Semifinals Game 4 Play Off SuperLega Credem Banca:
Cucine Lube Civitanova-Rana Verona 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-20)
The Credem Banca 2025/26 Playoff Final has its second star! Cucine Lube Civitanova, with tonight’s 3-0 victory over Rana Verona in Game 4 of the Scudetto Semifinals, has secured its spot in the final, which will pit them against Sir Susa Scai Perugia in a series that promises to be thrilling and exciting. This is Cucine Lube Civitanova’s eleventh Scudetto Final; Rana Verona, on the other hand, is bowing out after a season that saw them lift the Del Monte® Coppa Italia SuperLega and reach the Supercoppa Final. Next year, the team will also participate in the CEV Champions League.
Eric Loeppky, among others, took center stage: he was the match MVP and scored 15 points, including 3 aces and 12 attacks. Aleksandar Nikolov also scored double figures (13 points, including 1 ace and 2 blocks), as did Mattia Bottolo, who finished with 12 blocks, including 5 blocks, particularly crucial in the third set. For Rana, only Noumory Keita (15) broke double figures, with Fabio Soli showing full play throughout the match; Francesco Sani scored 9 points, while Aidan Zingel added 8.
After a strong start by Verona (a 5-1 run with two aces from Mozic), the home team regained their form and, aided by Loeppky’s 8 points (88% attack), managed to overtake Medei’s team, taking the first set to a 25-23 lead. Balaso and his teammates started the second set aggressively, with Bottolo capitalizing on a free ball (6-3) that prompted Verona to call a timeout. Nikolov’s block brought his team to 13-6, Verona closed the gap to 18-14, but Civitanova continued to extend its lead: Bottolo’s block on Sani earned the set point thanks to the help of the video check, but the point that made it 2-0 in the set count came from a service error by Sani himself, who nevertheless scored six points in the set.
Bottolo’s two consecutive blocks (9-3 Civitanova) propelled the Cuneo team toward a third set victory: the Italian spiker also blocked Keita for a 13-4 lead, while Sani—with two consecutive aces—forced Medei to call a timeout. Civitanova continued to push despite Verona’s attempt to come back with two straight service winners from Keita; The point that earned the team a second consecutive Play-Off Final, and the eighth in the last nine editions, was scored by Aleksandar Nikolov.
Round 1 of the Final is scheduled for Thursday, April 30th, at 8:30 PM: Sir Susa Scai Perugia prepares to face Cucine Lube Civitanova, in a Final that has already been played five times so far and is thus preparing for its sixth chapter.
Cucine Lube Civitanova – Rana Verona 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-20) – Cucine Lube Civitanova: Boninfante 3, Bottolo 12, Gargiulo 4, Loeppky 15, Nikolov 13, Podrascanin 5, Bisotto (L), Orduna 0, Balaso (L), Kukartsev 0, Duflos-Rossi 0. N.E. D’Heer, Hfaiedh, Tenorio. All. Medei. Rana Verona: Christenson 3, Mozic 4, Zingel 8, Ferreira Souza 3, Keita 15, Vitelli 0, Bonisoli (L), Planinsic 0, D’Amico 0, Staforini (L), Sani 9, Glatz 0, Nedeljkovic 3. N.E. Valbusa. All. Soli. ARBITRI: Cesare, Zanussi. NOTE – durata set: 25′, 27′, 25′; tot: 77′.
Game 1 Final – Play Off SuperLega Credem Banca
Giovedì 30 aprile 2026, ore 20.30
Sir Susa Scai Perugia – Cucine Lube Civitanova
Diretta Rai Sport, DAZN e VBTV
