The number one team in the FIVB World Ranking mastered a 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-16) shutout of the Dutch in just 70 minutes on the court and stayed on track to defending the crown they earned last year for the second consecutive and overall third time.
Italy quickly broke away with a five-point lead in the first set. The Netherlands fought back to within two, but a long series of five points in a row on middle blocker and captain Anna Danesi’s turn to serve, the southern Europeans ran off again, with a 21-14 advantage. The Dutch kept up the pressure through the end, but finally, 22-year-old outside hitter Stella Nervini spiked the set winner for 25-21. Italy stormed the second set on a 7-1 run and never looked back, until Danesi’s elegant tip put an end to it at 25-16. The western European side took an early 3-1 lead in set three, but the champions reacted with four in a row to step in front for good. The two teams traded some long series of points, before the Italians ended up with another 25-16 close to claim the match victory.
