Italy and USA get first win
Italy has taken care of Thailand 14,14,16. USA have beaten Peru comfortably in three 23,14,19. More games to be played today.
The United States showed characteristic power as they moved past a game Peruvian team 25-23, 25-14, 25-19 in their opening game of the 2007 World Cup.
Things didn’t start out quite so smoothly for the U.S., with coach Lang Ping was forced into calling a timeout just three points into the game — three points the Americans had lost. The Peruvians were obviously playing with good rhythm from the outset and setter Zoyla La Rosa provided good balls for the big hitters. But the Americans have some big players and one of the best, Heather Bown, helped pull the U.S. back into the game. But it was their defense that provided the big turning point when Logan Tom and Danielle Scott-Arruda pulled off two brilliant blocks at 9-9 to put the U.S. in the driving seat. Bown helped stretch the lead with a couple of shots and a good block and suddenly the U.S. was seven points up at 17-10. But the Peruvians were still playing classy volleyball and Yulissa Zamudio and Carla Tristan turned on the power to pull them back in to contention, closing to 24-23 when Tristan plonked a service in the net to hand the set to the Americans. Read more FIVB
European champions Italy began their bid for a first World Cup title by crushing Asian minnows Thailand 3-0 in the second match of the opening day at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium on Friday.
Playing against the 30th-ranked Thais, world No. 4 Italy romped home 25-14, 25-14, 25-16.Aided by a service ace from setter Nootsara Tomkom, Thailand jumped out to a 3-0 lead before the Italians clicked into gear.
Jenny Barazza swatted one home at the net, and Taismary Aguero had the crowd gasping with an effortless leap and spike. Manuela Secolo and Simona Gioli took Italy to the first TTO ahead 8-6 as the Thai service faltered.
The match was being played at a furious pace, and the Thais needed a TO trailing 12-9.
Antonella Del Core showed her power with a crashing winner on the left, and the same player brought up the second TTO 16-9.
Onuma Sittirak brought brief respite for the Thais with a right-wing kill, but the Italians were in a different league and surged towards the first set. Despite spirited blocking from the Thais, supported by flying ground defence, “Le Azzurre” still had too much strength, experience and pace.
Malika Kanthong thumped home a sharply angled spike on the right to draw appaluse from the neutral audience, but it was only a matter of time before Italy took the first set. They did so 25-14 with a Barazza block. Read more FIVB
