Volleyball, Nations League: Italy also folds Argentina, third win out of 4

Italy-Argentina 3-1 (25-20, 25-21, 16-25, 30-28)

Without coach stopped at the hotel by Covid discovered after the match with Canada, the Azzurri led by Massimo Caponeri face Mendez’s Argentina, with only one change compared to the match against Canada played less than 24 hours before: With Vitelli in the center instead from Moscow, the rest of the team that has always played so far in Ottawa: Giannelli directed by Romanò opposite, Recine and Bottolo martelli, Galassi and Vitelli in the middle, Piccinelli free. Mendez joins the Tokyo senators (Olympic bronze) more than a few young talents, but this Italy does not want to discount and a very determined part always well guided by a lucid Giannelli who sorts at will. The gap becomes more and more considerable and the Azzurri are rampant. Mendez uses the bench, but to no avail. Argentina remains in the game more in the second set: when it is the Azzurri’s wall that makes the difference (6 in the partial against 2 of the South Americans) and at the end it is the joke of Bottolo and his companions to make the difference.

Blue break

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Here, however, Italy stops. At the end of the second set, Pinali entered for Romanò, but in the third Italy went into crisis, despite Caponeri trying to stimulate the team. Now Argentina believes in it with Loser (he will arrive in Milan) and Lima (sought by our clubs), Italy continues to make too many mistakes and Mendez’s team takes advantage of it. Lost badly the third hangs in the fourth (4-9). Italy tries to return with the entry of Moscow, but Palonsky and his teammates keep three breaks ahead. But these blues do not give up dragged by the jokes of Bottolo and by the blue defenses Italy grabs the draw: 18. Argentina earns 4 balls to equalize the match, but Italy does not give up and closes with an attack from Recine. Even without De Giorgi, the Azzurri won 3 out of 4 races in this first pool and look to the future with more optimism.