Women's Volleyball, Velasco's Girls Annihilate Brazil: 3-0

Poker of victories at the Maracanazinho for Italy. After the USA, Germany and South Korea, the Azzurre also beat the hosts Brazil 3-0 (25-22; 25-18; 29-27) closing the first week of the Volleyball Nations League with a full score. A prestigious success that came at the end of a great team performance in front of a Brazil supported by over 10,000 Carioca fans who tried to push the Verdeoro national team with deafening cheers.

The Chronicle

For the challenge with Brazil, Velasco opts for a sextet that sees Orro as setter, Egonu opposite, Degradi and Sylla spikers, Danesi and Fahr in the center, and De Gennaro libero. The Brazilians instead line up with Macris setter and Tainara diagonally, Bergmann and Anna Cristina spikers, Julia and Lorena middle blockers, and Luis libero. With the Brazilian fire deafening in the stands, the match begins in the name of balance: Sylla opens with an ace, while Degradi, Tainara and Bergmann set the score at 8-8. A lob by an excellent Degradi and the attack out by Bergmann give the first +2 to the Italians who then shake off the home team with Egonu, Fahr and the usual Degradi under the net (14-9). Ze Roberto changes by inserting Roberta and Jheovanna for Macris and Jheovanna but the music doesn't change: Egonu puts down a couple of shots that silence the Maracanazinho for a few seconds while Orro raises his voice at the wall on Bergmann (17-13). Despite a final flash by Ana Cristina, the Italians don't look back anymore finding with Sylla, Orro, Egonu and Antropova the plays that are worth the decisive escape in the first partial (25-22).

The start of the second set heats up the Maracanazinho again: Julia in the center and Bergmann on the wing put the Italians in difficulty and they take refuge in the timeout at 4-7. The Brazilians play with more aggression while Italy, despite struggling in reception, manages to grab the set (11-11) thanks to a mani-out by Degradi. Velasco plays the double change with Cambi and Antropova for Orro and Egonu, and it is precisely with a block by the opposite hitter from Scandicci that the Italians take the lead (14-13) that induces Ze Roberto to call a timeout. After the break, however, Antropova comes to serve and puts down two aces that dig a first important gap in the game (18-15). Brazil clings to Ana Cristina and Bergmann but Antropova, Degradi and Fahr have different ideas bringing Italy to 2-0 (25-18).

The music doesn't change after the change of sides: Danesi opens the dance. Egonu guesses an uncatchable lob, while Degradi with an ace, sends the Brazilian reception haywire. Jheovanna's attack error brings the Italians to 9-5, putting the Brazilians on the ropes. Fahr, Sylla and Danesi put in other important bricks in a set dominated by the Italians' play in the center, who however suffer the furious comeback led by Ana Cristina and Bergmann (20-20). The end of the third set is red-hot: Bergmann and Julia take the home team by the hand while the Italians suddenly struggle at the wall, leaving the Cariocas open to overtaking (22-23). Velasco's timeout does not dampen the enthusiasm of Macris and her teammates who, amidst general jubilation, go for an invasion from the overtaking before cashing in on Antropova's ace (24-23) and Aline's attack (24-24). Egonu puts the Italians back in front with a lob (25-24) before seeing Aline put down the ball for 25 all. Lorena finds the wall for the Brazilian advantage (26-25) that Degradi neutralizes with a mani-out (26-26). Italy does not lose its composure and after Egonu's winning attack almost celebrates Ana Cristina's attack that ends up out but is touched by the wall. Ana Cristina however does not repeat in the next action by hitting the pole for the new Italian advantage that becomes a victory on Egonu's ace (29-27).