Carolina Cosagrande scored 15 points against Belgium.
Bari, Italy, October 2, 2014 - The host Italy marched towards the top six of the 2014 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-18) win over Belgium at Palaflorio Thursday evening.
Nadia Centoni had 17 kills and three blocks to lead Italy into their second win in a row in the second round pool E play in Bari with Carolina Del Pilar Costagrande and Antonella Del Core adding 15 and 11 respectively.
Key points:
· Italy and Belgium have played each other once before in the World Championship . In 1978, Italy won in straight sets in the second group stage.· Nadia Centoni was the top scorer of the match with 20 points.· Italy have always won at least one set in major tournament matches against Belgium.
Italy went ahead at 9-6 thanks to Lo Bianco's ace. A Belgian block tied the draw at 10-10. An Valentina Arrighetti block pushed Italy up to 18-13. Costagrande gave her team the opener at 25-18.
Centoni responded with a block to tie it at 5-5 after a good start of the Yellow Tigers (ahead at 4-1). Italy held a tiny advanced 16-15 at second TTO. Two blocks on Valentina Diouf forced coach Marco Bonitta to call the timeout at 19-17. The Azzurre overcame the opponents with an ace of Bosetti at 21-20 and an attack of Nadia Centoni which closed the second set at 25-22.
In the third set, Del Core flew to 8-5 at the first TTO. Centoni allowed the gap at 20-14. Costagrande gave Italy the match.