Italvolley Under 21 World Champion! Eight wins and Japan beaten in the final

The Under 21 women’s national team is world champion, thanks to the success for 3-2 (25-22, 22-25, 15-25, 25-19, 15-11) on Japan. After the silver conquered in 2023 and the gold won in 2021, Italy returns to the top step of the podium. In the last four editions of the category World Cup, the financial statements are extraordinary: two silver (2019 and 2023) and two golds (2021 and 2025). In Surabaya in Indonesia, led by Linda Manfredini and guided on the bench by Nino Gagliardi, the blue shines at the end of a path that started on August 7: victories against the Czech Republic, Algeria, Poland, Egypt, then the only stop with Turkey, followed by the successes on Indonesia, China, Brazil and finally the triumph in the final against Japan, a team that had never known the team so far. defeat.

extraordinary group

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This extraordinary group thus gives itself the second consecutive international medal, after the silver at the European under 20 in Sofia in 2024. A world gold conquered to the sound of victories, 8 in total, growing in the game in the game and putting an increasingly convincing game on the field

The match

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In the first set, the girls of Gagliardi approached the race well, immediately taking the lead (5-3). In the following stages Japan has resumed Italy, until it finds the draw on 9-9. From this moment on, the two teams alternated with the command, always with advantages of 1 or 2 points. In the final, however, Italy found the right starting point and after seeing the first ball set (24-22), Bosso with a splendid ace decreed the end of the first set (25-22). The second set began with Japan who immediately had a prompt reaction (3-1). In the following jokes there was a balance between the two teams, always in close contact (8-8). At this point, however, Japan found the break and placed the first extension + 4 (9-13). Italy, with great stubbornness, has reassembled until it reached the new draw on 16-16. From there a new point to point battle has triggered, with the two teams capable of offering a very high level volleyball (22-22). In the end, however, Japan found two very important points that brought it on 24-22, forcing the Italian bench to call time-out. Upon returning to the field, the winning attack of the Japanese Omori Sae has set the score on 22-25, bringing back the count of the sets. In the third set it was Japan to start better and brought to + 5 (5-10). The tricolor national team at this stage of the match was unable to move the inertia of the set which seemed also to the subsequent jokes in the hands of the Japanese formation. The opponents, thanks to an excellent defense, also found the +10 and put the first set of the set available to the ground (15-25). At the start of the fourth set there was the prompt blue reaction and the Marchesini wall gave the point of (4-0). Italy continued to push strong and at the end of a long and laborious action found the +3 (9-6) which forced the Japanese bench to spend the time out available. Upon returning to the field, the blue continued to have the game of the game in hand (15-9). The Italians continued to play a very good volleyball ending up imposing themselves on 25-19 thanks to the winning attack on Merit Adigwe, closing the fourth set in his favor. 2-2 between Italy and Japan. Start of fifth set with very high rhythms (3-2). With the passing of exchanges, Italy, compact and determined, carried out until +4 (7-3). Japan tried the comeback, finding the draw on 9-9, but the young blue national team has no longer granted anything to the opponents and with great lucidity she went to take the title of world champion with merit (15-10).