Building on their already formidable presence in the Volleyball Nations League 2025, the Italian women`s national team has officially secured their place in the highly anticipated Finals set to take place in Lodz. Their qualification was definitively confirmed following a commanding 3-0 victory over Belgium in Apeldoorn, a result that underscores Italy`s relentless form throughout the preliminary phase.
While qualification for the Finals was mathematically assured even before the first serve, thanks to the outcome of an earlier match, Italy demonstrated zero complacency. They approached the fixture against Belgium with steely focus, delivering a performance that was, for lack of a better term, a clinical demolition. The match concluded swiftly with set scores of 25-19, 25-15, and 25-18, painting a clear picture of Italian dominance.
This win not only seals their spot in the top eight but also maintains Italy`s perfect record in the competition. They stand alone at the summit of the VNL standings, boasting an immaculate 9-0 win-loss record and an impressive 25 points. Belgium, in contrast, finds themselves significantly lower in the rankings, currently sitting in 14th place with a 3-6 record.
A notable aspect of Italy`s performance was the tactical distribution of playing time between their two powerhouse opposites, Paola Egonu and Ekaterina Antropova. They effectively split the three sets, yet both players managed to finish as the highest scorers of the match. The 22-year-old Antropova, who entered the game to relieve the celebrated Egonu, delivered a match-high 12 points. Her contribution was multifaceted, including a precise ace, two crucial kill blocks, and an outstanding 64% success rate in attack. Egonu, in her time on the court, contributed 10 points, all derived from attacks executed with a robust 56% efficiency. For the Belgian side, 22-year-old opposite Pauline Martin led their scoring efforts, registering eight points, all through successful spikes.
Reflecting on the victory, Italy`s captain and middle blocker, Anna Danesi, conveyed the team`s satisfaction and ongoing objectives. “I`m really happy! We played a strange game, but the important thing is that we won, so we are happy for that,” Danesi commented, acknowledging the potentially uneven nature of the match but prioritizing the outcome. She further elaborated on the positive atmosphere within the squad: “We play really well together, we have fun when we play, so we try to focus only on what we do and we try to get better every day.”
Italy now joins Brazil and host nation Poland as the early qualifiers for the VNL 2025 Finals, setting the stage for a high-stakes conclusion to the tournament. The preliminary phase continues with other matches scheduled, as teams battle for the remaining coveted spots.
