Brasov (Romania), 15 January 2025
2025 CEV Cup, Trentino Itas wins again in Romania

Romania smiles once again for Trentino Itas, keeping their hopes alive for qualification to the quarter-finals of the 2025 CEV Cup. This afternoon, the yellow-blue team defeated the National Champions of CSM Corona 3-1 in Brasov, Transylvania, in the first leg of the Play-Offs of the second-highest European competition. The 3-1 win over the hosts is a resounding result, hard-fought but deserved, and an important one that allows coach Soli's team to remain unbeaten in the new calendar year (three wins from three matches played, all away), and most importantly, brings them closer to qualification for the next round, now only two sets away.
In just a few days, on Thursday, January 30, at the PalaTrento Arena, the European Champions will only need to lose by a tie-break to secure their spot in the third-to-last round of the tournament, where they may face a team eliminated from the Champions League as the third-place finisher in their group.
Michieletto and his teammates achieved this valuable result while resting the setter-opposite combination used last Sunday in Perugia (Sbertoli-Gabi Garcia) and giving space to Acquarone and Rychlicki. The response was positive: although the match started slowly with a 21-25 loss in the first set, the team found its rhythm, winning the second set with authority and proving able to keep up with the Romanian side in the subsequent two sets, both decided in the final moments and clinched by Trentino.
The main protagonists of the comeback win were the Ligurian setter and the Luxembourg-born opposite (best scorer for his team with 18 points, including three blocks and one ace). They were key to the team's performance, which improved steadily in all aspects, including break-point fundamentals (13 blocks and 8 aces), with all attackers reaching double figures: 16 points for Michieletto (52%), 12 for Lavia, 11 for Flavio (80% in first-tempo attacks), and 10 for the much-applauded Bartha, who delighted the home crowd with 5 winning blocks and 62% in attack.
Here is the table of the beginning of the 2025 CEV Cup Play Off, played this afternoon at the Sports Hall "Dumitru Popescu Colibasi" in Brasov.
CSM Corona Brasov-Trentino Itas 1-3
(25-21, 17-25, 21-25, 23-25)
CSM CORONA: Graham, Melnikov 20, Stojsavljevic 5, Lupu 9, Arquez 1, Gommans 10, Kantor (L); Magdas 4, Kovacevic 6, Kovac 2, Colito, Laza, Butler. DNP Bacila. Coach Laurentiu Lica.
TRENTINO ITAS: Lavia 12, Flavio 11, Acquarone 1, Michieletto 16, Bartha 10, Rychlicki 18, Laurenzano (L); Sbertoli 1. DNP Bristot, Pesaresi, Pellacani, Gabi Garcia e Magalini. Coach Fabio Soli.
REFEREES: Varbanov of Sofia (Bulgaria) and Savic of Belgrade (Serbia).
SET DURATION: 24’, 23’, 26’, 28’; tot 1h and 41’.
NOTES: 1,570 spectators. CSM Corona: 6 blocks, 4 aces, 15 service errors, 9 attacking errors, 43% in attack, 43% (32%) in reception. Itas Trentino: 13 blocks, 8 aces, 16 service errors, 10 attacking errors, 50% in attack, 53% (32%) in reception.
Trentino Volley Srl
Press Office