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SUPERLEGA CREDEM BANCA
Scudetto semi-finals – Game 1: Perugia strikes first, Piacenza hit by the Mandiraci case
PERUGIA – Sir Susa Scai Perugia opened the Scudetto semi-final series with a 3–1 win over Gas Sales Bluenergy Piacenza at the PalaBarton (25–23, 25–21, 20–25, 25–22). Perugia’s continuity came through the break phase—blocking, sustained pressure, and steady production from Plotnytskyi and Ben Tara—while Piacenza struggled most in reception and had to deal with a late, decisive absence: Efe Mandiraci was ruled out with a shoulder issue.
Set-by-set stats showed a match with plenty of scoring from the line and at the net: Perugia closed with 9 aces, 11 blocks and 55% in attack, while Piacenza posted 10 aces and 9 blocks, but carried a heavier error load from the service line and a weaker reception platform. The top scorer was Adis Lagumdzija (Piacenza) with 21, while Plotnytskyi led Perugia with 17.
Coaches’ reactions set the tone for the series. Angelo Lorenzetti urged caution despite going 1–0 up, noting that injuries on both sides (Mandiraci out for Piacenza, Ben Tara managed carefully) inevitably “limit the spectacle.” Dante Boninfante pointed to the first set as the key turning point and asked for better management of high balls and difficult moments if Piacenza want to extend the series.
Mandiraci out – Piacenza confirmed shortly before the match that the Turkish hitter would miss Game 1 due to a shoulder problem, with the medical staff monitoring him day by day.
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Playoffs for 5th place – Modena goes 1–0 vs Cuneo
MODENA – Valsa Group Modena took Game 1 of the 5th-place quarter-final series with a 3–0 win over Cuneo (25–21, 25–21, 25–22). Davyskiba (18 points) provided steady scoring, while Modena also got impact from substitutions—including the work of Sanguinetti and Pacchini. Cuneo struggled to create damage from the service line (only 2 aces) and will now need a win at home to stay alive.
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SERIE A2 & A3
A2 Tigotà (Women) – Promotion playoff semi-finals: Brescia and Padova take Game 1
Easter Monday also delivered the opening matches of the A2 Tigotà promotion semi-finals (best-of-three):
Brescia came back from 0–2 to beat Costa Volpino 3–2 (23–25, 21–25, 25–21, 25–18, 15–10).
Padova defeated Busto Arsizio 3–1 (25–23, 23–25, 25–21, 25–21).
Volleyball.it’s coverage combined the match reports with the wider frame set the day before: Brescia arriving after eliminating Trento, Costa Volpino after surviving Roma at the Golden Set, and Padova–Busto played on neutral court with the focus on Padova’s net presence and Busto’s restored balance.
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CLUB NEWS & ROSTER MOVES
Novara renews Federica Squarcini
Igor Gorgonzola Novara announced a one-season extension for middle blocker Federica Squarcini, citing reliability and development across key phases.
INTERNATIONAL & FIPAV
USA: Jordan Larson retires
A major international headline: Olympic champion Jordan Larson announced her retirement after her final LOVB match with Nebraska. She scored 21 points in her last appearance, but Nebraska missed the playoffs on tiebreak criteria. Volleyball.it framed the night as both an elimination and a tribute, with Larson celebrated as a reference figure for the sport.
USA: Houston wins the regular season
LOVB Houston clinched top spot in the regular season with a 3–2 win over Atlanta, led by Jordan Thompson (32 points), with Igiede (14) and Folie (8) also prominent.
Korea: Korean Air at match point amid controversy
In the V-League finals, Korean Air went 2–0 up in the series after winning Game 2 in five, but a late-line call on match point sparked backlash and debate, amplified by differences between the league’s rule interpretation and the standard FIVB approach.
“Velasco to football?” – a cross-sport quote that traveled
An interview in Italian football media circulated the idea of Julio Velasco as a model figure for innovation in the FIGC context, with Volleyball.it reporting the quote and the reasoning behind it.
Cornacchia World Cup: Russia U17 win, with political weight
Russia’s U17 women’s selection won the Cornacchia World Cup in Pordenone without dropping a set—news framed as significant because it marked a return to international visibility (flag and anthem) after the post-Ukraine embargo period, with Marina Kuzmina named MVP and a heavily one-sided final.
