Calzedonia Verona – Biosì Indexa Sora 3-2 (20-25, 25-22, 24-26, 25-18, 21-19) – Calzedonia Verona: Baranowicz 2, Kovacevic 33, Anzani 7, Stern 15, Randazzo 17, Zingel 0, Frigo (L), Lecat 1, Giovi (L), Ferreira 1, Mengozzi 8, Paolucci 2. DNP Djuric. Coach Grbic. Biosì Indexa Sora: Seganov 2, Kalinin 4, Gotsev 13, Miskevich 29, Rosso 15, Mattei 6, Corsetti (L), Santucci (L), Sperandio 4, Marrazzo 1, Tiozzo 0, De Marchi 0. DNP Lucarelli. Coach Colucci. REFEREES: Gnani, Rapisarda. NOTES – sets: 22′, 26′, 31′, 22′, 26′; tot: 127′. MVP: Uros Kovacevic
After the elimination by Play Off Superleague, Calzedonia Verona started this brand new adventure for the Challenge Cup. Calzedonia faced Biosì Indexa Sora in Playoff Challenge Quarterfinals Game 1 at Agsm Forum, in a great and exciting game, won by Verona at tie break. Sora, with coach Colucci on the bench in place of Bruno Bagnoli, fired after Eighth Finals Game 1, a bad loss in Padova, had some great games in Game 2 and 3 versus Kioene, and also in Verona Biosì Indexa was great, challenging until the end favourite Verona. Calzedonia is in good shape, Mvp Uros Kovacevic put on the ground an outstanding performance with 33 points and a great presence down the net all game long. Sora won the first set 25-20, in second Calzedonia fough back tying the game winning 25-22. In third Verona had a good start, then Sora came back taking the lead, and in crunch time, with the game balanced Biosì Indexa stepped up and won the set 26-24. Calzedonia came back in fourth with a clear win 25-18, and in tie break the game was absolutely balanced until the tie at 14. In the extras the balance continued, until the final block of Simone Anzani, which sealed the win for Verona on 21-19.
Matteo Sperandio (Biosì Indexa Sora): “Too bad losing a game like this at the tie break, Kovacevic stepped up and made the difference. For us the most important thing was to advance to the quarterfinals now we are here without pressure. Let’s see what will happen next sunday”.
Uros Kovacevic (Calzedonia Verona): “We did not played as we know, we started too soft versus Sora who played very well. We had some high and lows in the game, in the end we won thanks to our experience”.
