Italy is defeated by the USA in the semifinals
A difficult game for Esposito and his teammates, who found it difficult to contain the Americans’ good play.
For this semi-final of the Women’s U19 World Cup, coach Michele Fanni fields the sextet with the Batte-Adigwe diagonal, spikers Erika and Lisa Esposito, central players Manfredini and Atamah and free thrower Bardaro.
It was the Americans who immediately set the pace in the game (4-6, 5-7). The Azzurrine’s response was not long in coming and it was even again (7-7, 8-8). It is still the United States that bring new momentum to the game (8-12), the break from the Italian bench puts the Azzurrine back on track (10-12), but the comeback is not yet complete and the girls of coach Morrison stretches again (11-17, 16-22) to win the first set (18-25).
It’s the balance that marks the restart of the game (5-5, 8-8). Adigwe and Erika Esposito score and Italy take a 3 (11-8) lead. The Azzurrine find good continuity (13-9), but the Americans recover (13-13), react to the new overtime (16-13, 16-16) and take the lead (18-20). In the final, the Azzurrine fail to return (19-23) and the United States also win the second set (22-25).
At the beginning of the third quarter, Italy took the lead (5:3, 6:4): The USA regrouped and scored a break that was worth overtaking (6:5, 6:9). Manfredini and Erijka Esposito bring the Azzurrine back into contact (11-11) and the game continues point by point (15-15). Coach Fanni’s girls’ draw again (19-16) was crucial as they won the set comfortably (25-20) and restarted the game.
The Americans started to dismount at the beginning of the fourth faction (0-7). The Azzurrine are trying to close the gap (6-10) but coach Morrison’s good play by girls doesn’t allow them to catch up (8-16). The inertia of the set does not change: the United States manages the lead (13-20) and wins the set and game (15-25) to gain access to the final for gold.
Italy will return to the field at 6pm tomorrow to face Japan in the bronze medal final.
In the game for the world title, scheduled for tomorrow evening at 21:00, the United States will face Turkey, who defeated Japan 3-0 (25:16, 25:12, 25:19) in the semifinals today.
THE TABLE-
ITALY-UNITED STATES 1-3 (18-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-25)
ITALY: Manfredini 6, Batte 3, E. Esposito 9, Atamah 1, Adigwe 25, L. Esposito 7; Bardaro (left), Monaco 4, Amoruso, Moroni, Piomboni. No: Coba. All. fanny
UNITED STATES: Sigler 9, Ames 14, Flynn 4, Van Der Wal 20, Anyanwu 13, Mullen 7; Mauch (L), Fürbringer, Falduto, Sellman. Ne: Auguste, Kelly. All. Morrison.
REFEREES: Agnes Batkai-Katona (HUN), Ksenija Jurkovic (CRO).
SENTENCE DURATION: 33′, 28′, 27′, 24′ Total: 113′
THE RESULTS AND THE CALENDAR
Thursday, August 10, 2023 – Semifinals 1st-4th Place
Osijek (Croatia)
Turkiye 3-0 Japan (25:16, 25:12, 25:19)
Italy– US 1-3 (18-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-25)
Friday 11 August 2023 – Finals
Osijek (Croatia)
18.00 – Final 3rd place – Italy-Japan
21.00 – Final 1st – 2nd 1st place – United States – Türkiye
