World no. 2 Italy topped Pool B after closing out world no. 1 Poland in four sets in the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
World no. 2 Italy will be heading into the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 as the top seed in Pool B after closing out world no. 1 Poland in four sets, 25-15, 25-18, 24-26, 25-20, at the South Paris Arena 1 on Sunday, August 4 (Philippine time).
The Italians’ defensive prowess was fully displayed against the Polish, who dominated the blocking department 13-7.
Errors likewise hounded Poland as they committed 32 errors compared to just 24 from Italy.
Italy also limited star outside hitter Wilfredo Leon throughout the match, as he finished with just nine points.
After taking the first two sets in clinical fashion, Poland managed to steal the third frame behind the efforts of team captain Bartosz Kurek, who finished with 14 points in the match.
But in the fourth set, Italy’s Yuri Romanò and Alessandro Michieletto proved to be too much for Poland as they closed out the victory to set up a quarterfinal date with Japan.
Romanò finished with 20 points built on 15 attacks, one block, and four service aces, while Michieletto had 17 on 15 kills and two blocks.
Daniele Lavia and Gianluca Galassi also contributed double-digit scoring for the Italians, with 12 and 10 markers apiece.