The Sir Safety Susa Perugia delivered a commanding performance on Thursday, sweeping Cucine Lube Civitanova 3-0 in a highly anticipated SuperLega showdown at the PalaBarton. The match, which tipped off at 2:30 AM local time on May 1, 2026, saw the league leaders assert their dominance from the first serve to the final point.

Match Overview

Perugia’s 3-0 victory (25-21, 25-18, 25-23) was far closer than the set scores suggest, as both teams traded heavy blows in a match that lived up to its billing as a potential playoff preview. The home side, currently sitting atop the SuperLega standings, used a potent combination of strong serving and disciplined defense to neutralize Lube's vaunted offense.

Key Moments

• First Set (25-21): Perugia jumped out to an early 8-5 lead behind the powerful serves of outside hitter Oleh Plotnytskyi. Lube fought back to tie at 18-18, but a crucial service error by the visitors and a thunderous block from middle blocker Roberto Russo sealed the set for the hosts.
• Second Set (25-18): Perugia took control early, opening a 12-7 gap. Simone Giannelli’s clever setting kept Lube’s defense off-balance, and a string of three straight points from Yuki Ishikawa—including a sharp cross-court kill and an ace—extended the lead to 20-13. Lube never closed the gap.
• Third Set (25-23): The most competitive frame of the night. Lube’s setter Luciano De Cecco orchestrated a balanced attack, with Bartosz Kurek finding his rhythm to tie the set at 20-20. However, Perugia’s composure under pressure shone through; two consecutive errors from Kamil Semeniuk and a decisive block on Kurek gave Perugia match point, which they converted on a Lube attack error.

Tactical Story

Perugia’s game plan revolved around neutralizing Lube’s primary weapon: Bartosz Kurek. The Polish superstar was held to just 12 points on a .286 hitting percentage, well below his season average. Perugia’s block, anchored by Roberto Russo (5 blocks) and Sebastian Solé (4 blocks), consistently double-teamed Kurek on the pin, forcing Lube to rely on secondary options like Kamil Semeniuk (9 points) and Marlon Yant (7 points).

Offensively, Perugia’s distribution was a masterclass. Giannelli spread the ball evenly: Plotnytskyi (14 points), Ishikawa (12 points), and Solé (10 points) all finished in double figures. The home side also served aggressively, notching 8 aces compared to Lube’s 3, disrupting Lube’s reception rhythm throughout the match.

Standouts

• Yuki Ishikawa (Perugia): The Japanese star was relentless from the service line and in defense, recording 12 points with 2 aces and 4 digs. His energy was infectious.
• Simone Giannelli (Perugia): The Italian setter ran a flawless offense, finishing with 38 assists and a match-high .667 attack percentage for his hitters. He was named MVP of the match.
• Luciano De Cecco (Lube): Despite the loss, the Argentine setter showed his class with 31 assists and smart decisions, but his team’s reception issues limited his options.

Table and Season Impact

The victory extended Perugia’s winning streak to 12 matches and solidified their hold on first place in the SuperLega standings with a 22-2 record. For Lube, who entered the match in second place, the loss drops them to 19-5, now 6 points behind Perugia with 4 matches remaining. The sweep also gives Perugia the tiebreaker advantage should the teams finish level on points, a crucial stat as the regular season winds down.