Italy clinch qualification with controlled performance
Stanley Clayton (USA) spikes against Papi, Semenzato & Vermiglio (ITA) block
Italy
vs
USA
3
-
1
November 21, Nagano: Italy survived an early barrage from the United States to book their place in the second round.
The Americans came out all guns blazing to overwhelm the Italians in the first set, but the Azzurri gradually took control to claim a 22-25, 25-17, 25-22, 25-18 victory.
Italy's third win out of four assures them a ticket to Hiroshima, but the US must beat Iran in their final first round match to even stand a chance of joining them.
The Americans began the match looking like a team who knew how important victory would be for their World Championships destiny.
The entire USA team looked desperate to get their name on the scoresheet early on, and James Polster, Ryan Millar and captain Thomas Hoff did just that.
But Italy were also looking to make their mark, and an Alessandro Fei spike and a Luigi Mastrangelo block kept the Europeans just one step behind.
The US made an attempt to break clear as a Hoff serve hit the net and dropped over for an ace at 9-6, but the Italians would not let them out of their sight.
David McKienzie and Valerio Vermiglio exchanged words at the net as the tension rose, but the Americans held on to their lead to go into the second TTO at 16-14.
The points came fast and furious as the set thundered on, and Italy coach Gianpaolo Montali called a breather after McKienzie had blocked to put the US further ahead at 21-17.
Fei returned from the break to reduce the deficit, andĦĦMastrangelo rescued another point with a monster smash.
A missed Fei serve handed the initiative back to the Americans, and McKienzie came roaring down the wing to give the US set point at 24-21.
Fei repelled one attempt to close out the set, but Polster would not be denied at the next opportunity.
Italy would have to begin their comeback without giant blocker Mastrangeli, felled at the final point with a head injury.
But his team mates held their own in his absence, going into the first TTO 8-5 ahead after well-taken points from captain Samuele Papi and Paolo Cozzi.
Andrea Semenzato added an ace before Cozzi notched again, prompting US coach Hugh McCutcheon to call a time-out before things got out of hand.
But at 14-7, having won the previous six points, Italy were threatening to run away with the set.
Riley Salmon eventually called a halt to Semenzato's serving run, and although McKienzie and Millar got back on the scoresheet for the US, Alberto Cisolla was beginning to find more space on the left for Italy.
The US stuck with it, however, and moved into striking distance at 20-17 down.
But the Italians held firm, and Papi's increasingly influential play was rewarded when he struck the set decider at 24-17.
Italy continued their form into the third set, and a brilliant sliding save by Vermiglio allowed Fei to provide the finishing touch and put the Italians 5-1 up.
Salmon was doing his best to return fire, but Italy, and in particular the hulking frame of Cozzi, would not be moved.
Clayton Stanley found a way through, though, and another Millar block brought them closer.
Parity eventually came when Stanley crashed over another drive to make it 13-13.
The Americans maintained their momentum to get their noses in front, and a Fei serve into the net made sure they stayed there as the second TTO came round at 16-15.
But Italy would not easily let go of their advantage so late into the set, and Salmon was sent crashing into the advertising boards as he chased another ball into US territory.
A brilliant chested dig by William Priddy could not save the point as Italy took a 20-17 lead, and solid blocking by the front line gave the Azzurri a glimpse of the finish.
Another Frei thunderbolt gave the Europeans set point, and the number 14 produced another to finish the job.
Mastrangeli had reappeared for the start of the fourth set, and the Italian number 1 heralded his arrival with an enormous cross-court spike.
Fei then kept a rally alive with his right boot, before accepting the return to win the point through more conventional methods.
Priddy was keeping the US level, but his fine work on the flank was undermined when teammate Salmon was shown the yellow card for abusive language.
At 13-13 both sides were still slugging away at each other, and it was not until another Mastrangelo block and a Semenzato ace at 18-15 that daylight began to appear.
More blocks from Papi, and Mastrangelo again, were taking the Italians closer to the match.
US coach McCutcheon could sense it too, as he called a time-out with his side 20-16 down.
But Mastrangelo had returned from his injury-enforced lay-off a man possessed, and was throwing himself in front of everything that moved.
Soon it was match point, and Cisolla needed no second invitation to ram home another spike from the left and book Italy's ticket to the second round.
