Trento, 19 January 2025

Itas Trentino-Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina 3-2, the match report

The report of the match. Itas Trentino was back in front of their home public twenty-one days after the last home match with a starting six that includes Sbertoli as setter, Rychlicki as opposite spiker, Michieletto and Lavia as hitter spikers, Flavio and Bartha as middle blockers, Laurenzano as libero; Kozamernik is not yet available but is still under medical report. Yuasa Grottazzolina had to do without their starting setter Zhukukouski replaced by Marchiani, Petkovic as opposite spiker, Fedrizzi and Tatarov as hitter spikers, Demyanenko and Comparoni middle blockers, and Marchisio as libero. The hosts started taking the lead thanks to the three(-man) block that stopped Fedrizzi (4-2) and Petkovic's error at the net (6-3).
Later, Michieletto counter-attacked for 7-3 and then stopped a block by the Serbian opposite number, forcing Ortenzi to interrupt the game on 8-3 inside. In the second half, however, there was only space for Itas Trentino (10-3), who continued to lay down the law with their serve and blocks, sending all their players to the scoreboard (15-6, another time out asked by the guests). The end of the first set came quickly (19-8), also because Rychlicki was inspired and Sbertoli had fun closing a couple of volleys, including the last one that sent the teams to the switch of court on 25-12.
Grottazzolina tried to shake things up at the start of the second set with Demyanenko's ace and Comparoni's block on Bartha (3-5), but Trento took a short time to recover (7-7) thanks to Michieletto's ability at the net. An error by Rychlicki at the net put Yuasa Battery back on top (11-13), a lead that remained intact for a long time (13-15 and 15-17) before increasing further (16-19), again due to a long attack by the Gialloblù opposite player.
Soli calls the timeout, but upon resumption, Fedrizzi scores two consecutive aces, widening the gap (16-21) and effectively sealing the set, which ends 18-25 with a block by Tatarov on Rychlicki (18-25).
Itas Trentino turns the page and comes back strong in the third set, starting well from the blocks with Michieletto and Lavia (4-2 and 6-3). Yuasa Battery doesn’t give up and responds blow for blow (8-7), tying the game with a block at 12, after the yellow-and-blues had managed to pull ahead by three points, 12-9, thanks to the usual Michieletto. After Soli's timeout, the home team regains effectiveness in their break point phase (16-13), taking advantage of another net mistake by Petkovic. This becomes the decisive push, as Trentino then stretches ahead with Flavio (who blocks Tatarov for 19-15) and an ace from Sbertoli (22-17), effectively putting Trento ahead 2-1 at home, which is sealed at 25-17 with a break point from Lavia.
The match becomes more balanced again in the fourth set, with the two teams exchanging leads in the first half (4-6, 7-6, and 10-11) without excelling in their side-out game. Blocks by Bartha on Petkovic and Michieletto on Comparoni allow Trento to take the lead (15-13). The European Champions carefully maintain their precious advantage until 19-17, then capitalize on a mistake by Fedrizzi to increase it (20-17). Ortenzi interrupts the game and, after the timeout, his team reacts as desired, with Fedrizzi tying the score at 23 after a long chase. Tatarov scores an ace to make it 23-24, and after Soli's timeout, he follows with another ace, sending the game to a tiebreak (23-25).
In the fifth and final set, the battle is tight (4-4), but Itas Trentino pulls ahead with blocks (Lavia on Petkovic for 8-6 and Rychlicki on Fedrizzi for 11-8), closing the match with a 15-12 scoreline.

Trentino Volley Srl
Press Office