SuperLega Credem Banca
Grottazzolina is in the SuperLega: the words and celebrations the day after the victory that earned them promotion
The day after the promotion to the SuperLega Credem Banca is still full of celebrations for Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina who, at the end of Game 2 won against Emma Villas Siena in the Serie A2 Play Off Final, was thus able to find its first promotion to the top flight. The Marche team, coached by Massimiliano Ortenzi, had already got the better of the Sienese team in Game 1, but it was the exploit away from home in Game 2 that gave Grottazzolina the chance to compete in the Super League next year.
The Serie A2 championship, however, did not end with the victory of the Marche team, as Del Monte will end in May® Italian A2 Cup. Over the weekend, in fact, Consoli Sferc Brescia and Conad Reggio Emilia will take to the field for Game 3 of the Italian Cup round of 16. The Quarter Finals are scheduled for Wednesday 1 May, with Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina and Emma Villas Siena among the protagonists.
Yuasa Battery have proven that they are capable of rewriting their own history, and this incredible achievement will remain indelible in the club’s annals. The smallest center in the Serie A volleyball scene has become the protagonist of a memorable story. Success made possible thanks to a Regular Season dominated from the first days (59 points, 5 defeats, +5 on the second) and by a victory that was anything but obvious in the Play Offs: the team from the Marche region started their journey directly from the Semifinals ( thanks to first place in the regular season) where he got the better of Consar Ravenna in 3 matches, with the third act decided by tie-break, and in the Final against Emma Villas Siena, third at the end of the championship, he closed the series in Game 2 right on the Tuscans’ pitch, supported by as many as 500 fans who followed Captain Marchiani and his teammates away.
Individual award instead for Rasmus Breuning Nielsen: the Danish opposite was in fact elected Credem Banca MVP of the Play Off Finals, after also being top scorer of the Regular Season (670 points, almost 100 more than the second place) and of the Play Offs ( 119 in 19 sets, a record shared with Bovolenta who however played 23 sets).
Massimiliano Ortenzi (Coach Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina): “We have achieved something special. The decisive match of the Play Offs, in Siena, crowns a journey built day after day. We accepted some of our flaws during the season and from that moment on we never gave up. I think back to 15 years ago when, to maintain the title, 9 of us went to play. The whole club and our hopes were in that bus… There was nothing left in Grottazzolina. We started again from the C series and from there we began a long journey made of sacrifices on the part of many and planning. Today we won the Super League away with the warmth of 500 of our fans and it’s all so special, unique.”
Rossano Romiti (President Yuasa Battery Grottazzolina): “A historic, spectacular moment. We had all of Grottazzolina in Siena, our boys and fans were fantastic. We really made it big, the SuperLega is the top: we dreamed of it a lot, the work has brought us this far and we are really happy. Now the season continues: Del Monte® The Super Cup will be at our home on May 19th and we will honor our commitment to the end, but first we will face the Italian Cup matches and we will certainly not let our guard down.”
