Dominance all throughout for World No. 1 Italy as it denied defending champion and third-ranked USA in Paris 2024 women's volleyball.
Italy’s first Olympic medal is a gold.
This after the Italians made defending champion Team USA look like mortals in a dominant, 25-18, 25-20, 25-17, in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 women’s volleyball finals on Sunday, August 11 (PH time).
The World No. 1 team thus continued to make history after claiming the top prize in just their maiden appearance in the championship stage.
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Paola Egonu starred for the Italians with 22 points, including a hit off the hands off Avery Skinner to give the team a 16-11 advantage in the third and final frame.
Team USA, winner in Tokyo three years ago, made a futile attempt to turn things around and only got to as close as four, 18-14.
It was all Italy from there, with Myriam Sylla and Caterina Bosetti delivering the finishing blows, and Anna Danesi denying Chiaka Ogbogu to put the team at match point, 24-16.
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Jordan Thompson tried to stage one last uprising for the world No. 3 USA, but her crosscourt hit went wide to send the Italian crowd at the Bercy Arena into a frenzy.
Sylla finished with 10 points including two service aces, while Bosetti had nine points and Sarah Fahr scored seven.
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There was simply nothing USA could do against the Italians' pinpoint accuracy and defense.
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No American finished in double figures, with Jordan Thompson scoring eight and Skinner winding up with seven points.
Andrea Drews also had a tough time, making only five of her 18 attacks to finish with six points.