Italy defeats USA in women's volleyball
Erica Bulman, Associated Press, Berlin
Underdog Italy defeated the United States in a five-set seesaw thriller on Sunday to collect its first ever women's world championship volleyball title.
The Italians overcame the Americans 18-25, 25-18, 25-16, 22- 25, 15-11, handing the United States its first loss of the tournament.
It marked the first ever women's world volleyball title for a Western European women's team as well as Italy's best ever result after placing fifth at the last championship in 1998 in Japan.
"I'm incredibly happy because it was so unexpected," Italy team captain Manuela Legggeri said. "We fought until the last point. It was very difficult.
"I don't have the right words to describe my joy."
The Italian players, nicknamed "Le Ragazze Irresistibili" or "The Irresistible Women" by the nation's sports papers since reaching the semifinals, nearly didn't even make it to the quarterfinals. Only a shocking loss by China to South Korea in the final second round match saved their necks, the team eking through as one of the top lucky-losers.
The Americans, who sailed through their 10 previous matches unscathed, had also been seeking their first world title but suffered a major blow when they were forced to play the final without their top scorer Prikeba Phipps, replaced by captain Tara Cross-Battle after injuring her eye during training Saturday.
"We lost the gold," Cross-Battle said. "But I'm proud of my team. We fought very hard today. We fought very hard the whole world championship."
The Americans stamped their authority on the first set, jumping ahead 8-4, maintaining a healthy advantage through the session, and pulling out of reach with a four-point scoring spree to go 23-16.
But displaying the kind of winning spirit that led them to the final, Italy rallied in the second, scoring five consecutive points to jump ahead 7-4, then extending their lead to 11-6 after the Americans seemed to lose focus, making a few unforced errors.
By then, the Italians had taken complete control of the game and the U.S. side was unable to make up enough ground. A back row attack of Elisa Togut gave Italy the first set point. Down 17-24, the Americans saved one set point but lost the very next serve.
The Americans appeared back on track in the third, but Italy seemed to have a golden touch as well as luck on their side, saving even the most impossible-looking shots and sealing the set without difficulty.
The Americans came out fighting in the fourth, closing the set 25 against 22.
The game remained tight throughout the final set, with never more than a point separating the two tired teams until Italy scored three in a row to go 12-9. Though the Americans fought for every point, Italy kept the lead long enough to triumph.