At the Women's U21 World Championship in Indonesia, Italy won the gold medals after a tense match against Japan, which ended 3:2 (25-22, 22-25, 15-25, 25-19, 15-11). The final in Surabaya lasted over two hours and was a true volleyball spectacle. The Italian blocks in the tie-break proved decisive, breaking the resistance of the "samurais".
Final - result
| Final | Result |
|---|---|
| Italy - Japan | 3:2 (25-22, 22-25, 15-25, 25-19, 15-11) |
Comment: The match was typical for a final - changing dominance, fluctuations in reception, and immense psychological pressure. The Japanese played a strong third set but could not withstand the power of the Italian block in the crucial points.
Team Statistics
| Metric | Italy | Japan |
|---|---|---|
| Attacks | 59 | 56 |
| Blocks | 20 | 9 |
| Serves | 5 | 2 |
| Opponent errors | 18 | 35 |
| Total points | 102 | 102 |
Exceptional balance - the total score is 102:102! However, Italy won the battle at the net with twice as many blocks and a more effective serve. The Japanese compensated with better defense, but the high number of errors tipped the scales.
Individual Performances
| Player | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Adige (No. 11) | Italy | 34 |
| Manfredini (No. 15) | Italy | 15 |
| Uemura (No. 16) | Japan | 18 |
| Omori (No. 14) | Japan | 17 |
Italy's Adige was the undisputed star of the final with 34 points - almost a third of the team. For Japan, Uemura and Omori led the attack, but did not receive enough support from the rest.
It is particularly telling that two teams from Bulgaria's group stood on the podium - silver medalists Japan and bronze medalists Brazil. Our girls finished fourth, but this once again emphasizes the exceptional strength of the group we played in. Facing such opponents is valuable experience and a starting point for the future development of the squad.
