Chinese spikers go down fighting against Italy

World
Europe

01:43

Italian spiker Paola Ogechi Egonu notched up a game-high 13 points to guide Italy to a 3-1 victory over China in the third-round of the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Nations League in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Egonu's stellar performance was well supported by wing spiker Miriam Fatime Sylla who bagged 11 points of her own to contribute to Italy’s thumping victory, with a scoreline of 25-18, 25-14, 16-25, 25-18.

Italian players celebrate after their emphatic win over China in Hong Kong. /VCG Photo

For the Chinese side, it was their wing spiker Zhu Ting who powered her side with eight points, while opposite spiker Yang Fangxu also made her presence felt, clinching seven points.

Earlier, the Italians made a blazing start as they took twenty points by spikes in the opening set, which helped them win the opener 25-18. In the second, China began to fight back, leading to 7-4 by Zhu Ting and Yan Ni's block. But Italy hit a wave of 6-0 and went on to win the second 25-14.

Chinese players celebrate after scoring a point against Italy in Hong Kong. /VCG Photo

In the third, the Chinese launched a fierce attack and came to a slender lead. In front of a partisan home crowd, Yao Di's drop helped the Chinese pull back a set 25-16. However, in the fourth, Egonu’s blistering spiking speed and execution secured the match point as Italy claimed the set as well as the match with a 25-18 for the victory.

In another match of the day in Hong Kong, Japan registered their second win by thrashing Argentina 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-21).