The Italians' opening night setback, when they lost to unheralded Serbia and Montenegro, looked to be well behind them as they outmuscled Turkey 25-23, 25-17, 25-14.

The Turks had looked impressive in their opening defeat to Cuba, and again as they swept Egypt aside in their second match.

But an Italy team who had made short work of Peru in their previous game were a much different prospect for the Turks.

Italy took the game to their opponents, looking to impose themselves on the World Championships debutantes before they could find their rhythm.

The Turks refused to be overawed, but Italy made the most of the early exchanges with the height and power of Sara Anzanello and Elisa Togut.

Paola Paggi rose above the net to prod a delicate touch past the Turkish defence as Italy edged into double figures at 10-7.

The world champions continued to stay in front, but could not find a way to shake the Turks off and break away.

And Natalia Hanikoglu gave Italy a reminder of the calibre of opposition they were facing, with a venomous spike to bring Turkey to within two points at 17-15.

Hanikoglu and Francesca Piccinini then traded heavy blows, before Turkey finally made up the ground they had been striving for at 20-20.

Togut then fired the ball into the midst of the Turkish defence, before Hanikoglu again levelled the score.

But it was Italy who broke the deadlock to claim the first set, a Togut spike cannoning off Turkey's defenders before spiralling out of play.

Turkey, ruing the missed opportunity to draw first blood, came out all guns blazing at the start of the second set.

Neslihan Darnel and Aysun Ozbek exploited space down the right to smash the Turks into an early lead, but Italy fought back to head into the first TTO with an 8-6 advantage.

Darnel was thwarted as she tried to repeat some of the huge spikes that were so successful against Egypt, blasting one straight into the path of Paggi as Italy took the score to 11-9.

But Turkish libero Gulden Kayalar showed some spectacular defending of her own, making a last-ditch save with the back of her hand sliding along the court, from which Turkey built a scoring attack.

Turkey needed all their defensive athleticism to repel Italy's attacks, which were coming with variety and precision.

Togut tipped the ball over the heads of the Turkish blockers, and soon after Anzanello unloaded an unstoppable spike as Italy moved closer to a two-set advantage.

Things soon got worse for the Turks when the influential Seda Tokatlioglu was forced to leave the court injured with the score at 23-16 in Italy's favour.

Darnel tried to stem the tide with a ferocious smash, but soon after it was set point.

The Turks served long, and Italy found themselves two sets up.

But Turkey were not in the mood to give up, and they chipped away at the champions as the third set got underway.

Both sided found openings, but it was Italian setter Eleonora Lo Bianco who provided the moment of the early exchanges, rising at the net to hook the ball over her head and down to the ground.

Italy steadily put together some fine attacking play, all the while keeping things tight at the net as they took a 16-10 lead into the second TTO.

Eda Erdem added to Turkey's tally with a power spike, but Italy were now showing all the composure of champions.

Togut brought the Italians to match point at 24-13, and while Ozbek repelled the first attempt, Togut and Paggi blocking at the net made no mistake to set the seal on an impressive Italian performance.