Novavolley Loreto 3HOkkaido Bologna 0(25-16, 25-22, 33-31)
NOVAVOLLEY LORETO: Sassi 8, Campana 4, Sarzi Sartori 10, Ujkaj 7, Torregiani 22, Nobili 10, Papa (L1), Dignani (L2); Magini. Not substituted: Marchetti, Forconi. Coach: Iurisci.
HOKKAIDO BOLOGNA: Serenari 7, Bandieri 8, Falzone 2, Bernardis 15, Tito 7, Ronchi 14, Meer (L); Branco, Rivola. Not substituted: Gamberini, Ricci Maccarini, Kar. Coach: De Marco.
Fourth defeat in the last five games: the Hokkaido Loses in Loreto and now the team needs to fasten its seatbelts. Grottazzolina has secured its third consecutive win in as many head-to-head matches against Bologna, Ravenna, and Fermo, and the red-blues are now just three points away from the red zone. Bologna enters the fray for the first time since the start of the season and will have to demonstrate its nerve and ability to fight: qualities it lacked against the battleship Loreto, who comfortably won the first set and showed composure in the final sprints of the second and third sets. Bernardis and Ronchi aren’t enough; the club confirmed its confidence in coach De Marco on the eve of the latest victory against Fermo, and at Hokkaido, the priority is recovering opposite hitter Ricci Maccarini, who has been out since November due to meniscus surgery. He will undergo another check-up tomorrow, with the hope of seeing him back on the court by mid-March for the relegation battle.
With 21 points, Bologna must secure four wins to cut into the 32 points that have guaranteed survival in recent seasons. On Saturday, they face fourth-placed San Marino, a tough match, followed by the away trip to Falconara, where points will be crucial, while awaiting the late-season matches against Montorio, Ravenna, and San Severino to try and close the deal. But now they have to struggle, recover Maccarini, and stay physically and mentally fit. Hokkaido is among the youngest teams in the group, and their ability to demonstrate their composure in a stormy sea is not a given: Saturday against San Marino will be another test.
The other races: Cavallino 4Torri Ferrara-Querzoli Forlì 3-1, M&G Grottazzolina-Don Celso Fermo 3-1, Montorio-Sab Group Rubicone San Mauro Pascoli 0-3, Gemini Med San Marino-Consar Pietro Pezzi Ravenna 3-0, Sabini Falconara-Sios Novavetro San Severino 3-0, La Nef Re Salmone Osimo-Paoloni Macerata 3-0.
The ranking: Sab Group Rubicone San Mauro Pascoli 42; La Nef Re Salmone Osimo 40; Gemini Med San Marino 36; Novavolley Loreto 35; Querzoli Forlì 32; Cavallino 4Torri Ferrara 27; Paoloni Macerata 26; Sabini Falconara 23; Hokkaido Bologna 21; Sios Novavetro 19; M&G Grottazzolina 18; Don Celso Fermo, Consar Pietro Pezzi Ravenna 6; Montorio 5.
AloJapan.com