Italy Dominates France in Koszalin Tournament

In the Koszalin tournament, the Italian women's national volleyball team secured a commanding 3-0 victory against France. Coach Julio Velasco's starting lineup featured Orro as setter, Antropova as opposite, Nervini and Sylla as outside hitters, Danesi and Fahr as middle blockers, and Fersino as libero. France's coach, Cesar Hernández González, countered with Danard-Selosse at setter, Ndiaye as opposite, Rotar and Bah as outside hitters, Sylves and Elouga as middle blockers, and Gelin as libero.

The match began with a balanced score (4-4), but Italy's blocking quickly made its presence felt. Italy's aggressive serving (6-4) put pressure on the French backline, with Nervini proving particularly effective. The Italian team displayed confidence and strong play, largely due to Orro's exceptional setting (11-6). Sylla and Antropova consistently found scoring opportunities (13-7), while Danesi and Fahr dominated the net. Fersino's reception and defense drew applause (16-10). Despite France's attempts to rally through Bah and Rotar, Italy's strong blocking and defense thwarted their efforts. Velasco's strategic substitutions, bringing in Cambi at setter and Egonu at opposite, proved to be a decisive move (22-15). Two service aces from Fahr and a block by Egonu sealed the first set for Italy at 25-15.

The second set started with a back-and-forth exchange (3-3), featuring some spectacular defensive plays from Fersino. The Italian team then shifted gears, demonstrating character and a clear understanding of their potential across all fundamentals. Their serving continued to be a key factor, allowing them to pull ahead. Antropova delivered a stunning attack, confirmed by video review, to extend the lead (10-5). The Italian opposite was relentless at the net (16-11), while Sylla and Nervini were nearly unstoppable in attack and crucial in defense (17-12). France fought back through Elouga and Bah (17-15), eventually leveling the score due to an Italian attacking error (18-18). The set proceeded point for point, with Italy pushing offensively. Orro executed a skillful play to set up match point at 24-22, and Sylla closed out the set at 25-22.

In the third set, Italy intensified their serving efforts, establishing an early lead (8-2) and forcing reception errors from France, particularly when Antropova unleashed four consecutive service aces. The French team battled for every point, with Depie and Danard-Selosse managing to narrow the gap (5-9). Italy's decisive run (15-7), powered by strong play from the middle and Egonu, put the match firmly in their control. The Italian team managed their lead effectively in the final stages, securing the set 25-13 and completing the 3-0 sweep in their opening match against France.

Coach Julio Velasco's Comments

"A good start against France, especially considering our long journey yesterday and a morning session focused only on serving and reception. The team entered the court very focused and with good game rhythm. Our serving was very effective, and we also played well with our first attacks. I liked the team's performance. It was a victory of substance because we dominated France. There was a significant difference in the first and third sets, while in the second, they played and served better. Ultimately, we won 3-0, which is an important result."

Sara Fahr's Comments

"We are absolutely happy. It was a clean 3-0 victory, although the second set was a bit more balanced. Well done to us! It's important to play these tournaments to understand our current level, identify areas for improvement, and verify if the work we've put in during training weeks is translated into match performance. Now, our focus is on tomorrow's challenge against Ukraine."

Match Details

ITALY-FRANCE 3-0 (25-15, 25-22, 25-13)

ITALY: Meli (ne), Cambi, Spirito (L), Fersino (L), Orro 4, Danesi 5, Nwakalor (ne), Nervini 5, Sylla 8, Egonu 7, Fahr 14, Omoruyi (ne), Giovannini 2, Antropova 13. Coach: Velasco

FRANCE: Giardino, Ratahiry 3, Ndiaye 4, Fanguedou (ne), Sylves 2, Oling Andela (ne), Mathi, Depie 6, Elouga 4, Danard-Selosse 1, Massuel (ne), Rotar 2, Bah 11, Haewegene 1, Gelin. Coach: Hernández González
Referees: Paweł Morawski, Mateusz Bronski

Match Duration: 22', 31', 21'. Total: 74'

Italy: Service Aces 14, Service Errors 7, Blocking Points 7; France: Service Aces 0, Service Errors 7, Blocking Points 1