20/03/2018 23:32
TRENTINO claim Playoffs 6 spot after momentous home victory over French champions
2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League - Men
Luxembourg, March 20, 2018. Three-time gold medal winners TRENTINO Diatec sealed a spot in the Playoffs 6 of the 2018 CEV Volleyball Champions League – Men after securing a 3-0 home victory (26-24, 25-23, 27-25) in their second matchup with CHAUMONT VB 52 Haute Marne to make amends for their 2-3 loss last week in France. This means that TRENTINO did not have to contest a Golden Set to progress to the next round and have made it a step closer towards reaching the Final Four due to take place in Kazan on May 12-13, 2018. They now await the winners of the fixture between Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA and PGE Skra BELCHATOW to know the name of their opponent in the last round of the competition preceding the Final Four.
• TRENTINO Diatec came back from last week’s 2-3 away loss to deliver a superb performance and storm to a hard-fought 3-0 victory over France reigning national champions.
• The Italians needed a 3-0 or 3-1 home win to avoid a Golden Set and they delivered the result they wanted after taking three extremely close sets.
• Home team’s captain Filippo Lanza received the award for the Most Valuable Player of the match even though he did not feature on the starting six of TRENTINO at the beginning of the match. Lanza scored all of the crucial points towards the end of each set, thus scoring 10 times in total, including one block and two aces.
• Wassim Ben Tara and Renee Teppan, i.e. the respective opposite hitters for CHAUMONT and TRENTINO, top scored with 13 points apiece.
• It is the fifth home victory in as many matches with French opposition for TRENTINO, as they previously beat TOURS VB three times and BEAUVAIS Oise once.
• In the next round of the competition, TRENTINO will play Cucine Lube CIVITANOVA or PGE Skra BELCHATOW. TRENTINO previously played Cucine Lube in the 2009 and 2016 semis – winning both matches – and in the Playoffs 6 of the 2012 edition as well.
• This was the first home match for TRENTINO at PalaTrento after the venue changed its name to BLM Group Arena.
Angelo Lorenzetti, head coach of TRENTINO Diatec: “It was not a high-level match as far as the performance is concerned, as we could all feel the pressure since there was so much at stake, but we managed to control our nerves during the crucial moments. A decisive week has started for us and I have decided to shuffle the cards on the table. We are happy with this wonderful night.”
Silvano Prandi, head coach of CHAUMONT VB 52 Haute Marne: “Volleyball is a combination of factors; this means you can win courtesy of a block or of a service mistake. Many elements play a role in each rally and we did not do everything the best we could. The fact that my team gave up at the end of each set is very significant. That means that we are mentally below TRENTINO. Actually, I was hoping to take more advantage of their mistakes, but this night they were better than us. Now we have to leave the disappointment behind and congratulate our opponents and come back home in order to focus on the national championship.”
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