Italy celebration
Second set
The second set was just as close early, with Priddy and Stanley attacking well for the USA, and Savani countering for the Italians until they reached 10-10. Alessandro Fei put his side up three with an incredible block on Stanley to make it 16-13. Russell Holmes brought his team within one with a spike followed by a block on Simone Parodi to make it 21-20, but a Savani block would eventually clinch another close frame for Italy 25-22 to go up 2-0.
Third set
Luigi Mastrangelo fired up his side in the third with two consecutive blocks, but the USA weren’t fazed as Stanley scored twice to help his side ahead 9-6. Italy would come back to tie, but a Brian Thornton ace put the USA back ahead by two. The USA would ride Stanley the rest of the way (10 points in the set) to take the third 25-22 to push the match to a fourth set.
Forth set
The USA carried that momentum into the fourth as an ace from Anderson and a hard spike from Priddy helped them go up 8-4. But Emanuele Birarelli played well off the bench, showing great hustle on a get near the sidelines that led to a tie score at 13-13. Eventually Lasko’s third ace followed by a pair of spikes would put his side up 21-18, and a Mastrangelo block on Stanley would help close 25-21, taking the match 3-1.
