Italy opened the season with a clear victory against Sweden in a friendly. Our national women’s volleyball team won in front of the 2,500 spectators at the PalaIgor in Novara with a dry 3-0 (25-13; 25-9; 25-13). First positive outing for coach Julio Velasco against a decidedly capable opponent.
The Guru of international volleyball initially chose Carlotta Cambi in the control room, Ekaterina Antropova in the role of opposite, Alice Degradi and Caterina Bosetti of bandwidth, Yasmina Akrari and the new captain Anna Danesi in the center, Elenora Fersino the free.
During the first two sets Rebecca Piva, Stella Nervini, Benedetta Sartori and Camilla Mingardi also took over. In the third half the sextet changed radically with Bosio as setter, Mingardi opposite, spikers Piva and Nervini, central pair Akrari and Sartori, libero Spirito.
Mingardi finished as a top scorer scoring 12 points, 11 for Akrari, 7 for Bosetti, 6 each for Nervini and Antropova, 5 for Danesi. Among the Swedish ranks the best was the Swedish Anna Haak (Isabella’s sister).
MATCH REPORT
Balanced start to the first set (3-3), then a couple of errors from the guests, a parallel from Antropova and a first half from Akrari seal the 7-4. Akrari stands out with a nice block, Bosetti hits diagonally, Degradi is impeccable in the pipe and Danesi’s block makes it 12-7. Lindberg and Haak commit three consecutive errors (16-7), then come the hands-outs of Degradi and Antropova (18-9). Totally managed final in which Akrari’s block, a lob and a winning touch from Mingardi’s block stand out.
In the second set Sweden tries to do something more under the blows of Haak and Lindberg (7-6), then the Italians go wild in an amen: block by Cambi, lob by Antropova, first half by Danesi, block and diagonal by Degradations (12-6). Antropova shines with a nice slash, Danesi is impeccable with a first half, Bosetti scratches with a lob and Akrari makes himself felt at the net (17-8). Slash from Bosetti, ace from Danesi, first half from Akrari for 21-9, then the blocks from Mingardi and Bosetti shine before Nervini’s pipe closure.
Italy is clearly stronger and immediately breaks away in the third set: aces by Nervini and Akrari (4-1), hands-outs by Piva and ace by Mingardi (8-2). Mingardi toned in the pipe, winner and hands-out by Nervini, Akrari block and first half (14-6). Azzurri in total control, the blocks of Piva and Sartori stand out, interspersed with Mingardi’s ace (21-11). Akrari closes with two good blocks.
Scoreboard: ITALY – SWEDEN 3-0 (25-13, 25-9, 25-13)
ITALY: Cambi 2, Bosetti 7, Danesi 5, Antropova 6, Degradi 7, Akrari 11. Fersino (L). Piva 2, Mingardi 12, Bosio, Nervini 6, Sartori 2, Spirito. All. Velasco
SWEDEN: Haak A. 10, Nilsson 3, Lindberg 2, Lazic 5, Andersson 3, Julevik 1. Brink (L). Malm, Gustafsson, Nilsson, Van Leusen, Lindberg P., Broberg, Andersson E. All. Bregoli
Referees: Venturi and Scotti.
Viewers 2549. Set duration: 19′, 19′, 21′.
Italy: 5 y, 6 ls, 15 m, 12 et.
Sweden: 1 y, 5 ls, 2 m, 5 et.
