov is still recovering after surgery.

Photo:lubevolley.it