Italy will certainly have a new champion. Cucine Lube Civitanova eliminated the reigning champion Trentino after a 3:1 victory (25:22, 25:27, 25:17, 26:24) as visitors in Trento in the third match of the quarterfinal series, and with an overall score of 3:0 wins, qualified for the semifinals.
The great hero for the team from the Marche region was once again Alex Nikolov. The Bulgarian national player played another strong match and finished with 25 points, and it was he who sealed the deal with a pipe attack at 25:24 in the fourth set.
At first glance, the match seemed easier for the visitors, who arrived in Trento with immense confidence after two successes. Trentino, on the other hand, was seriously weakened, as they could not rely on two of their big stars
Alessandro Michieletto and Daniele Lavia.
Nevertheless, the hosts did not give up at all and offered a real battle, full of twists and turns and tension until the last ball.
Lube started the first set strongly and took a 12:4 lead, but then allowed the hosts to get back into the match. Trentino even had a chance to make a full comeback and lead 22:21, but a video review denied them that opportunity. In the decisive moments, the visitors remained calmer, and after a Gabi Garcia serve out, followed by a successful attack by Alex Nikolov, they closed the set 25:23.
The second set unfolded in an almost identical scenario. Lube once again dictated the tempo, and at 8:3 for the visitors, Mattia Bottolo scored his 300th point of the season. Gradually, Trentino closed the gap and capitalized on a series of serving errors by the opponent at the end of the set. At 24:22 for Lube, everything seemed decided, but an ace by Sbertoli revived the hosts' hopes. They managed to equalize and push the set into overtime, where errors by Bottolo and Nikolov tilted the scales in favor of Trentino for 27:25 and 1:1.
The third set again began with Civitanova's dominance. The visitors once more took a convincing 12:4 lead, but this time they did not allow any shake-up. They maintained a high level in attack and serve, and Bottolo ended the set with a pipe attack for 25:17.
The fourth set was the most dramatic. In it, Trentino managed to be an equal opponent and even hold the initiative at times. The hosts exploited Lube's serving errors and maintained equality until 20:20. Then Théo Faure put Trentino ahead, but Alex Nikolov immediately responded with his 24th point of the match. Towards the end, the champions reached set point after another serving error by the visitors, but the drama was just beginning. A serve followed, which initially appeared out, but after a video review, it was ruled an ace by DeHeer for 23:23. The Belgian immediately added another ace and brought Lube their first match point. Flavio equalized through the middle, but then the visitors got another chance to finish the match after a block. It was then that Alex Nikolov soared above the net and with a beautiful pipe attack, sealed the final 26:24, sending Civitanova to the semifinals.
| Team | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Trentino | Alessandro Bristot | 17 |
| Trentino | Jordi Ramon | 15 |
| Trentino | Théo Faure | 15 |
| Lube Civitanova | Alex Nikolov | 25 |
| Lube Civitanova | Mattia Bottolo | 16 |
| Lube Civitanova | Eric Loeppky | 13 |
| Lube Civitanova | Giovanni Gargiulo | 10 |
Alex Nikolov was the undisputed leader for Lube and the top scorer in the match with 25 points, also recording an impressive efficiency of +17, adding 2 aces and 2 blocks, and achieving 54% in attack.
He deservedly became the MVP of the match.
He becomes the MVP of the match.
Alex Nikolov: "The result is important, even if we weren't perfect. We knew that Trento would fight until the end, but we qualified for the semifinals and that was our goal. I am proud that I won another MVP award on a difficult and challenging court like the BTS Arena."
The support from Bottolo, who scored his 300th point of the season at the beginning of the second set, and Loeppky provided the necessary balance in attack, while Gargiulo brought stability to the middle. The Italian international scored his 200th point of the season at the end of the last set.
On Trentino's side, the absence of key scorers was felt, but Bristot, Ramon, and Fore managed to keep the team competitive in individual sets. Nevertheless, Lube's greater variability and attacking efficiency proved to be the decisive factor for the final outcome of the match.
Team statistics from the match
| Indicator | Trentino | Lube Civitanova |
|---|---|---|
| Blocks | 6 | 11 |
| Attack (%) | 52% | 57% |
| Points from attack | 52 | 56 |
| Positive reception | 35% | 39% |
| Aces | 6 | 5 |
| Service errors | 22 | 21 |
| Points from opponent errors | 26 | 30 |
The numbers clearly outline Lube's superiority in the key elements. The most significant difference comes from blocking (11 against 6), where the guests exerted constant pressure and limited Trentino's attack options. The higher attack percentage (57% against 52%) and more points scored from attack also highlight Civitanova's better efficiency.
In reception, the difference is minimal, but again in Lube's favor, which allowed for a more stable attack organization. Trentino compensated somewhat with more direct points from serve, but this was neutralized by a similar number of serving errors.
The 'opponent errors' factor also proved decisive, where Lube gained more points (30 against 26), which in such an evenly matched and tense game often makes the difference between victory and defeat.
Thus, Lube not only eliminated the champion but also sent a clear signal that they are ready to attack the title. And Alex Nikolov once again showed that he is the man for big moments.
photos:legavolley.it
