Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Italy secured their third consecutive victory in the Volleyball Nations League, defeating Japan 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-17) after dropping the first set. The Italian team’s impressive performance at the net, achieving 16 blocks, was key to their success. Star players Romanò and Michieletto scored 21 and 16 points respectively, while Galassi added 12.
Italy showcased patience and resilience against a defensively strong Japanese team, coached by Blain. This victory positions Italy at the top of the standings alongside Poland, with both teams winning all three of their matches. Italy also climbed to third place in the global rankings, overtaking Japan and the USA, the latter losing to Bulgaria 3-1.
Top scorers:
- Italy: Romanò 21, Michieletto 16, Galassi 12
- Japan: Miyaura 19, Otsuka 10, Kai 7
Standings provided by Sofascore