Leo Shoes Modena celebrate a perfect start of the Quarterfinal phase, delivering a straight-set victory against Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia. Both teams began this round on Modena’s home court and despite a slow start for the hosting team Modena soon took charge of the match, securing a valuable score ahead of their next meeting against Perugia.

It was a close game from the first points of the opening set, but Perugia soon led by 3 points at 9-12. Modena slowly worked their way back, motivated by an unexpected spike of their setter Micah Christenson. Perugia called a time out, when their lead melted to 14-15 and the game continued point by point until Modena went 21-19 ahead, forcing Perugia to use another break. A block on Thijs Ter Horst gave Modena the first set point at 24-20 and the hosting team won the opening part 25-21.

This time Modena took the early lead in the set, extending it slowly to a five-point gap at 11-6. As the game progressed, so did Modena’s lead as they soon reached a 18-11, complicating Perugia’s position not just in the second set, but entire match. The hosts finished the set at 25-18, leading now 2-0 in the match. Luca Vettori was the top scorer after two sets, scoring 10 points. Perugia scored more points in service and block than their opponents, but their own errors allowed Modena to remain ahead after two sets.

Coach Vital Heynen didn’t waste a moment and call both of his time out breaks as soon as Modena reached 5-2 and 7-2 in the third set. Perugia patiently worked on eliminating their errors, getting as close as 10-8, but Modena continue to push, jumping 14-10 ahead. Perugia called on Sharone Vernon-Evans to the service line and the opposite helped his team to come close to 15-14. Modena did not lose their focus, quickly jumping to a 19-14 as Luca Vettori delivered both from the service line and with winning spikes. Vettori continued in this great form, giving his team a first match point at 24-21, but it was Daniele Lavia w

• Luca Vettori was the top scorer of the match with 15 points (14 winning spikes and 1 ace)

• On Perugia’s side Wilfredo Leon scored 13 points (10 winning spikes, 2 aces and 1 block)

• Sebastian Sole delivered at the net, contributing 5 blocks for his team, while Modena’s setter Micah Christenson proved to be the best blocker for his team with 4 points

• Perugia scored more points in service and block - 4 and 9 respectively - than Modena (1 and 5), but Modena’s winning spikes and Perugia’s own errors hugely affected the final score of the match

Vital Heynen, coach of Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia: “We have been in a lot of difficulties. We also started well, but then Modena played very well, we were under pressure. We have a week to recover. It is certainly not easy, it is a great challenge, but we have the qualities to show that we can return after a difficult moment”.

Andrea Giani, coach of Leo Shoes Modena: "We played an extraordinary match. It's been an incredible victory for us, most of all because right now Perugia is the best team in Italy. We played a very good volleyball from the spike to the serve and we have also overcome some difficult moments. I think that tonight the strength of the team made the difference".