Sapporo (Japan), Aug 31 (IANS): Italy beat the US 3-2 in the women's volleyball World Grand Prix Finals here Saturday.
The Italians were led by Valentina Diouf who grabbed 31 points, while the US top scorer was Lynn Kristin Hildebrand with 18. Both teams gained 12 points each on blocking and the US led the serving points with six to Italy's two, reports Xinhua.
It was the first win for Italy in the finals while the defending champions US fell to 0-4. Both were out of the running for the title following losses on the opening three days.
Italy captain Martina Guiggi got in two good early spikes and a block on Kelly Murphy which made them take a slight lead in the first set. But a block by Alisha Glass on Indre Sorokaite brought the US level at 7-7 and they went on a five-point later.
US moved into a 16-9 lead at the second technical timeout. Italian coach Marco Mencarelli called his players off at 20-13 after a couple of errors. Murphy popped up with two good spikes to finish off the set and put her team 1-0 up.
Italy hit back from 10-all to lead by five at the second technical timeout. But the loss of setter Noemi Signorile on injury upset the Italians' rhythm. Glass made two good blocks and then came up with a stupendous reaction flick that deflected the ball over the net and into empty territory to even the scores at 20.
But errant shots by Murphy and Hill put Italy in the driving seat once again and a solid strike by Costagrande brought up set-point. A long hit by Kristin Hildebrand then drew the two teams level at 1-1.
Lauren Paolini came into the American line-up for the third set and put her team two points in front with a good spike and a tip-over. Diouf responded for Italy but Hildebrand came up with two big bangs and the Americans were three points up at the second technical timeout.
US stretched their lead to six points before going off the boil and dropping three straight points. Kiraly called two timeouts as their advantage slipped to one point but they got a break at 23-22 when Italy were called for a double touch. Caterina Bosetti saved one set-point but Murphy then squeezed a drive past the Italian block and US were 2-1 up.
Costagrande and Diouf helped the Italians move into a three-point lead at the first technical timeout of the fourth set and the Americans didn't help their cause with errors.
Italy were five points up at the second technical timeout and Kiraly called two more timeouts to try and slow the Italians down. But Costagrande and Diouf kept the pressure on. Diouf brought set-point with a big hit and Bosetti drew the teams level at 2-2 with a fine block on Nicole Fawcett.
The Americans were helped by some Italian errors early in the fifth set and the US led by four at the turnaround. Murphy then slugged a couple of shots out of bounds and Kiraly called a timeout at 9-7.
Bosetti sent her next serve long. A massive block by Murphy on Costagrande made the score 12-8. Murphy sent down a serve to bring up four match-points for her team and then the Americans blew it. Diouf hit a kill, Hildebrand failed on two spikes and Paolini netted a shot. Bosetti then came up with a block on Murphy and Guiggi blocked Hildebrand for a remarkable win.
Italy will play Serbia Sunday and US will fight against hosts Japan.