Italy performed great magic and forcefully defeated Turkey 3-1 (25-27; 25-21; 25-21; 25-19) in the women’s volleyball Nations League. The blue ones are there imposed in Antalya, conquering the den of the European Champions led by coach Daniele Santarelli, fresh from winning the Scudetto and Champions League with Conegliano, and took to the field with their stars. The girls of CT Julio Velasco proved to be better than the favored hosts, losing the first set with advantages and then putting the turbo in the next three sets, making a splendid comeback and annihilating the Anatolian battleship. The champion Melissa Vargas and the other deadly attacker Ebrar Karakurt were not enough for Türkiye to make the difference in their favor, while Anna Danesi and her teammates managed to stand out in all the fundamentals, showing an excellent performance.
Italy thus achieved its third consecutive victory in the prestigious international traveling competition, after those obtained against Germany (3-1) and Bulgaria (3-0). We have thus put the bad debut against Poland behind us (3-0 defeat) and the Italians provisionally catch up with Poland and Brazil (3 successes and 9 points, but they played one game less) leading the general classification. Our national team is in the fight to qualify for the Final Eightbut above all he achieved a fundamental result for the FIVB ranking, which at the end of the preliminary phase will award the last five passes to the 2024 Paris Olympics: today’s success against a team of enormous caliber has put a serious threat on admission to the Games.
Excellent performance from the bomber Ekaterina Antropova (23 points, 5 aces), the spikers also scored in double figures Alice Degradi (16) e Caterina Bosetti (11, 2 aces). The power plant is also highlighted Yasmina Akrari (9 points, 2 blocks) flanked by the titanic captain Anna Danesi (10 points, 5 blocks) under the direction of Carlotta Cambi (7 points), good work by the libero Eleonora Fersino. A scary one wasn’t enough for Türkiye Melissa Vargasauthor of 33 points, while Ebrar Karakurt (6) e Hande Baladin (4) they were not up to the task.
Italy will now be able to enjoy a week’s break from official matches: the second Nations League window is scheduled for May 29 to June 2 in Macau (China), where they will face France, Dominican Republic, Brazil and China. For the next stage other stars could return like Paola Egonu, Myriam Sylla, Alessia Orro, Monica De Gennaro, Elena Pietrini, Sarah Fahr, Marina Lubian who were absent during the trip to Anatolia: without several starters, Italy managed to beat the formidable Turkey, holders of the continental title and which includes one of the best strikers around globally.
THE NEWS OF ITALY-Türkiye
Turkey takes the lead with Karakurt (block and hands-out), but Antropova and Danesi are not surprised (5-5) and then Cambi overcomes himself with a couple of inventions (8-6). The Italians maintain the advantage (11-8 and 13-10), then Vargas shoots very high (14-10). Vargas and Karakurt do not give up (16-14), then Degradi misses an attack and the draw is reached at 16. They fight point to point, then Antropova has a flash that is worth 21-19. Antropova lights up and scores two consecutive aces for 24-20. It seems done, but Antropova misses the serve and an attack, then Kalac blocks Akrari and a Turkish ace makes it 24-24. Antropova gets the fifth set-point, but Vargas cancels it diagonally, Baladin is a solid block and Vargas closes the score with a hand-out.
Back and forth between Vargas and Degradi at the start of the second set, then a first half by Danesi and a block by Akrari create the break (9-6), confirmed with an ace by Bosetti and a block by Danesi (14-9). Degradi takes the lead, but Vargas doesn’t give up (17-14). A superb Antropova comes into play, called to challenge Vargas (20-17), then a pushed lob and ace from Bosetti for 22-17. We need to manage, closes Antropova.
Three consecutive errors by Italy launch Turkey into the third quarter, Vargas’ diagonals are deadly (6-8). Kalac makes a mistake on serve, Degradi is ready to serve and then Bosetti scores the equalizer (12-12). Antropova unleashed with two consecutive aces (14-12), but Vargas again makes a difference (15-15). First half by Akrari and winner by Degradi for a new break (17-15), then Antropova’s mani-out and Danesi’s ace create a new break (21-18). Antropova responds to Vargas and then sends her into confusion by attacking on the tape (23-20), first half by Akrari and decisive jab by Danesi.
At 4-4 in the fourth set, Italy definitively extends their lead: attack and ace by Cambi, block by Danesi, diagonal by Degradi, four Turkish touches (9-5). Danesi thunders in the first half, Akrari presses Vargas, Cambia launches Akrari (13-8). Italy flies on the wings of enthusiasm (15-9 and 17-11), then Danesi blocks Vargas for 19-11. You just have to manage, Antropova scores the winning point.
