Blue triumph in Ankara. On the notes of “Azzurro and” Musica lightissima “, the blue of coach Davide Mazzanti beat Brazil 3-0 Olympic silver (25-23, 25-22, 25-22) in the final of Volleyball Nations League 2022, obtaining the first historic trophy victory. Against the South Americans, with which Italy had lost the two World Grand Prix finals played (Reggio Calabria 2004 and Nanjing 2017), Egonu and her teammates offered yet another peremptory performance proving to be the strongest team in the competition: 11 the streak of games won consecutively in this edition. All this, under the excited gaze of the president of the Italian Volleyball Federation, Giuseppe Manfredi, who followed the path of the European champions at the Finals. Italy climbed to the top step of the podium, interrupting the reign of the United States, winner of the 2018, 2019 and 2021 editions.
Mazzanti’s girls closed the intercontinental tournament with 13 wins and 2 defeats (both in the first week). A real triumphal march that of the reigning European champions, who on their return to Italy will enjoy a rest period before starting work in view of the World Championship, from 23 September to 15 October in Poland and the Netherlands. In Ankara, the blue started the final with the same starting six of yesterday’s semifinal: Orro dribbling, Bosetti and Pietrini crushers, Chirichella and Danesi in the center, Egonu opposite and De Gennaro free. The start of the match was all in favor of the blue: Pietrini opened with a good attack followed by those of Danesi and the first shots of Egonu. The Brazilians made a lot of mistakes with Julia, while Italy picked up the pace going to the first time-out at 12-6. Zé Roberto immediately changed the opposite Kisy by sending Geraldo on the field, but Italy did not give up an inch: a precise attack by Bosetti, then Chirichella and two peremptory walls by Pietrini kept Brazil under (16-10), forcing Ze Roberto to timeout again. The attempts of the carioca technical expert were made in vain by the blue plays, masterfully orchestrated by a particularly excellent Orro. Brazil, thanks to an empty pass of the blues in reception, returned to -1 (23-22), but Italy with great coldness managed to close the set, taking advantage of an error in Carol’s service (25-23 ). The enthusiasm for the near comeback also animated the start of the second set of the Brazilians: Macris, Julia, Gabi and Kisy did much better than the first set, managing to stay in the wake of the blue (8-7). Italy, however, had the merit of not getting upset by stinging in attack with Bosetti, Egonu, Pietrini and Chirichella for the first real escape attempt of the set (16-10). The usual flash of pride of the South Americans (22-20) did not scare the Italians who have maintained control of the fraction. At 24-22 Mazzanti sent Malinov on the field to give Orro a break and the new entry placed the decisive paw (25-22). In the third set Zé Roberto shuffled the cards on the table, sending Lorena and Daroit on the field for Kudiess and Julia, thus obtaining some signs of recovery that allowed the verdeoro to go to the technical timeout ahead (11-12). Italy did not skid and continued to grind the game with Egonu, Danesi and Bosetti. The blue forcing, determined and convinced, put Brazil back to the wall (20-16). Italy close to the finish, slowed down under the blows of the newly entered Ana Cristina who gave hope to the cariocas (20-20). Italy’s difficult moment was canceled by two shots by Egonu (block and attack) that gave the Italians a break ahead, before the winning tricolor block that sparked Mazzanti’s girls’ party (25-22) .