Italy reaches the quarter-finals of the women’s volleyball European Championship thanks to the 3-1 victory over Belgium (25-14, 23-25, 25-17, 25-12) obtained in the Stark Arena in Belgrade. For the blues a first set always ahead, a second fought but won by the opponents, a third and a fourth fraction in which Sylla and her companions dictated the pace and won the sixth consecutive victory in the continental competition.
Italy will return to the field on Wednesday at 17, to challenge the winner between Russia and Belarus (beaten 3-0 in the opening match). Against Belgium the coach Davide Mazzanti relies on the consolidated starting sextet, deploying the diagonal Orro-Egonu, the spikers Pietrini and Sylla, the central Danesi and Chirichella and the free De Gennaro. The blues start strong, imposing their game up to 25-14 of the first set. In the second, the only complicated moment of the game. Belgium is more determined and keeps pace, advancing several times, but always joined by Italy. A hard-fought final, but it’s 1-1. The opponents, however, gave their best and in the third and fourth set the blues return to impose themselves with determination. The winning attacks multiply and the last Belgian resistance is folded with the 25-12 that throws the blue to the quarters. «From here on, only tough challenges await us – the words of Ofelia Malinov – We must not underestimate any opponent because in a competition of this type as you go on you meet all formations that have done something to deserve the next round. If we manage to enter the field trying to have fun and express our best, the rest will come by itself ». «In the second set we lost a bit of concentration – explained Anna Danesi – but it also happens to the other teams. This evening, in addition to having more fun, we were probably also calmer ».