Italy and Poland Secure Quarterfinal Showdown at Women’s World Championship

The Women`s World Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, is progressing through its Round of 16 phase. On August 30, two highly anticipated European clashes took place, shaping the path to the quarterfinals: Italy faced Germany, and Poland met Belgium.

Italy Dominates Germany with a 3-0 Sweep

Italy – Germany 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-11)

World No. 1 and reigning Olympic champions, Italy, delivered a dominant performance against Germany in the Round of 16, securing a straight-sets victory to advance confidently to the quarterfinals.

In this commanding win, Italian star opposite Paola Egonu was instrumental, leading all scorers with an impressive 21 points. Italy claimed victory with set scores of 25-22, 25-18, and 25-11. Egonu accounted for a third of Italy`s 48 attack points, complemented by four block kills and an ace. This victory extended Italy`s remarkable streak to 33 consecutive official match wins, a run that commenced in June 2024 and encompasses the Paris 2024 Olympic gold medal and two successive Volleyball Nations League titles.

Key contributions also came from 21-year-old outside hitter Stella Nervini, who added 11 points, including one block, and middle blocker Sarah Fahr, who finished with 10 points—nine from attack and one from the service line. Fahr also scored the match-winning point with a powerful quick attack and boasted an impressive 82% success rate in attack.

Germany struggled to keep pace, falling behind in all key performance categories with only 30 successful attacks, five block kills, and no aces. Both teams committed 16 unforced errors. Outside hitter Lina Alsmeier was the sole German player to reach double digits, scoring 10 points, all from attacks.

Poland Triumphs Over Belgium in Thrilling Five-Setter

Poland – Belgium 3-2 (25:27, 25:20, 25:17, 22:25, 15:10)

Poland secured their quarterfinal spot after a grueling 3-2 (25-27, 25-20, 25-17, 22-25, 15-10) triumph against Belgium in the Round of 16. Their next challenge will be a highly anticipated clash against Italy.

The first set was tightly contested from start to finish, with Belgium narrowly taking it 27-25 after a tense conclusion. Poland responded strongly in the second and third sets, showcasing improved blocking and offensive prowess to win 25-20 and 25-17, establishing a 2-1 lead.

Belgium staged a comeback in the fourth set, utilizing a series of impactful aces from Elise Van Sas to surge ahead and force a decisive fifth set. However, Poland began the final set with conviction, maintaining their composure despite a brief Belgian rally, and ultimately sealed the win with a 15-10 score, securing their progression to the quarterfinals.

Key offensive contributions for Poland came from Martyna Lukasik, who scored 20 points, and Magda Stysiak, who added 15 points.