European women’s volleyball: Italy in the final with Serbia, 3-1 against the Netherlands

Tomorrow at 20 the Azzurre will play the continental title in Belgrade against the hosts, great rivals of recent years

by our correspondent Davide Romani

September 3
– BELGRADE (Serbia)–

The final. Italy continues its post-Tokyo recovery path and overcomes the Dutch obstacle in the European semi-final. The progress shown in the fourth against Russia is also confirmed this evening despite a bad pass in the 3rd set managed to the best by Mazzanti. For the National fifth continental final in history: in 2001 and 2005 the blue won the silver, in 2007 and 2009 the gold arrived. The final for gold will be at 8pm tomorrow. The appointment is still with Serbia, the historical rival of recent years.

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the match

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Mazzanti confirms the formation already admired against Russia with Orro increasingly in control of the game, Egonu as the opposite, the couple Sylla-Pietrini as spikers, the central Chirichella and Danesi while the free is the expert De Gennaro. First set that Italy starts with a few too many mistakes before finding the right sprint halfway through to detach Holland. Pietrini in attack is a valid alternative to Egonu: which facilitates Orro’s choices in directing. Chirichella and Danesi hit a lot on the wall (2 winners for Anna) and from 10-10 the blues find themselves on 16-11 with a wall of the number 11 in Monza. The final set is all of Egonu (7 points in the set) who places two shots of his own.

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Also in the 2nd set Italy appears to be the master of the field. The blue bomber travels on his standards (50% in attack) and the block and the defense work perfectly: after the 3 “blocks” of the 1st set, another 6 arrives in the second while when the wall does not reach it, the defense arrives. with the unsurpassed De Gennaro. In the 3rd set, the Netherlands plays the Plak card as opposed to Dambrink’s place and Selinger’s team finds greater fluidity. Mazzanti on 14-9 for the opponents changes structure: inside Malinov for Orro, Gennari for Sylla and a few points after Nwakalor for Egonu.

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Italy, however, fails to return, but the rest granted to the owners is essential for the start of the 4th set. The national team finds enamel, Egonu resumes grinding points while in the center Danesi and Chirichella are the usual octopuses on the wall. The only news is the confirmation of Gennari on the field for Sylla. The 3rd set is forgotten and the gap becomes important again: 10-4 and time out requested by Selinger. The national team maintains the advantage and closes 25-19.

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