Incredible Piacenza sweeps Macerata, Conquers Golden set and playoffs 6
COPRA ELIOR PIACENZA – CUCINE LUBE BANCA MARCHE MACERATA 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-20) Golden Set 15-13
COPRA ELIOR PIACENZA: Marra (L), Le Roux 13, Papi 7, Fei 7, Kaliberda 1, Simon Aties 8, Zlatanov 7, Tencati, Vettori 2, De Cecco 1. DNP Partenio, Smerilli. Coach. Monti.
CUCINE LUBE BANCA MARCHE MACERATA: Henno (L), Parodi, Zaytsev 7, Stankovic 5, Patriarca, Kovar 6, Martino, Giombini, Kurek 8, Baranowicz 2, Podrascanin 6. DNP Monopoli. Coach. Giuliani.
Piacenza needed a breakthrough and they did the job in style. In a sold-out PalaBanca, Piacenza needed the perfect game to recover from the 3-0 deficit conceded seven days ago and they responded with a sweep of their own to earn the right to play the Golden Set. And in the clutch additional set to 15, they qualified to the playoffs 6 sending the fans into a frenzy. Piacenza had more aces: 8 to 4, and more blocks: 8 to 6. Papi was a key figure (9 points, 73% in reception), he always seemed to get Macerata to go the wrong way at the net in the most important moments. Next for Piacenza is Kazan (Russia).
Hristo Zlatanov (Copra Elior Piacenza): “I am happy with how the game went. I have been a bit unlucky in this beginning of season, I needed more consistency, and I found it tonight. This win will give us more confidence, now we know how far we can go”.
Alberto Giuliani (Coach Cucine Lube Banca Marche Macerata): “This is a huge disappointment, we have been nowhere near as good as what we are at home. In our gym, we play with a certain style, while we seem to be afraid on the road. We have definitely got good players, but they’re not champions yet, they won’t be if they cannot do better away from home. We played the Golden Set well, but the second referee became a protagonist by taking wrong decisions that have influenced the game, though. But let’s not find any excuses because Piacenza had a great game, they kept us under pressure. We have to learn to handle the emotions and turn it into aggressiveness on court instead of this attitude with which we have been dominated. This is an aspect on which we have to reflect and work. We can’t have a good Macerata team only at home, we all have to work hard on this”.
2014 DenizBank Champions League
PlayOffs 12 results
Zenit Kazan (RUS) – Berlin Recycling Volleys (GER) 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-23)
Copra Elior Piacenza (ITA) – Cucine Lube Banca Marche Macerata (ITA) 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-20) Golden Set 15-13
Jastrzebski Wegiel (POL) – Tours VB (FRA) 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-22)
Knack Roeselare (BEL) – Asseco Resovia Rzeszow (POL) 1-3 (18-25, 28-26, 16-25, 18-25)
Trentino Diatec (ITA) – Noliko Maaseik (BEL) 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 26-28, 25-23)
Belogorie Belgorod (RUS) – Budvanska Rivijera Budva (MNE) 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-16)
Abbinamenti PlayOffs 6
Jastrzebski Wegiel (POL) – Asseco Resovia Rzeszow (POL)
Belogorie Belgorod (RUS) – Trentino Diatec (ITA)
Copra Elior Piacenza (ITA) – Zenit Kazan (RUS)
Fixtures
2014 DenizBank Champions League – PlayOffs 6 first leg
Betweem 4 and 6 of February
Belogorie Belgorod (RUS) – Trentino Diatec (ITA)
(Kulhanek-Zahorcova)
Copra Elior Piacenza (ITA) – Zenit Kazan (RUS)
(Gerothodoros-Pobornikov)
