Straightforward wins for Civitanova and Lublin see tickets punched for the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup Men final

There was no surprise in the second leg of the semi-finals of the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup Men this season, with the favourites, Cucine Lube Civitanova and Bogdanka LUK Lublin securing two clear 3:0 wins, to progress to the final of the competition.

The Italian side was always going to be the big favourite for the trophy and they delivered a flawless performance in the semi-final, winning both matches against SK Ankara by three sets to nil.

After delivering a pitch perfect performance in the first leg, the second one, played in Ankara, saw Cucine Lube Civitanova dominate from start to finish, as they secured their place in the final after the first two sets.

Backed by 15 points from Eric Loeppky and 11 points from Adis Lagumdzija, Civitanova took the first two sets, 25:19 and 25:17, dominating in all categories, from the attacking efficiency, to kill blocks (9-2), as they went on to even a more clearer win in the third set, 25:16.

While the Italian side has already clinched the trophy back in 2011, their opponents in the final, Bogdanka LUK Lublin, will be in their maiden last act of an European competition, delivering a fantastic season in the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup Men.

Before the semi-final, the Polish side had conceded only two sets in their previous six matches, and they went on to dominate against Sporting CP on their home court, after winning the first leg in Portugal, 3:0.

Sporting had more winning spikes, 43 to Lublin’s 40, but the Polish side had 11 kill blocks, as opposed to Sporting’s 5. With less errors made on the court, Lublin took the first two sets, 25:20 and 25:22, ensuring they qualify to the final after only two sets, therefore they had no pressure in the closing stages of the match.

Lublin had only a single player, Mateusz Malinowski, scoring in double digits, with 10 points, but the constant changes on the court did not hamper the Polish side, which secured the third set, 25:20, to secure their eighth win in eighth matches.

With more experience and more depth, Cucine Lube Civitanova will be the favourites in the final to secure their second trophy in the CEV Volleyball Challenge Cup and their seventh European trophy in history, but Lublin will be no pushovers, as they have been an in-form team throughout the whole season.