Belluno Volley secured its spot in the Serie A3 Credem Banca playoff finals at the end of a volleyball marathon, culminating in a golden set victory against ErmGroup Altotevere San Giustino. And, in such a long and grueling match, the story of Nicolò Hoffer stands out: the libero who gritted his teeth, shortened injury time, and regained center stage.
EXHAUSTING – “It was an exhausting, extremely tough match. Like the first leg,” he said at the end of the match. “San Giustino is a team that fights for every ball; they put us in trouble from the first to the last. We deserved credit for having the momentum on our side, even though the Umbrians fought back in the third and fourth sets. In the end, we did well for staying focused. And with our hearts, because by the end, our legs were a little slower…”
AFTER THE INJURY – A perfect snapshot of a tense match, in which coach Mastrangelo’s team had to draw on all their resources to emerge. Even the less visible ones, like mental toughness in decisive moments. And Hoffer’s presence on the court itself is a sign. The libero was recovering from a calf injury sustained in the quarterfinals in Mantua. A layoff that threatened to jeopardize the end of the season: “It was a tough period. Despite the bad luck, we were able to take advantage of a week’s break, without which I would have also missed the first leg in Umbria. I had time to work in the gym, and on April 25th, I immediately felt great.”
PRUDENCE – The initial plan was prudent. Reality, however, revealed otherwise: “At first, the idea was to only play reception, but instead I stayed on the court the entire time. Playing eleven sets after the injury was no joke, but I practiced in the match,” he adds with a smile.
