In their first match of Group F at the World Volleyball Championship in Quezon City (Philippines), Italy faced no serious resistance from Algeria and won 3-0 in less than an hour of play. The "Squadra Azzurra" started with a bang, allowed a slight relaxation in the second game, but then again demonstrated their superiority and routinely closed the match.
Score by sets
25-13, 25-22, 25-17
Match statistics
| Team | Attack | Block | Service | Opponent errors | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 39 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 75 |
| Algeria | 32 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 52 |
The Italians dominated at the net with eight blocks against just three for Algeria and showed a class difference in service. The 21 points gifted by the opponent were also particularly impressive, which eased the task of the world champion.
Game elements
| Element | Italy | Algeria |
|---|---|---|
| Digs | 31 | 30 |
| Reception | 40 | 62 |
| Distribution | 65 | 70 |
Algeria had more receptions and rallies, but the Italians showed greater efficiency. The balance in saved balls in defense was almost even, which, however, did not affect the final result due to Italy's superiority in attack and block.
Top scorers
| Italy | Points | Algeria | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alessandro Michieletto (No. 5) | 15 | Dour (No. 12) | 11 |
| Mattia Bottolo (No. 12) | 13 | Ait Iken (No. 8) | 10 |
The duo Michieletto – Bottolo (Alex Nikolov's teammate at Lube) was key for the "Squadra Azzurra" and once again demonstrated that they can carry the responsibility in attack. Yuri Romano added 11 more points to the victory. For Algeria, Dour and Ait Iken stood out, but their productivity was not enough against the power of the Italians.
Photo:volleyballworld.com
