3rd set, 25-16: Danesi closes it, 3-0 Italy!!
Stunning match for Italvolley, which beat China 3-0 and gained 9.3 points in the FIVB world ranking. 16 points from Egonu, 12 for an overall MVP-sized Sylla and 11 from Lubian.
3rd set, 19-12: it’s almost 3-0!
Antropova cleans up a Chinese defense as best she can and pushes Italvolley back to +7. Yuan is the last Chinese player to give up, but today it’s a total monologue from the Azzurri.
3rd set, 17-9: Italy runs away!!
Open break of 4-0 for the Azzurre, also and above all favored by the errors of the Chinese team. 16 points from Egonu, 11 for a spectacular Lubian. Italvolley very close to victory.
Double defense and then Akrari’s dunk: super point for the Italians!
3rd set, 13-9: Italy still in control
Gong commits an invasion from the second line and gives the Azzurre +5, only to then mend the game with a great parallel from place 1. Orro is in total control. Watch out because Ding takes over as director.
3rd set, 10-7: Sylla truly sensational
Myriam unplayable at 360° for China: perfect in reception, sensational in offensive choices, spatial between covers and defenses. Egonu signs the blue +3 with his 15th personal point and China stops the game by spending timeouts.
3rd set, 6-5: Yuan immense
The very expert Chinese central defender is working very well in fast exits, however finding excellent responses in the other half of the pitch from an amazing Lubian.
3rd set, 4-2: what an Italy!
Egonu devastating in attack, Sylla and Bosetti perfect in defense and also in coverage, while now the national team’s block defense is excellent. Wu instead alternates highs and lows. De Gennaro deserves a separate chapter: eternal!
2nd set, 25-19: Egonu puts on a show, 2-0 Italy!!
Consecutive double ace from the Italian opposite team, interspersed with an offensive error from Li. Paola throws serves at 104 km/h and gives no chance to the Chinese reception. The Azzurre are pushing hard from nine meters (6 aces) and also working well in reception.
2nd set, 21-18: Danesiiiiiiii!!
Anna breaks free in attack after practically two sets, then finds her second personal ace by kissing the baseline with the float jump and Italy escapes again. Timeout by the Chinese bench.
Orro: “To Paris 2024 for a medal, Milan built to win”
2nd set, 19-16: Gong keeps China alive
The opposite team is working really well in the 1-2 zone attack, not giving any reference points to the Italian block-defense. Italy, which is now lacking a bit in reception, but at the same time working well in the other fundamentals.
2nd set, 17-13: Lubian devastating
Marina is having a 360° game: sensational between first half and fast, attentive to the block (excellent news) and factor from nine meters. The blue break developed precisely from her great shots.
2nd set, 14-11: China timeout
Lubian unstoppable in his exits between the first half and fast, while Egonu pushes yet another serve thus forcing Diao’s double. Coach Cai stops the game, Italy at +3.
2nd set, 11-10: China doesn’t give up
The Chinese wall defense is excellent, even if the blue one has also grown a lot in this second period. Egonu went through ups and downs, but it was predictable, while the Bosetti-Sylla pairing was excellent.
2nd set, 8-7: it’s point to point
Li returns to show impressive diagonals from zone four, but Bosetti responds with his usual class. Italy which is pushing hard from the nine metres, also and above all with the jump floats.
2nd set, 6-4: Egonu factor
Paola is now 360° tarantulato and makes the difference, while on the other side of the net Li has dropped a bit. The Chinese spiker takes Egonu’s block on the pipe attempt.
Omoruyi makes holes in the taraflex: wonderful diagonal in the 3 meters
2nd set, 3-2: Italy starts well again
Superb Sylla, excellent Orro in distribution and Egonu now in rhythm offensively. China continues with changes to the service: a choice that is paying off.
1st set, 25-23: Italy ahead 1-0!!
Egonu makes the difference from place two, Lubian closes the set with his 5th personal point. Italvolley is excellent at times, but there is certainly room for growth. 6 points for Gong, 5 for Li.
1st set, 21-21: Egonu and Orro return
Cambi did well, especially during the reconstruction, Antropova excellent in putting the ball on the ground from place two. Yuan now dominates in the center, Li instead omnipotent in every fundamental.
1st set, 18-19: Italy poorly in block-defense
Correlation that has paid huge dividends in previous challenges, but this time it is not making a difference. China, on the other hand, is much more attentive, precise in defense and with Li now sensational on an offensive level.
1st set, 16-16: there is balance
Velasco changes the dribbling-opposite diagonal, inserting Cambi and Antropova, but from place 4 Scandicci’s opposite team suffers a bit. Gong, on the other hand, was decisive, like a super Li.
1st set, 14-13: Italy timeout
Doubtful shot from Li from place four, because perhaps the last touch of the ball is his, but Velasco doesn’t call a video challenge, instead stopping the game. China is fully back in the game.
1st set, 13-10: Egonu struggles
If Sylla is really dominating, Paola instead suffers in attack also because China has prepared this block-defense match as best as possible on her. China’s power plants are doing well, but not yet the blue ones.
1st set, 11-7: what a Sylla!
Myriam started this big match great, working very well in every fundamental. Italy, however, is starting to make some mistakes in serving and is also a bit disorganized in blocking.
Antropova ace machine: supersonic serve against Sweden
1st set, 9-4: Chinese timeout
The Italian defense already makes the difference, while Bosetti opens his offensive performance with a great parallel shot with the ball detached. Coach Cai calls timeout, Egonu is there serving…
1st set, 7-3: China fouls
Three errors in attack by the hosts, an important and unusual fact for this national team. Egonu already varies his shots a lot, the Azzurre do well in receiving.
1st set, 4-1: Lubian starts strong
Great turn at bat for the Italian midfielder, who pushes hard with her usual hybrid serve and sends the Chinese reception haywire. Sylla did well in the first Italian attack from place 4.
This is the Chinese 6+1
Cai Bin ranks: Diao, Wong, Yuan, Wang, Li, Zhang and Wang (free).
Here is the 6+1 of Italvolley
Julio Velasco chooses these starters: Orro, Egonu, Lubian, Danesi, Bosetti, Sylla and De Gennaro (libero). Nothing new compared to the starting team that began the match against Brazil.
A look at the world rankings
As already mentioned, Italy and China occupy 5th and 6th place respectively in the FIVB ranking. Today’s big match thus offers many points up for grabs. If the Azzurre were to win 3-0 they would gain from it 9.3; in case of success 3-1they would add instead 6.8 points to your ranking; finally, triumphing at the tie-breakthey would win 4.3. However, be careful about the deduction of points in case of defeat: -10.7 points if China were to win 3-0; -8.2 if a knockout arrives in the four sets; And -5.7 points if Italvolley will give in to the tie-break.
An overview of China, today’s adversary
The national team coached by Cai Bin currently occupies the 6th place of the FIVB world ranking, behind Italvolley of Velasco, with 336.87 points. Like the Azzurre, the Chinese national team also boasts a record of 5 wins and 2 losses so far in the VNL 2024, having however gained one point less than Italy (and Turkey). There are many stars, including the captain Zhu Ting, in Scandicci in the last season of Serie A1 as well as Conegliano’s next player. here is the roster business suit:
- Setters: Diao Linyu (#3), Ding Xia (#16)
- Crushers: Li Yingying (#12), Wang Yunlu (#10), Wu Mengjie (#21), Zhang Changning (#9), Zhu Ting (#2)
- Central: Gao Yi (#5), Yuan Xinyue (#1), Wang Yuanyuan (#7)
- Opposites: Gong Xiangyu (#6), Zheng Yixin (#13)
- Free: Ni Feifan (#17), Wang Mengjie (#18)
Friends of Eurosport, fans of great volleyball, warm greetings and welcome back to the direct writing of Italy-Chinathe Azzurre’s eighth match in the Volleyball Nations League 2024. Another truly big match, which will be played at the Galaxy Arena in Macao (China) and which represents another very important match for Julio Velasco’s Italvolley in terms of world ranking.
The national team can in fact access the Paris 2024 Olympic Games only via the official FIVB ranking: currently, Italy occupies 5th place with 349.21 points and can still aspire to be seeded in the Olympic group stage draw. After defeat at the tie-break against Brazil, the Azzurre want to regain victory and gain more points.
Velasco: “Egonu-Antropova together in Italy is fantasy volleyball”
The Azzurre called up for Week 2 of VNL 2024
- Setters: Carlotta Cambi (#3), Alessia Orro (#8)
- Crushers: Caterina Bosetti (#9), Alice Degradi (#2), Stella Nervini (#16), Myriam Sylla (#17)
- Central: Sara Bonifacio (#13), Anna Danesi (#11), Marina Lubian (#1), Sarah Fahr (#19)
- Opposites: Ekaterina Antropova (#24), Paola Egonu (#18)
- Free: Monica De Gennaro (#6), Eleonora Fersino (#7)
The complete calendar of Italy in the 2024 VNL
Week 1 (Antalya, Türkiye)
Week 2 (Macau, Hong Kong)
Week 3 (Fukuoka, Japan)
- June 11, 2024: Italy-Canada at 12.20pm
- June 14, 2024: Italy-Korea 12.30pm
- June 15, 2024: Italy-United States 08:30
- June 16, 2024: Serbia-Italy 08:00 am
Sylla: “Milan has raised the bar, I will be the most suitable companion”
