FUKUOKA (JAPAN) – Olympics won, Nations League Final Eight as well. And Italy’s women’s volleyball team even have the urge to beat the USA, Olympic champions and a very strong team. It ends 3-1 in Japan with Egonu and Danesi making the difference. It ends 25-17, 19-25, 25-15, 25-21. The Americans risk being left out of the final phase of the Nations. The Italians will be back on the field tomorrow against Serbia. Follow everything live.
11:32
Italy, the last challenge before the finals
Italy will return to the field tomorrow at 08.00 Italian for the match against Serbia. Last match in Japan for the Italians, ready to play the Final Eight from Thursday 20th in Bangkok.
11:09
The Danesi match
The Italian captain played a perfect match against the United States with 13 points (9 attacks, 3 blocks and 1 ace)
10.55am
The numbers of the match
Italy made the difference with the block (11-7) and with the serve. From 9 meters the Italians scored 6 aces and made only 2 errors. Slightly worse numbers for the Americans who only found 3 direct points with the serve making 4 errors.
10:38
The Nations League standings
Italy is currently second with 28 points. Brazil is first with 31. Poland is third with 27 (one match less). The United States currently drops to eighth place.
10.21am
Italy wins 3-1! Show the blue girls
Egonu folds his hands against the wall: 23-20. Drews dunks out. Blue wall that ends up outside: 24-21. Fahr closes the games 25-21. It ends 3-1 for Italy!
10.19am
Velasco’s speech and Italy still ahead
“We don’t do strange things”, explains Velasco in the time out. Three points ahead for the Italians in this always controlled set. Danesi immediately scores point 21. Antropova forces serve and makes a mistake (third error in the whole match). Egonu makes the difference again: 22-18. American Aces with the ribbon: 22-20. Another time out from Velasco: “We are losing the opportunity to score points.”
10.15am
Italy ahead 20-16
We always play at a very high pace. Degradi scores a point diagonally: 17-12. Drews dunks on Fahr’s hands: out. The game is still long. Larson doesn’t take a step back: 20-16 Italy.
10:08
Italy still ahead: 14-10
Degradi scores a spectacular point in attack. Italy again at +3, then Sylla’s error on the diagonal. The Americans do the same: 12-9. Sylla unleashes a dunk that hits the wall and goes out. Orro makes an ace from the serve. 14-10. Kyrali doesn’t like it and calls time out for her girls.
10:03
Italy is there and back in the lead! 9-5
Italy lights up again immediately. The 8-5 comes with Egonu and then an ace from Danesi. The latter had a great start with 11 points. 9-5 and coach Kyraly time out.
9:57
The United States starts off strong straight away
Immediate break for the United States ahead 3-0 in the opening 4 sets.
9:51
Italy wins the second set: 2-1 USA
Ace by Fahr. Antropova dunks after an incredible defense by the Americans. Sylla scores point 25 again diagonally: 25-15.
9:49
Italy ready to close the 2-1
Antropova won first with the block, then with the lob. 21-14 and American time out. Sylla brings Italy to 3 points from 2-1. Eighth point for her.
9:44
Italy strong and ahead 18-11
Italy has changed gear and seems like a steamroller. The crushing of Sylla and the others is triggered: Italy ahead 15-10. Danesi scored 7/7 in attack: incredible. Prolonged action, Degradi closes. 18-11.
9:38
Super Egonu and USA time out
Egonu’s point 17 is another blast! 11-7 and time out USA who are in difficulty again. Above all because Italy is back to playing very well.
9:36
Italy changed gear again: 8-6 lead
Point-to-point battle in this beginning of the third set. Egonu hurts along the line and scores 5-4. Then afterwards he tightens the diagonal too much and closes it into the net: 5-5. Super winning Degradi counterattack. Fahr makes it 7-5. Carlini is victorious with the block and shortens. Degradi makes another crazy shot: 8-6.
9:30
The second set begins: the Italians 3-2
Immediately Egonu who, after the 1-1, smashes very hard in the middle of the wall and gives Italy the lead. Sylla sends it out, the touch of the wall is not there. Game at a very high pace. Danesi folds his hands: 3-2.
9:22
The USA wins the second set: 1-1
Thompson restores the +5. The Americans carry forward the second ace made with the ribbon. There is little to do in this set: 23-16 USA. We are moving towards equality. Egonu wins on serve, then wins from Fahr. 19-23. Blue error and 19-24. Skinner closes the set and the Americans make it 1-1.
9:18
USA ahead: 19-15
Sylla tries his way back with his fourth personal best. The American Carlini does not forgive: 12-19. American challenge with coach Kiraly who can’t rest for an Italian invasion that doesn’t exist. The images belie it. We are 19-15. It’s not over.
9:12
The USA escapes: 11-18
Egonu hurts and shortens. Wall of Orro for 10-14. Italy reaction. Washington makes a great move and brings the result back to +5. First half by Fahr: winning, but suffering. 11-16. Washington scores again. American exchange rates are making a difference. 11-18.
9:09
The USA is hurting now: ahead 13-8
Italy was a little imprecise at the net and the Americans took advantage of it. 10-6 USA. Egonu shortens with the usual elusive shot (10 points so far). Skinner attacks without obstacles, the Italian wall is not there: 13-8.
9:04
The second set started: USA ahead
The second set opens with the USA’s point. Egonu dunks and, obviously, scores a point. Immediately 1-1. However, the USA came back with another attitude and for the first time they are in the lead (even with a bit of luck: two ribbons). 4-8 and Velasco time out.
8:55
Italy wins the first set: 25-17
Egonu scores point 24. The 25th comes from an error. Velasco’s approach worked: the Italians won the first set 25-17.
8:54
Entertainment Italy: 23-17
Ace by Sylla which brings Italy to +5: 21-16. Sixth point from Egonu who is playing a first set of the highest level. Fahr is an impressive wall. The result is 23-17.
8:51
USA, another time out: Italy ahead
USA trail again with 16-15. The plus two is achieved by the usual Egonu. The Italians relaunch and go 19-15. Time out for the Americans.
8:48
Italy wakes up: still ahead
Italy awake and strong again: Egonu unloads a shot and makes it 15-12. Fahr’s first half runs away: too bad. The American wall doesn’t work. We are 16-13.
8:45
Time out Italy, Velasco furious
Good moment for the USA and Velasco calls time out. We are 13-12. The coach is very angry at the too many lobs played so far. We are 13-12 Italy.
8:41
Italy tries to take off: 11-8
Degradations, a stone thrown in the middle of the American wall. Great point for the blue. Then a great shot from Egonu, which already appears decisive. We’re 10-7. The Americans shorten the lead, then Danesi brings Italy back to +3: 11-8.
8:36
Italy, ahead 7-3
Excellent start for the Velasco girls, ahead 7-3. First time out for the Americans, who didn’t start the match very well.
8:33
3-1 Italy, excellent start
Egonu: first power point. Action constructed well by the Italians and Paola makes no mistakes at the net. Shortly afterwards, Farah’s wall comes into operation. 3-1 Italy.
8:32
Italy-USA, here we go: the first set begins
The match started. First serve for the Italians and wrong first half for the Americans. Point for Italy: 1-0.
8.25am
Italy-USA, teams on the pitch
Here we go, teams on the field. Everything seems ready for the start of the match.
8:14
Italy, two objectives achieved
This week the Italians have conquered the pass to the Olympics and a place in the Nations Final Eight. Beat Canada (25-16, 25-15, 25-14) and South Korea (25-16, 25-11, 25-13).
8:00
Italy-USA, which challenges in Japan
Important match for the Italian team from Velasco called for another victory to strengthen themselves among the big names on the world volleyball scene. Italy, on the strength of eight successes in ten matches in this Nations League, obtained 25 points which placed them in provisional third place.
