2022

Road to Ljubljana: Trentino Itas

Feature

Article Thu, May 5 2022
Author: Martyna Szydłowska

All roads lead to Ljubljana in this edition of the CEV Champions League Volley where Trentino Itas and the defending champions Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn Koźle will lock horns again on 22 May, like they did a year ago in Verona. The runners-up of the 2021 edition and three-time Champions League winners - Trentino Itas entered the new season with a refreshed line-up, a mixture of experience – perfectly represented by newly-signed, but returning, captain Matey Kaziyski along with Serbian duo of Marko Podraščanin and Srećko Lisinac – and youthful energy of new Volleyball generation headed by Alessandro Michieletto, Daniele Lavia and new setter Riccardo Sbertoli. It seems that it has been a perfect combination as, despite some ups and downs on their way, they are again the #CLVolleyM Super Finalists.

Trentino Itas hope to get their fourth #CLVolleyM crown

The squad under the guidance of coach Angelo Lorenzetti started their campaign in Pool E alongside their domestic rivals Sir Sicoma Perugia (who they eliminated in semi-final of the 2021 edition), AS Cannes Dragons and Fenerbahce HDI Istanbul. Their opening game on 2 December, however, delivered an upset in the first all-Italian clash. Trentino suffered a straight-set defeat, being beaten down by Perugia in all components (25-21, 25-18, 25-23).

The next weeks of the pool stage were far more successful - Trentino won three consecutive games without dropping a single set (twice against Fenerbahce and vs Cannes) with Michieletto and Lavia were on fire, leading the team. And although it looked that they were back on the right track, the 5th leg brought another upset. Even though at the beginning of the year, Trentino prevailed against Perugia in the national league, in the Champions League they couldn't find a way to stop the team powered by Leon, losing one more time in three sets. Lavia and Michieletto tried their best, but it was not enough. However, with two defeats to their name, they still had a chance to progress to the knockout stage from 2nd place in the group. With Daniele Lavia being a leading force (24 points in the match), they grabbed a ticket to quarterfinals with the 3-1 win over Cannes.

As a result of the Drawing of Lots, it was Berlin Recycling Volleys (undefeated winner of Pool D) who became Trentino's opponent in the quarter-finals. Fate crossed their paths once again, as these teams battled in the quarters also a year earlier. The home match turned into the Italian's show. Thanks to impressive reception, Sbertoli led a perfectly balanced game with Michieletto and Lisinac being the top scorers. Adding to it a solid work on block they romped to a straight-set win (27-25, 25-19, 25-22). The team around coach Lorenzetti needed to win two more sets to progress to the semi-finals. But the game in Berlin was a completely different story. Dramatic one. Trentino lost the first two sets, but reborn in the third part winning it to 9! They also managed to prevail in the fourth set, starting their celebration. And despite losing in a tie-break (21-25, 22-25, 25-9, 25-21, 13-15), Trentino won the duel.

Following Trentino’s journey, you might have a feeling of déjà vu. In the semi-finals, they had to face again… Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia, like they did at this stage of the competition also in 2021. Only a few days before their first semi-final clash, Trentino lost to Perugia in the final of Coppa Italia (3-1). So, to dream about lifting the fourth Champions League trophy in the club’s history, they had to ‘overcome their own demons’. On the opponents’ court, they scaled the heights and got themselves into a top-notch performance, delivering one of the tighter games in this edition. Powered by the youngest and the oldest in the squad - Michieletto (26) and Kaziyski (25), respectively, Trentino emerged victorious after a five-set battle (25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 28-30, 15-12).

And once many wondered if it’s possible to produce a fiercer game, Trentino and Perugia took Volleyball emotions to the next level in the decisive battle in Trento. It was a match definitely not for the faint-hearted. The tension was rising set by set. The first one was won by Lorenzetti’s squad, but Perugia battled back in the second part. Third went to Trentino, fourth to.. Perugia, but in addition Trentino lost Kaziyski as he suffered an injury. Even if the runners-up of the previous edition led 12-10 in a tie-break, Perugia found a way to close the regular game in their favor. It meant that the Golden Set to decide who would become the Super Finalist. Michieletto took his team to a 7-2 lead, but the opponent tied at 14-14. However, that made Lorenzetti’s squad, sparked by their home crowd, pushing harder to finally start a wild celebration (25-21, 21-25, 25-16, 20-25, 13-15, 17-15).

With no doubt, it has been a long and bumpy road to the SuperFinals for Trentino Itas, but nothing creates such strong bonds as overcoming – together – all kinds of obstacles and crises on the court. Trentino proved that they are a team of real fighters and they will definitely be ready to rise to the heights of their abilities to battle against Grupa Azoty Kędzierzyn Koźle on 22 May in Ljubljana.

#CLVolleyM