Behind 27 points from Paola Egonu, Italy reclaimed the VNL Women's crown after breezing past Japan in the Finals.
Italy is once again the queen of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) after overpowering Japan in four sets, 25-17, 25-17, 21-25, 25-20, at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, Thailand Sunday.
This is Italy’s second VNL crown after also winning the event back in 2022.
From the get-go, the Italians showed just why they are the new world no. 1, enforcing their strong blocking and impeccable attack led by star hitter Paola Egonu. Italy finished with 11 blocks as compared to just two from Japan.
Egonu finished with a game-high 27 points on 23 attacks and four blocks, while Alice Degradi and Myriam Silla supplied 15 and 12 markers, respectively.
Sarina Koga, who scored 17 points in the match, tried all she could for Japan, helping her squad snatch the third set.
But in the end, Italy proved to be too much as Egonu, Sylla, and Degradi closed the game out in the fourth set for the championship.
Meanwhile, in a battle that also went down to the wire, Poland emerged victorious, securing the third-place finish after a grueling five-set thriller against Brazil, 25-21, 26-28, 25-21, 19-25- 15-9.
This marks Poland's second consecutive bronze in the VNL, adding to the final woes of Brazil, who finished with back-to-back losses after entering the Final Four on an unbeaten 13-game streak.
Poland's victory was a result of a balanced attack, with five players scoring double digits led by Martyna Lukasik, who finished with 21 points built on 19 attacks and two blocks.
Magdalena Stysiak contributed 20 points, Martyna Czyrnianska had 13 markers, while Agnieszka Korneluk and Natalia Medrzyk had 11 apiece in the win.
Brazil was paced by team captain Gabriela Guimaraes, who had 22 points. Julia Bergmann and Ana Carolina Da Silva added 20 and 13 points in the loss.