After tie-break victories over the Netherlands and Turkey,"the Azzurre"of Julio Velasco needed one more win for their first trophy, butGermanyspoiled their plans -1:3(19-25, 18-25, 25-19, 22-25). The MVP of the match was middle blockerCamilla Weitzel, and the cup went to Turkey, who defeated the Netherlands in the last match.
Italy (starting lineup)
Setter - Federica Cambi
Opposite - Letizia Malual
Outside Hitters - Alice Degradi and Matilde Nervini
Middle Blockers - Silvia Nwakalor and Angela Munarini
Libero - Mondi Fersino
Tactics:Velasco relied on fast play through the middle with Nwakalor/Munarini and frequent changes of pace on the pins through Degradi and Nervini, with Cambi directing accelerated combinations to break the German block.
Germany (starting lineup)
Setter - Cindy Straube
Opposite - Hanna Kindermann
Outside Hitters - Luisa Alsmeier and Leonie Grozer
Middle Blockers – Camilla Weitzel and Leoni Cekulaev
Libero – Anna Pogany
Tactics:Bregoli relied on a high block and a powerful central axis (Weitzel/Cekulaev), supported by Pogany's stable reception. Straube combined long diagonal attacks with quick 'steps' in the center to keep the Italian defense constantly uncertain.
Key Moments of the Sets
0:1 (19-25)– The German block (Cekulaev, Weitzel) and Alsmeier's effectiveness broke the hesitant Italian attack.
0:2 (18-25)– Italy led 5-0, but a 0-7 run turned the set; Alsmeier and Cekulaev maintained the pace.
1:2 (25-19)– At 12-18, the 'Squadra' exploded with a 13-1 run after an ace by Degradi and four blocks by Gray/Sartori.
1:3 (22-25)– A point-for-point duel until 22-22; two reception errors by Nervini and a counter-attack by Cekulaev decided the match.
Italy:Degradi 9, Nwakalor 2, Malual 6, Nervini 7, Munarini 5, Cambi 5, Fersino (L); Gray 6, Boldini, Sartori, Frosini, Giovannini. Did not play: Omoruyi, Moro, Nardo. Coach: Velasco.
Germany:Alsmeier 17, Weitzel 9, Kindermann 10, Grozer 10, Cekulaev 19, Straube S., Pogany (L); Glab 2, Weske 1, Stautz 5, Straube M. Cezar (L). Did not play: Tabakoux, Schölzel, Nstler. Coach: Giulio Cesare Bregoli.
The daughter of German volleyball legend Georg Grozer – Lina Grozer – finished the match with 10 points.
Italy finishes its preparatory cycle forVNL 2025with a good balance (2-1), but with a lesson in reception stability and attack variability. Turkey enters the League of Nations as the moral winner of the first edition ofAIA Aequilibrium Cup Women Elite, and Germany showed that it can defeat favorites when its block works flawlessly.
Julio Velasco:"For us, the tournament was extremely interesting: we played two dramatic tie-breaks and finished with a tense match against Germany. Fatigue took its toll, but thanks to the substitutions, almost all players participated in the game. We showed determination and courage throughout, although against Germany we were not as effective as we could have been. Unfortunately, too often we played far from the net - a luxury that women's volleyball does not allow.
Difficult balls, both against Turkey and against Germany, created serious problems for us, while our opponents handled them more skillfully. Therefore, we must be more ready to take responsibility and win points ourselves. Only with such maturity can we truly grow and avoid in the future what we call 'short hand'. In that regard, you will never hear me rejoice in a loss - on the contrary, I do not accept it. Still, we must remember that we faced Germany's fully equipped squad.
