Superlega 2023 - News.

Over 4,700 spectators witness the first championship game between Sir and Vero Volley in Perugia (source: legavolley.it)

With both the gold medal and the bronze medal playoffs in Italy’s 2023-2024 SuperLega Credem Banca levelled at one win all, it is time for some midweek action again as the third-leg matches in the two series are coming up on Wednesday and Thursday.

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Sir Susa Vim Perugia v Mint Vero Volley Monza

Reigning club world champions and Supercoppa Italiana and Coppa Italia winners Sir Susa Vim Perugia will try to regain the status of SuperLega title favourites as they welcome Mint Vero Volley Monza to the Pala Barton for the third match of the championship series on Thursday, April 25, starting at 18:00 local time (16:00 UTC).

When Sir hosted the first match of the series a week earlier, they clalmed a 3-1 (27-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23) victory, but in the second on Sunday, Vero Volley celebrated their first-ever home game in a SuperLega championship final with a rollercoaster 3-2 (25-20, 23-25, 21-25, 25-19, 15-11) win to level things up. It was the first time this season the team from Monza managed to defeat their opponents from Perugia, after losing the previous four encounters. The all-time head-to-head between the two clubs now stands at 25-6 Sir’s way.

“Monza are a strong team that has grown a lot in recent weeks. Having eliminated Trento from the playoffs says a lot about the danger of our opponent, whom we fear a lot. We have to recover, start believing in ourselves again and go back to being the team we were before. The playoffs are a different championship compared to the regular season. What matters is winning this championship, so let's keep our heads down and move forward.” Gino Sirci, president of Sir Susa Vim Perugia
“These playoffs have been very tough so far: five matches with Civitanova, five with Trento and now this even more challenging series. In the first match, we didn't play at our best. Perhaps we even felt a bit of pressure, but we returned to the court determined. Maar was absolutely decisive in attack, very important for us, but I think this was a team victory. We defended well, we never gave up and I'm really proud of that.” Eric Loeppky, opposite of Mint Vero Volley Monza
Itas Trentino Trento v Allianz Milan

Despite the return of Itas Trentino Trento’s playmaker Riccardo Sbertoli and the absence of Allianz Milan’s Bulgarian star Matey Kaziyski, last year’s champions and this year’s regular season winners failed to double their lead in the third place playoff as they visited Milan on Saturday, but they will try to regain control of the series as they entertain Allianz for the third game at the ilT quotidiano Arena on Wednesday, April 24, at 20:30 local time (18:30 UTC). However, their starting outside hitter Daniele Lavia is still recovering from an abdominal injury and is expected to miss the upcoming match again.

After Trentino’s hard-fought 3-2 (23-25, 25-18, 23-25, 25-19, 15-11) home win last Wednesday, Allianz struck back as they hosted the second game for another epic five-setter, 3-2 (26-24, 17-25, 25-16, 25-27, 22-20). It was only the fourth time in history, the club from Milan managed to beat their opponents from Trento, in 26 matches played.

Milano vs. Trentino | Highlights | Superlega | Playoff 3 Posto

“This series walks on the edge of balance as demonstrated in the first two matches, decided only by a handful of points in the tie-breaker. We deserved to win game one. So did Milan in game two, playing better than us. In view of match three, we are working to increase the quality of our game and improve the coordination with the returning Sbertoli. We will need vigour, determination and maximum attention to detail, which make the difference in matches decided by a minimum gap like these.” Fabio Soli, head coach of Itas Trentino Trento
“Whether or not what we did in Milan in game two will be enough to win in Trento too, I don't know, because there is also a great opponent like Trento on the court. I am certainly aware that we can still grow. We still have something to give. We still have to improve on the inaccuracies and those ups and downs that can be dangerous.” Roberto Piazza, head coach of Allianz Milan

SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024 championship playoff – legs 3 and 4:
Apr 25, 18:00 local (16:00 UTC): Sir Susa Vim Perugia v Mint Vero Volley Monza
Apr 28, 18:00 local (16:00 UTC): Mint Vero Volley Monza v Sir Susa Vim Perugia

SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024 third place playoff – legs 3 and 4:
Apr 24, 20:30 local (18:30 UTC): Itas Trentino Trento v Allianz Milan
Apr 27, 20:30 local (18:30 UTC): Allianz Milan v Itas Trentino Trento

SuperLega Credem Banca 2023-2024 fifth place playoffs – final:
Apr 27, 18:00 local (16:00 UTC): Rana Verona v Cucine Lube Civitanova