Cisolla (ITA) spikes against Blanco Juan Carlos (VEN) blocking
Venezuela
vs
Italy
1
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3
November 22, Nagano: Italy took Venezuela's World Championships destiny out of their hands with a 25-13, 22-25, 25-21, 25-15 victory over the South Americans.
The win confirmed Italy's place as Pool C runners-up, but left Venezuela at the mercy of a points ratio calculation to determine whether they will progress to the second round.
The South Americans joined the USA and the Czech Republic on a final 2-3 win-loss record, but only two tickets for Hiroshima are up for grabs.
But for Italy, now unbeaten in four matches, the second phase beckons after a win over Venezuela bookended by sets of awesome power.
Venezuela meant business as the match began, and Luis Diaz had soon powered the South Americans into a 4-1 lead straight out of the blocks.
But Italy kept the composure that comes with being among the world's best, and from 5-4 down the Azzurri embarked on a scoring streak that didn't stop for another eight points.
During that time, captain Samuele Papi had notched an ace, Alberto Cisolla had fired in points from all over the court, and Luigi Mastrangelo had put in the kind of all-action performance at the net that denied Venezuela even the slightest hope of getting into the match.
The South Americans took the service from Papi, but Italy just went out and won it straight back.
The 12-6 lead soon became 18-8, and Venezuela could manage little more than an Ivan Marquez flying smash amid the Italian masterclass.
Alessandro Fei added another spike from the wing to stretch the Italians' lead to 20-9, and while Carlos Tejeda scrambled some points back for the South Americans, the set was over almost as soon as it had begun.
Cisolla rammed in another attack, and it was over. But Venezuela's confidence did not seem to be affected as they began the second set.
Diaz claimed the first point with a clinical spike, before Fredy Cedeno bagged two more to set the South Americans off on the front foot.
And Venezuela held their lead this time as Fei and Cisolla threw it back at them, Marquez getting up for a block to claim an 8-7 advantage at the first TTO.
Captain Thomas Ereu and Tejeda added more, as the Italians fell into a lull following their first set exertions. But gradually the Azzurri reawakened, Mastrangelo baffling the Venezuela defence by pouncing on a ball seemingly meant for the onrushing Cisolla.
Venezuela coach Eliseo Ramos called a time-out with the Italians moving a bit too close for comfort at 16-15, and the break seemed to stem the tide for the South Americans. But with Venezuela closing in for the kill, back came the Italians.
At 20-20 the set could have gone either way, but with the South Americans winning the next three points, Italian coach Gianpaolo Montali decided his team would have to regroup if they were going to take it.
By that time, however, it was too late. Tejeda stormed down the right wing, and leapt to plunder the second set for Venezuela.
The South Americans again started strongly in the third set, but this time Italy were not going to let them get away.
Andrea Semenzato was scoring at the net, and soon the Azzurri had built a platform for themselves at 15-10. A Cedeno ace evened things up a little, and what had looked like an unstoppable march to the finish for the Italians was now proving more problematic.
Venezuela stayed one point on Italy's tail until Marquez speared in an ace to draw level at 19-19, and the momentum was with the South Americans.
But the Azzurri's big guns began to fire, as a pair of Fei spikes and a pair of Mastrangelo blocks took Italy to match point.
Papi accepted his captain's duty, and finished the set with a spike. Cisolla began the fourth set in style, maurauding down the left flank to propel Italy into an early 9-5 lead.
Another massive block by Mastrangelo kept them in front, but a hooked feint shot at the net by Venezuelan setter Juan Carlos Blanco reminded the Italians they were still in a match.
But Italy had hit their stride. Points were coming from all over the court, and at 22-13 Venezuela coach Ramos took his last throw of the dice with a time-out.
But soon it was match point. Manuel Coscione set the ball for the advancing Mastrangelo, and there was little the Venezuelan defence could do to stop him.
