Italy overpower USA in title match at Girls’ U18

Lima and Callao, Peru, August 16, 2015 – Italy outclassed United States with a powerful exhibition of volleyball during the gold medal match won by the European representative at the FIVB Girls’ U18 World Championship on Sunday at Eduardo Dibós Coliseum of Lima.

The Italians rushed to a 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-16) victory with a show of high-quality volleyball, displaying excellent defense, variety of serves and a solid attack led by Paola Egonu, who eventually was elected as the Most Valuable Player of the competition.

Egonu was named also to the All-Star Team as First Outside Hitter along with teammate Alessia Orro as Setter. China’s Li Yingying and Zang Qianqian were named Second Outside Hitter and Libero, respectively, and Kathryn Plummer of United States as Opposite Hitter. The First and Second Middle Blocker were Jovana Kocic of Serbia and Zehra Gunes of Turkey.

“It is a big thrill to be named MVP,” said Egonu. “The award represents an even bigger responsibility for me because I know that I have to continue working hard to achieve more things than the goal we reached today.”

For Italy it was their first gold medal ever at this age-group competition and their fifth podium position added to one second and three third place finishes. United States had to settle for their second silver medal in the history of the tournament.

The new champions outscored United States in spikes 41-25 and held an overwhelming 13-4 advantage in the aces category with Giullia Melli and Vittoria Piani each registering four winners from the service line.

Egonu led Italy in the decisive match with 18 points, including two blocks. Melli and Piani registered 12 and 11 points, respectively, while Alessia Mazzaro chipped in with 8 points. No player from United States reached double figures in the charts with Khalia Lanier tops with nine tallies.

The coach Marco Mencarelli was in full joy after the award ceremony and gave credit to the players in the team who now are moving to the junior ranks.

“The players did a lot of sacrifices to get where we are at this moment,” Mencarelli said. “They deserve all the credit and starting tomorrow the team moves to the junior class where I am sure they are going to do this and more.

In the match for the bronze medal, China defeated Turkey 3-0 (25-23, 25-21, 29-27) with Wu Han, Li Yingying and Qian Jingwen as the major offensive contributors in the victory with 17, 15 and 14 points, respectively. 

China, a four-time champion in the age-group competition, now has six medals in total with one silver and one bronze.

In the rest of the matches on Sunday:

Serbia swept Germany 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 26-24) for fifth place, Russia defeated Poland 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-16) for the seventh position and Japan blanked Argentina 3-0 (25-21, 25-16, 25-19) for the ninth slot.

Also, Brazil outplayed Belgium 3-1 (25-17, 20-25, 25-20, 25-17) for eleventh place, Korea beat Egypt 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-16) to claim thirteenth spot and Mexico defeated Peru 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 25-22, 26-24) for the fifteenth position.

25- Marian Morsy of Egypt v Peru on August 7

24-Katarina Lazovic of Serbia v China on August 8

25- Katherine Regalado of Peru v Korea on August 9

25- Li Yingying of China v Germany on August 10

25- Ai Kurogo of Japan v Turkey on August 10

24- Li Yingying of China v Poland on August 11

24- Paola Egonu of Italy v Japan on August 11

32- Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Cuba on August 13

28- Paola Egonu of Italy v Serbia on August 14

30- Katarina Lazovic of Serbia v Poland on August 15

24- Britt Herbots of Belgium v Brazil on August 16

32- Massiel Matos of Dominican Republic v Cuba on August 13

30- Katarina Lazovic of Serbia v Poland on August 15

28- Paola Egonu of Italy v Serbia on August 14

28- Li Yingying of China v United States on August 15

27- Juangjan Kanittha of Thailand v Chinese Taipei on August 13

7- Pia Kastner of Germany v Serbia on August 11

6-Ai Kurogo of Japan v Brazil on August 8

6- Angelina Lazarenko of Russia v Dominican Republic on August 11

6- Karla Mireles of Mexico v Peru on August 16

5- Anastasija Sekulic of Serbia v Germany on August 11

5- Karla Mireles of Mexico v Egypt on August 11

5-Gabriela Perez of Mexico v Brazil on August 14

15- Germany v Serbia on August 11

14- Korea v Mexico on August 7

14- Chinese Taipei v Cuba on August 15

13- Italy v United States on August 16

10- Diana de la Peña of Peru v Korea on August 9

8- Huang Chen Yu of Chinese Taipei v Thailand on August 13

8- Angelina Lazarenko of Russia v Japan on August 13

7- Karina Flores of Mexico v Korea on August 7

7- Katherine Regalado of Peru v Korea on August 9

7- Nourallah Amin of Egypt v Mexico on August 11

7- Diana Duarte of Brazil v Mexico on August 14

7- Giulia Mancini of Italy v Turkey on August 15

7- Jovana Kocic of Serbia v Poland on August 15

25- Poland v Thailand on August 8

23- Russia v Japan on August 13

19- Peru v Korea on August 9

18- Serbia v Poland on August 7

17- Peru v Mexico on August 8

17- China v Thailand on August 9

35-33 Italy v Japan (3rd Set) on August 11

33-31 Brazil v Japan (2nd Set) on August 8

33-31 Chinese Taipei v Cuba (4th Set) on August 15

30-28 China v Poland on August 11

29-27 Japan v Cuba (1st Set) on August 7

29-27 Belgium v Argentina (1st Set) on August 8

29-27 China v United States (3rd Set) on August 15

29-27 China v Turkey (3rd Set) on August 16

228- Egypt d Mexico 3-2 (28-26, 24-26, 17-25, 26-24, 17-15) on August 11

214- Argentina d Belgium 3-2 (22-25, 25-18, 25-27, 25-21, 15-11) on August 15

210- Poland d Thailand 3-2 (25-21, 26-28, 25-10, 22-25, 15-13) on August 8

207- Korea d Peru 3-2 (14-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, 16-14) on August 9

206- Russia d United States 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-23, 15-10) on August 10

206- Serbia d Poland 3-2 (20-25, 21-25, 25-8, 25-21, 19-17) on August 15