Tripudio Itas Trentino, queen of Europe for the fourth time (joins Modena and Treviso in the event’s roll of honor). 13 years after the last Champions League and after two finals lost against Zaksa in 2021 and 2022, a sensational performance for Soli’s team, which dismantled the enthusiasm and energy of Jastrzebski by dominating the closed match in Antalya with a 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-21) that allows no replies. A team success, the result of a group that has always been compact even in the last few weeks of difficulty, with Sbertoli having just returned and Lavia still not at his best. And with the victory of Itas the Champions League returns to being all-Italian, five years after the last time. The women’s race at 7pm is in fact Milan-Conegliano. In 2019 Civitanova and Novara won
the match
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No one in Itas, starting with Michieletto, a great leader with 16 points, assisted by an excellent Rychlicki (15). For Jastrzebski, the best is Fornal (19), but the Champions League remains a nightmare (second final lost after last year’s in Turin). Soli starts with the typical sextet: Sbertoli-Rychlicki in diagonal setter-opposite player, Kozarmenik-Podrascanin in the center, Michieletto-Lavia on the laterals with Laurenzano libero. Mendez responds with Toniutti-Patry, Fornal-Szymura, Gladyr-Huber, Popiwczak libero. After a start of mutual study, in which the Polish serve is canceled out by Trento’s work in the second line, from 12 all Itas extends (17-13), with 3 (1 ace) from Michieletto in the break. Toniutti doesn’t find too much collaboration from the laterals, but with a couple of opponent errors the Poles come back (17-16). Rychlicki and Lavia (always lucid) show up and Trento escapes 23-18, because the serve has an impact and Michieletto plays at his level, so Soli’s team finishes 25-20. Jastrzebski starts off strong (0-3 with two blocks), but Trento continues to be there, with Podrascanin and especially Kozamernik (2 blocks in the immediate 3-3). Rychlicki is more present (7 points at 15 all, but also 3 blocks conceded), while the Poles find the shots of Szymura and the energy of Fornal, but are always late on the blocks following Sbertoli’s choices. The second attack on the ground by Lavia (not at his best physically, but a giant in terms of clarity and management ability) in the half was worth 19-17 and the Mendez timeout which changed the diagonal (inside Macionczyk, who committed a foul with the first ball he touched double infraction for 22-18, and Sclater). It’s not enough against a Trento team that does everything well (block, defense, serve) and with Michieletto towering over the top (another 6 for him) they finish 25-22. Two super defenses closed by Lavia’s attacks are worth the first call for Trento (10-8) with Patry (impalpable) giving way to Sclater, but the Polish champions, launched by Fornal (the only one who continues to believe in it) react ( 13-15). It doesn’t last long, because Sbertoli systematically blows up the opponent’s block, Lavia doesn’t make a mistake and everything goes perfectly, so Kozamernik’s two consecutive blocks on Huber and Fornal give Itas a 22-19 lead. Captain Podrascanin closes a block for 25-21: a 3-0 without appeals that triggers the celebration.
