Bari, Italy, October 5, 2014 – The host Italy rallied past previously unbeaten China 3-1 at Palaflorio Sunday evening to advance to the third phase of the 2014 FIVB Women's Volleyball World Championship as top finishers from pool E.With the 22-25, 25-18, 26-24 and 25-17 victory, the Italian women snapped an eight-match winning streak of China at this World Championship.Key points:· In the World Championship 2014, China won the first set in every game.· Italy produced eight aces, compared to two for China.
· China outblocked Italy 10-4.· Italy put the first block-point of the match in the third set.· China had lost the first match in the World Championship 2014.· China beat Italy 3-1 (25-20, 25-18, 22-25, 25-16) in August 2014
· Valentina Diouf was confirmed as Italy's top scorer with 19 points. China's leading scorer was Zhu Ting, who claimed 16 points.
The first set was quickly balanced. After an attack of Diouf, China called the “video challenge”. China were right but Italy claimed a call for it and got the point back at 11-9. Three-point in sequence put China ahead at 16-13 at the second TTO. Valentina Diouf tied the score at 21-21 but Zhu Ting closed the opener at 25-22.
In the second set, coach Marco Bonitta preferred the setter Francesca Ferretti. Thanks to captain Francesca Piccinnini's services, Italy had a six-point advantage at the second TTO. China tried to recover at 19-17 with a Yang Junjing's block, but Italy maintained their grip on the game and put the last point at 25-18.
China were ahead at the first TTO at 8-6. A block of Xu Yunli forced Bonitta to change Valentina Costagrande with Caterina Bosetti at 13-9. The Chinese advantage grew at the second TTO at 16-12. Cristina Chirichella tied it at 18-18 thanks to her service. China had two set points, but Italy ran off four points in a row to wrap up the set at 26-24.
Lang Ping's women had more troubles with their reception in the fourth set. When Italy were ahead at 12-9, she changed the diagonal attack with the setter Shen Jingsi and the opposite spiker Yang Fangxu. But it was not enough for recovering the gap. Italy enlarged the lead to 22-15 and won with an attack of Diouf at 25-16.