Players of Italy celebrate victory after the 2022 FIVB women's Volleyball Nations League quarterfinal match between China and Italy in Ankara, Turkey, July 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Paola Egonu produced an impressive 36-point match-high on the 2nd competition day of the 2022 women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals, contributing to Italy's 3-1 quarterfinal victory over China.
ANKARA, July 14 (Xinhua) -- China lost to Italy 25-22, 25-19, 24-26, 25-22 in the quarterfinals here on Thursday, the second competition day of the 2022 women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) Finals.
Star opposite Paola Egonu fired four aces and 32 spiking points to score match-high 36 points, helping her team beat the 2018 and 2019 VNL bronze medalist China to make the VNL semis.
Egonu's counterpart on the other side of the net, Gong Xiangyu, put away 20 points, while middle blocker Wang Yuanyuan impressed with five of China's 12 blocks in the match.
Cai Bin, head coach of China, gestures during the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women's Nations League quarterfinal match between China and Italy in Ankara, Turkey, July 14, 2022. (Xinhua/Shadati)
"We led seven points in the first set, but Egonu's powerful serves and spikes destroyed our paces. She walloped us. We did not manage well in the first and second set," said China's head coach Cai Bin.
"Italy is an experienced team, and they did the right thing at the key moment," said Cai. "We have more young players in the team, and we did a good job in the third set."
Cai believed all the 13 games in this season's VNL would help the team grow and improve.
"We've become much clearer about our strength and weakness, and we had better knowledge about all the top teams around the world. It's important for us to prepare for the world championships in September."
In another quarterfinal on Thursday, host Turkey prevailed over Thailand 23-25, 25-15, 25-18, 25-21 to earn the last berth to the semifinals.
Turkish middle blocker and captain Eda Erdem contributed 17 points, including three aces and two blocks. Opposite Ebrar Karakurt added another 17.
Thailand's outside hitter Ajcharaporn Kongyot produced match-high 21 points.
The semifinals will take place on Saturday when Serbia meets Brazil and Turkey battles with Italy. ■
