Serie A1
Ravenna vs Molfetta
Ravenna and Molfetta will be exceptionally on court this Saturday to play a postponed game of round 20. Crucial encounter for Ravenna which still dreams of a playoff spot. There is only a five-point gap on Verona, Città di Castello and Modena (Modena has one game in hand). As for Molfetta, they have signed Cuban spiker Rolando Despaigne, who last played in Greece. On its first season in the A1, Molfetta has had its moments and lately spiker Sabbi has been unstoppable.
Serie A1 round 20 (Postponed game)
Saturday March 8 at 8.30pm
CMC Ravenna – Exprivia Molfetta
(Pol-Pozzato)
League table
Cucine Lube Banca Marche Macerata 52, Copra Elior Piacenza 51, Sir Safety Perugia 42, Diatec Trentino 36, Bre Lannutti Cuneo 29, Altotevere Città di Castello 25, Calzedonia Verona 25, Casa Modena 25*, CMC Ravenna 20*, Tonno Callipo Calabria Vibo Valentia 19, Exprivia Molfetta 15*, Andreoli Latina 15*
*1 game in hand:Casa Modena, CMC Ravenna, Exprivia Molfetta, Andreoli Latina
CMC Ravenna – Exprivia Molfetta
PAST ENCOUNTERS: 1 (Ravenna)
Marco Bonitta (Coach CMC Ravenna): “Even if we don’t underestimate Molfetta, which is coming off a good performance against Piacenza, our goal is to take three points to keep our hopes of making the playoffs alive. We have lost our last game in Perugia, which represented a bad performance after a very positive run, so we’re eager to bounce back with the help of our supporters”.
Francesco Del Vecchio (Exprivia Molfetta): “We had a good performance against Piacenza and we’re extremely focused on the Ravenna game, which we can win. Besides, we want to make up for the poor display seen in the first meeting against them. Despaigne’s arrival will definitely bring quality to our team”.
Serie A2
Round 21
Two games to go in the A2 and the direct promotion that could be sealed this weekend. Indeed, despite the fact it is rested Padova could celebrate promotion if Monza was to lose without taking points against Cantù.
Materdominivolley.it Castellana Grotte – Elettrosud Brolo. In the last round, the PalaGrotte arena proved once again to be a tough place to go to, even the leaders Padova were pushed to the tie-break. Castellana took 10 of its 12 points in this second half of season on home soil. Only goal for Brolo: obtain their first win of the season. Meanwhile, Castellana’s spiker Castellano is 2 points away from the 5000 in career.
B-Chem Potenza Picena – Itely Milano. Beaten by direct rival Cantù last week, Potenza will try to get its seventh place back to avoid the playoffs 8th of finals. As for Milan they’re in the hunt for Ortona’s fifth place, which would give them home court advantage in the playoffs quarters.
Globo Banca Popolare del Frusinate Sora – Coserplast Openet Matera. Sora and Matera have been close to the top all season and will be a tough opposition in the playoffs. Show time guaranteed as they meet this weekend. Both teams have already secured their ticket into the playoffs quarters. This will be an opportunity for Matera to close in on Sora’s third place, four points away right now.
Cassa Rurale Cantù – Vero Volley Monza. Fundamental derby for both squads. Cantù has to defend the seventh place it earned in Potenza last week, while Monza is still in with a chance of direct promotion.
Caffè Aiello Corigliano – Sieco Service Ortona. Second consecutive home game for Corigliano, which desperately needs a win to end its six-game losing streak. However, they have nothing to play for. On the contrary, Ortona will give everything to defend its fifth place from Milan’s assault in order to have the court advantage in the playoffs quarter-finals.
Serie A2 round 21
Sunday March 9 at 6pm
Materdominivolley.it Castellana Grotte – Elettrosud Brolo
(Cappelletti-Rossetti)
B-Chem Potenza Picena – Itely Milano
(Pignataro-Moratti)
Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora – Coserplast Openet Matera Differed on RAI Sport 2 (Tuesday March 11 at 10.30pm)
(Allegrini-Di Blasi)
Cassa Rurale Cantù – Vero Volley Monza
(Paravano-Piersanti)
Caffè Aiello Corigliano – Sieco Service Ortona
(Curto-Canessa)
Rested: Tonazzo Padova
League table
Tonazzo Padova 45, Vero Volley Monza 42, Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora 39, Coserplast Openet Matera 35, Sieco Service Ortona 31, Itely Milano 28, Cassa Rurale Cantù 24, B-Chem Potenza Picena 22, Materdominivolley.it Castellana Grotte 20, Caffè Aiello Corigliano 12, Elettrosud Brolo 2.
1 game more: Tonazzo Padova, Globo Banca Pop. Frusinate Sora
