Italy overcome Sweden to reach European volleyball semifinals

Italy had to fight through a difficult start against Sweden, but four sets were enough to send the Olympic champions into the European volleyball semifinals. Sweden won the opener 25-21, before Italy recovered to take the next three sets 26-24, 25-21 and 25-23.

The second set proved decisive. Played almost entirely on the edge of balance, it went to the advantages before Italy finally leveled the match. From there, the Italians grew into the contest, took control and completed the comeback.

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Haak had a monstrous performance, but the problem was that at the beginning we could not defend her ordinary balls, not the spikes that you can only try to block.

Paola Egonu scored 27 points for Italy and Ekaterina Antropova added 22. Sweden’s Isabelle Haak produced the biggest individual total, with 43 points, but her team could not hold its early advantage.

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When we managed to do that, we scored decisive points and the match changed.

Italy’s victory in Brno was its seventh straight at the tournament and secured the team’s 13th semifinal appearance in European Championship history. The squad now travels to Istanbul. Its semifinal opponent will come from the quarterfinal between Poland and the Netherlands. Serbia also reached the semifinals after beating Greece.

Italy coach Julio Velasco said the team lacked clarity rather than patience early in the match. “Haak had a monstrous performance, but the problem was that at the beginning we could not defend her ordinary balls, not the spikes that you can only try to block,” he said. “When we managed to do that, we scored decisive points and the match changed.” Egonu said the team had found its rhythm after struggling to settle into position. “It was great to play, suffer and come out of it well,” she said.

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It was great to play, suffer and come out of it well.