Italy overwhelmed Poland with a peremptory 3-0 (25-18; 25-17; 25-12) and yes qualified for the Nations League final of women’s volleyball. The blues completed the red and white practice in an hour and fifteen minutes of play, clearly overcoming an opponent who was unable to worry the teams in the slightest. girls from CT Julio Velasco. The sextet of coach Stefano Lavariniyesterday the executioner of the highly rated Turkey in the tie-break, was left at the total mercy of our national team, the author of a simply perfect match after the success with the maximum margin achieved against the USA.
Italy has loomed large far and wide in Bangkok (Thailand), offering a more lively game in the offensive phase, more solid at the net and more incisive on serve, even if there were some mistakes in reception to reflect on. Anna Danesi and her teammates will return to the field tomorrow (Sunday 23 June, 3.30 pm) to face the winner of the match between Brazil and Japan. It will be there second Nations League final in Italian historyafter the win in 2022 against Brazil in Ankara: it was the last great achievement of Mazzanti’s management, before the well-known locker room problems that led to the failures of the last competitive season.
Italy took control of the operations by force after just a few beats in today’s three sets and fully deserved a success that had never been in question, making up for the defeats suffered against Poland in last year’s Pre-Olympic and a few weeks ago in the preliminary phase of Nations League (on those occasions, however, our national team was without several big players). What made the difference was the wild opposite Paola Egonu, author of 22 points (2 blocks). Supporting her is the perky spiker Myriam Sylla (11 points) under the excellent direction of Alessia Orro (7 points, 5 blocks).
The captain Anna Danesi scored five points (three blocks), flanked in the center by Sarah Fahr (three points). Band started Caterina Bosetti (1) and then she took over Alice Degradi (6), the libero is amazing Monica De Gennaro. The striker’s proven talent wasn’t enough for Poland Magdalena Stysiak (11 points) and the director Joanna Wolosz9 points for the hammer Lukasik flanked by Medrzyk (6).
MATCH REPORT
Korneluk and Stysiak show up at the start of the first set (3-5), but Italy responds promptly and immediately finds a break: whip from Egonu, blocks from Fahr and Orro, counterattack from Sylla and 8-5. Stysiak is blocked and the blues find the +4 (10-6), but then Egonu makes a couple of errors and the red and whites get closer (10-8). Sylla takes center stage with a diagonal and an ace (13-9), then it’s Egonu’s turn with a lob and a block to the face of Lukasik (15-9). Our national team is in control of the situation, even if a nice winner from Lukasik and an error from Bosetti bring the Polish teams closer (16-13). A first half by Fahr, an ace by Egonu and a counterattack by Bosetti restore the distance (20-13). Italy can manage the situation, a diagonal from Egonu and a block from Orro close the score.
Italy immediately runs away in the second set: error by Stysiak, diagonal and lob by Egonu (3-0). Egonu and Lukasik engage in a good duel (6-4), then Orro serves long and Stysiak punishes in counterattack (8-8). The Italians did not lose their composure and continued their attack: Egonu’s lob, Korneluk’s error in the first half, Danesi’s block and first half, Degradi’s shot on Stysiak for 13-9. Velasco’s girls maintain the advantage (16-12), then Egonu closes a long exchange and Degradi exalts himself in the pipe (18-12). Azzurri in total control, one-sided final of the set, Egonu scores two consecutive winners (23-16) and Korneluk’s service error ends the score.
The start of the third set is balanced (6-6), but Italy is decidedly stronger and creates the hole: block by Danesi, error by Stysiak, diagonal by Egonu and parallel by Sylla for the 10-7. Egonu takes the lead with a block and a shot, then Stysiak makes a mistake and Degradi scores 14-9. Degradi makes a breakthrough in attack, Fahr blocks Lukasik, Sylla places the hands-out and the final credits fall at 18-10. Italy only has to administer and closes with a block from Sylla on Smarzek.
THE AZZURRE’S REPORT CARDS
WHAT TIME IS THE FINAL ON SUNDAY 23 JUNE
