Italy rallied past China 3-2 in the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) on Sunday, finishing second in the preliminary phase of this season's Women's Volleyball Nations League.

Following a 25-19, 21-25, 22-25, 25-12, 15-12 victory in one hour and 59 minutes, the Olympic gold medalist and reigning world champion ranked behind only the USA with 28 points from 10 wins and two losses.

With star spiker Paola Ogechi Egonu being rested for the most of the match, the Italians were led by Ekaterina Antropova's 28 points. Sarah Luisa Fahr, Myriam Fatime Sylla and Stella Nervini added 16, 15 and 13, respectively.

Li Chenxuan entered off the bench to score a team-high 19 points for the Chinese side, which was outspiked by its European opponenti 74-60.

The USA beat Brazil 26-24, 25-22, 25-16 in Osaka, Japan, to take the top spot in the preliminary standings with 29 points from 10 victories and two defeats, with higher set and point ratios making all the difference.

After three weeks of preliminary play, Brazil, Türkiye, Canada, Japan and the Netherlands will join the USA, Italy and the host China in the finals, which will take place July 22-26 in China's Macao SAR (Special Administrative Region).