Lube Civitanova made an impressive full comeback as a guest against Rana Verona and won 3:2 (22:25, 25:27, 25:22, 25:18, 15:12) to take a 2:1 lead in the semifinal series. The team from Civitanova is now just one win away from qualifying for the final, with the next match scheduled for Wednesday on their home ground.
Aleksandar Nikolov played a very strong match and finished with22 points, of which6 aces!,2 blocks and33% attack efficiency, being one of the key figures in the guests' comeback.
The first set started disastrously for Lube. The hosts took a 6:1 lead, then maintained a solid advantage at 14:6 and 16:11. It was then that Aleksandar Nikolov's first ace of the match came. At 21:17, the set seemed almost decided, but Lube managed to reduce the deficit to 22:20, showing they had overcome the initial shock. At 24:22, Nikolov scored his fourth point in the match, including a second ace, but Darlan ultimately closed the set for Verona.
The second set started more evenly, but again the hosts took the initiative first, leading 10:5. A strong period for Lube followed, combined with errors from Verona, and the score was tied at 12:12 after an ace by Bonifante. The guests continued to press and reached an 18:14 lead, but two blocks from the hosts brought back the intrigue. A series of breaks for Verona led to 20:21, and then to a dramatic finish.
Two attack errors by Lube brought Verona their first set point, but an attack by Leoppky and an ace by Bottolo tied the score. With Keita's attack into the net, Lube reached their first set point, and at 25:26 Nikolov scored his eighth point. In the decisive rallies, however, the hosts performed better "," a block against Nikolov and a successful counter-attack gave them the second set and a 2:0 lead.
And that's when the big comeback happened.
Lube did not give up and started the third set with concentration. The guests did not allow Verona to pull away, and the game went point for point until 19:19. Then a block by Podrascanin against Keita, a pipe attack by Leoppky, and Nikolov's third ace put Lube ahead 22:19. Until the end, the guests did not relinquish the initiative and, after another successful block, closed the set 25:22 to get back into the match.
In the fourth set, Lube was playing with completely different confidence. The set started with a point from Nikolov "," his 13th in the match, and shortly after, he recorded his fourth ace for 3:1. Strong serves from Bottolo helped the guests take an 8:4 lead, and after a block by Nikolov against Darlan, the score became 11:7. The Bulgarian international continued to be at the center of the action "," his 17th point brought 16:11, and his fifth ace made it 21:16. Until the end, Lube controlled the proceedings and, after a block-out by Leoppky, took the match to a decisive tie-break.
The fifth set started with a "drawer" ace from Bottolo, and a block by Nikolov against Keita gave a 4:2 lead. Again, the Bulgarian made it 5:3, and then hammered his sixth ace for 6:3. Lube was the first to reach the eighth point at 8:5 after a block-out by Bottolo. After 9:7 for the guests, the tension escalated significantly. Video checks, disputes, and a yellow card followed, and the difference narrowed to one point at 11:10. However, the experienced Podrascanin made an extremely important point for 12:10. Nikolov made a service error for 12:11, and then Bottolo brought 13:11 after a block-out. A pipe attack by Nikolov secured the first match point for Lube. Keita earned one point back for Verona, but in the next rally, he sent the serve into the net, thus ending the match.
Top scorers in the match:
Rana Verona:Keita "," 21, Darlan "," 21, Nedeljkovic "," 12
Lube Civitanova:Nikolov – 22, Leuppi – 17, Botolo – 13, Podrascanin – 10
Nikolov became MVP.
Team Statistics:
| Category | Rana Verona | Lube Civitanova |
|---|---|---|
| Block | 10 | 13 |
| Attack % | 53% | 48% |
| Points from attack | 61 | 50 |
| Positive reception | 38% | 44% |
| Aces | 6 | 10 |
| Service errors | 31 | 21 |
| Points from opponent's errors | 29 | 40 |
The statistics clearly show why Lube managed to make a comeback from 0:2. Although Verona had better attack efficiency (53% vs 48%) and more direct points in this element, the visitors compensated with a stronger serve and blocking play. Lube's ten aces against six for the hosts proved to be a key factor, especially in the third and fourth sets, when the series of service pressure disrupted Verona's reception.
Even more important is error control – Lube committed significantly fewer service errors (21 vs 31) and gained a total of 40 points from opponent's errors. This indicates better discipline and resilience in long rallies. The difference in blocks (13:10) also tipped the scales, especially at key moments in the third set and the tie-break.
Ultimately, although Verona dominated in pure attack, Lube won the match through a more comprehensive and balanced game – strong serving, stable blocking, and fewer unforced errors.
Lube Civitanova is now just one victory away from qualifying for the final, and after such a comeback, the psychological advantage is now on the side of Giampaolo Medei's team. For Verona, the difficult task remains to react after losing a two-set lead, especially in the next match on away ground.
