Michieletto spearheads world champions` quarterfinal triumph over Cuba.
Alessandro Michieletto and Simone Giannelli of Italy celebrating during their hard-fought match against Cuba.
Italy has successfully clinched the first coveted spot in the men`s Volleyball Nations League semifinals, scheduled for this Saturday. In the opening quarterfinal match of the VNL Finals held in Ningbo, China, the formidable Italian squad secured a 3-1 (25-18, 25-19, 20-25, 25-21) triumph against Cuba. This decisive victory propels them closer to achieving their highly anticipated first-ever podium finish in the VNL tournament.
While Cuba exhibited remarkable offensive prowess, accumulating 55 spike points compared to Italy`s 42, their performance was ultimately undermined by a significant number of unforced errors, resulting in 37 points conceded, whereas Italy gave away only 19. The reigning European champions also demonstrated superior performance in serving, delivering seven aces against Cuba`s three, and excelled in blocking with nine successful blocks to Cuba`s six, highlighting their balanced game.
Alessandro Michieletto, the 23-year-old outside hitter, proved instrumental in Italy`s victory, scoring a team-high 17 points. His standout contribution included an elegant pipe attack that sealed the fourth set and the entire match, alongside two aces and one crucial block. Opposite hitter Kamil Rychlicki also made a significant impact, contributing 16 points, including three powerful aces and two well-timed blocks, underpinning Italy`s offensive depth.
Following the intense encounter, Michieletto shared his insights: “This was an extremely challenging quarterfinal, primarily because Cuba possesses the undeniable ability to defeat any team. We`ve closely observed their strong showings against Poland, their thrilling tie-break match with France, and their impressive victory over Brazil in Rio de Janeiro – they are truly a formidable opponent. It was incredibly tough, but we managed to play with remarkable intensity in the initial two sets. Although they found their rhythm and improved later on, we maintained our composure and secured the decisive fourth set. The upcoming semifinal will undoubtedly be even more demanding, regardless of whether we face France or Slovenia. We are acutely aware of the difficulty of VNL semifinals, having experienced them twice before. Our immediate focus now is on optimal recovery and thorough preparation.”
For the Cuban side, 24-year-old outside hitter Marlon Yant, who had previously emerged as the top scorer in the Preliminary Phase, once again led his team with a match-high 21 points. He showcased an impressive 56% attack efficiency, delivering 19 spike kills, one ace, and one block. His cross-court teammate Osniel Mergarejo contributed an additional 11 points, which included one ace and one block.
Cuba`s middle blocker Javier Concepcion reflected on the outcome: “Frankly, we are not entirely satisfied with today`s performance. We firmly believe we could have performed at a higher level. However, taking a broader view, I consider this to have been a very positive tournament for our team overall. As I always emphasize, we commit our one hundred percent, our full effort, whenever we step onto the court, but ultimately, victory is the goal. This was our final match in the tournament. We aren`t necessarily sad, but we are certainly not happy. We already know we are a truly strong team, but in the end, we faced Italy, a team featuring some of the best players in the world. We will continue to train diligently, as the World Championship is still on the horizon, and we need to prepare thoroughly for it.”
Looking ahead in the tournament, the next quarterfinal match scheduled for Wednesday in Ningbo will feature Brazil against host nation China, set to serve off at 19:00 local time (11:00 UTC). The remaining two quarterfinals – France versus Slovenia and Japan against Poland – are slated for Thursday, promising more thrilling volleyball action.
Oliver Wrenwick 
Jasper Thornfield