Conad Reggio Emilia – Viridex Sabaudia 3-0 (26-24, 25-19, 25-20) – Conad Reggio Emilia: Santambrogio 2, Chevalier 12, Barone 10, Mian 12, Mazzon 7, Sighinolfi 8, Zecca (L), Signorini 0, Marini (L), Scaltriti 0. N.E. Bertoni, Alberghini, Catellani, Sanguanini. Coach: Zagni. Viridex Sabaudia: Mariani 2, Soncini 3, Pilotto 8, Onwuelo 14, Panciocco 11, Stufano 5, Nasari 1, Rondoni (L), Serangeli 0, De Vito 1. N.E. Schettino. Coach: Beltrame. REFEREES: Mazzarà, Angelucci. NOTES – set duration: 29′, 25′, 31′; total: 85′.
Conad Reggio Emilia is the first Del Monte® Coppa Italia A3 finalist: at the VHV Arena in Belluno, Tommaso Zagni’s men defeated Viridex Sabaudia in three sets. Led by Riccardo Mian, Martin Chevalier (12 points), and Rocco Barone (4 blocks and 10 points total), the Reggio Emilia team thus qualifies for tomorrow’s final match between Belluno Volley and Domotek Reggio Calabria, which will secure the second spot in the final.
For the Pontine side, Samuel Onwuelo put in a solid scoring performance (14 points); Marco Rocco Panciocco also scored double figures (11). The second match kicks off at 6:30 PM.
Photo gallery of the semifinal between Conad Reggio Emilia and Viridex Sabaudia
Enrico Pilotto (Viridex Sabaudia): “It was a great match; we were tied for two sets. They played well, but we struggled with some fundamentals. We should have focused more on our serve, and if we had been able to keep them at the net more, perhaps things would have gone differently, at least for one set. I’m still happy with us; it’s always an honor to play this type of match.”
Riccardo Mian (Conad Reggio Emilia): “We try to improve day after day. Today we needed to break the ice, and I saw a combative Reggio side, thrilled to be here. Throughout the match, we managed to stay focused and solid in the final part of the set.”
The Match
For the opening match of the fifth edition of the Del Monte® Coppa Italia A3, Conad Reggio Emilia and Viridex Sabaudia will face off: Coach Zagni selects Santambrogio and Mian as main forwards, Mazzon and Chevalier as spikers, and Barone (captain) and Sighinolfi as middle blockers. Marini completes the lineup. Coach Beltrame responds: Sabaudia will field Mariani and Onwuelo, Soncini and Panciocco will spike, and Pilotto and Stufano will be the middle blockers. Rondoni will be the libero.
Conad Reggio Emilia is the first Del Monte® Coppa Italia A3 finalist.
