[Sat, 27 Sept, 12:30] The second semi-final of the World Championship features Poland against Italy. Poland have reached the semis unbeaten, while Italy slipped up in the group stage against Belgium but have since looked solid on their way to the last four. In truth, Poland boast the deeper bench. Their only possible weakness may be the lack of truly tough matches at this championship. Even so, our pick is: 1.
Contrary to expectations, it was Italy’s bench players who proved decisive in the second semi-final of the Volleyball World Championship. This time the joker played by Italy’s coach De Giorgi was outside hitter Sani, who came on late in both the second and third sets to serve in place of middle blocker Russo and almost single-handedly decided not only the second set but the entire match. Another outside hitter, T. Porro, entered late in the third set to replace Bottolo in reception and withstood all the fierce service pressure from Poland.
Poland’s stars, Leon and middle blocker Kochanowski, also rose to the occasion under pressure. Kochanowski in particular delivered two superb spinning jump serves at 22–24. Who says middle blockers can’t serve with spin? While his first serve was enough to close the gap to 23–24, Italy survived the second thanks to Porro’s reception, and on the third attempt it was, of course, Michieletto from the back row who sealed Italy’s place in yet another World Championship final.
The grand final will bring a thrilling clash between two teams who both serve exceptionally well. It will also pit two Italian coaches against one another on the benches — De Giorgi for Italy and Blengini for Bulgaria, who of course watched this second semi-final live with great interest.
Poland : Italy
Set
3
Italy’s volleyball players surprisingly swept Poland in three sets to book their place in the grand final against Bulgaria.
The third set, much like the first, saw Poland race into a four-point lead at 5–1. Italy called a timeout and replaced Bottolo in reception with L. Porro.
In this set, Poland held and extended their lead, helped also by Italy’s own errors. After Michieletto’s hit over the block made it 10–5, Italy’s coach De Giorgi used his second timeout.
Italy targeted Leon with every kind of serve, but in this set they couldn’t trouble him. On the other side, they generally only managed to side out on the second or later attempts.
The exception was Romanò, who forced Leon to his knees, and Italy’s block did the rest for 14–11. Another break point on the counter made it 14–12. Poland’s coach Grbić called his first timeout, advising his players to keep the ball in the air so it could be struck cleanly.
Grbić’s timeout paid off, as Romanò missed his serve right after the break. Whenever possible, especially on dipping serves, Leon’s teammates covered him in reception, allowing him to finish the rally. Late in the set, Italy’s setter Giannelli — rarely guilty of such mistakes — also missed his serve. Poland led by one or two points, but then Michieletto served well enough to prevent the Poles from getting the ball over the net. Level again at 18–18, and Poland’s coach Grbić called his second timeout.
Late in the set, Sani once again came in to serve in place of Russo. His excellent serve earned Italy a break and the lead at 19–20. He followed it up with a thunderous ace, straight at Poland’s libero Popiwczak. A block on Leon suddenly pushed the lead to three, 19–22. Sani’s fourth serve went long — a relief for Poland. Leon responded in kind from the service line, producing a break point on his serve for 21–22. His second booming serve at Porro eventually resulted in a side-out at the third attempt, 21–23. Michieletto then secured another break at 21–24 on Romanò’s serve.
Kochanowski did not falter under pressure and delivered two excellent serves, but on the second Italy finally sided out — and who else but Michieletto, striking from the back row. Final score 23–25, and Italy are the second finalists of the World Championship.
Set
2
In the second set it was almost a mirror image of the first. Italy trailed by a small margin at first, then gradually clawed back point by point into the lead, capped by a Bottoli ace for 14–18. Poland’s coach Grbić had already used his second timeout.
Poland cut the deficit late in the second set, with Leon first scoring after a block-defence and then again after Italy’s reception came back over the net. At 19–20, Italy’s coach De Giorgi called his first timeout.
At 21–21 setter Giannelli made a one-handed save on Leon’s serve at the net, but Poland still earned a break point for 22–21. Leon followed up with another thunderous serve, yet Bottolo, at the second attempt, managed the side-out to bring Italy level at 22–22.
Sani came on to serve at 22–23, and Italy claimed two crucial break points to close the second set. The first came from a defensive play by setter and captain Giannelli, who chased down a sharp parallel ball, with Bottolo finishing powerfully down the line past the double block. The second came from Sani himself with an ace. Italy took the second set 22–25.
Set
1
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