The result doesn’t always tell the story of a volleyball movie. Not when the playoffs begin, not when every nuance can make the difference. Belluno Volley knows this. And they’re preparing for the second leg of the round of 16 match against Credem Banca in Serie A3 with a certainty bordering on a warning: the first-leg win, however valuable, is only the starting point. On Sunday, March 29th (6:00 PM), at the VHV Arena, the second leg of the match against EnergyTime Campobasso will take place. In Molise, the Rhinos won in the tie-break, at the end of a tough match, which they fought back with determination to save a match point in the fourth set.
NO GIFTS – But it’s precisely from Game 1 that the reflection begins. Leading the discussion is striker Stefano Giannotti, who scored 22 points and two blocks at the Vinchiaturo sports hall: “Last Saturday’s match must open our eyes and make us understand a fundamental aspect. In the playoffs, we can’t wait for our opponents to give us something: it’s up to us to approach each set as best we can.” Campobasso is a tough team: “They played the match aggressively, in the most positive sense of the word, and deserved credit for putting us in trouble. So much so that we almost went home empty-handed. And that would have been tough on our morale. But then, we did a good job of holding on and snatching the win in the tie-break.”
LEAP IN QUALITY – Giannotti expects a leap in quality. Because the return match doesn’t allow for lapses in concentration or soft approaches: “Concentration must always remain high, starting in practice. Let’s leave anxiety aside: we know, many teams play the playoffs without the need to go all the way, but with the primary goal of standing out. And giving too much space to this type of team is really dangerous.”
