Press release

Lima, Peru, July 28, 2011 - Italy defeated Dominican Republic 3-1 (25-29, 25-22, 20-25, 25-20) Thursday to conclude Pool E in the second round of the FIVB Volleyball Women's Junior World Championship at Eduardo Dibos Gymnasium in Lima, Peru. Italy finished atop the pool with a 3-0 record, while Dominican Republic finished 1-2.

The top scorer of Italy was Valentina Diouf with 27 points in the match, next to Caterina Bosetti with 12 points. Dominican Republic's Elizabeth Martinez led her team with 14 points in the match, next to Ana Binet with 13 points. Italy held a 16-11 advantage in blocks. Italy committed 29 errors in the match to Dominican Republic's 25.

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The first set began in a good way for Italy. Dominican Republic's mistakes gave the opposite team the advantage of three points. After 5 straight points, the first technical time out came to 8-5 in favor of Italy. Caterina Bosetti´s spike (six points in the set) kept the distance of three points. Italy's dig broke down and Dominican Republic tied the score at 11. The second technical time out came to Dominican Republic thanks to Candida Arias´ block (four points in the set) to 16-14. After three straight points, Italy could reach the 19-18 in the set thanks to their spike (12 in the set). Italy's block got stronger and the Dominican Republic tied the set at 19-19. Giulia Pisani´s block was the key for Italy to succeed to 25-19 in 22 minutes.

The second set started to Italy's advantage in the score with five points of difference. The first technical time out came to 8-2 in favor of Italy. Diouf´s spike (11 points in the set) was stronger than the earlier set, which helped to the point difference of seven. Bosetti´s spike (11 points in the set) helped to score the second technical time out to 16 10. The point difference grew to 8, and Italy was winning to her 20th point. Italy coach Marco Mencarelli gave a short rest to Diouf, and Italy started to commit mistakes in reception and blocking that helped Dominican Republic decrease the point difference to five points. Diouf returned to the game, and Italy caught the set back. Diouf scored her 16th point in the match and Italy led 24-21. The set ended 25-22 in 27 minutes thanks to Bosetti´s block.

The third set had a tough beginning for both teams. They scored point by point until they reached 4-4. The first technical time out came to 8-7 in favor of Italy. The set continued and Italy reached the maximum difference in the set of four points. The second technical time out came to 16-12 thanks to Diouf´s spike (five points in the set). Italy's spike kept the same path (nine in the set), but some mistakes of the Italian setter Latizia Camera (one point in the set) and Rosa Laura Baggui (three points in the set) in the spike helped Dominican Republic to reached the 20-19 mark in their favor. Italy's block and reception started to fail and the Dominican Republic took advantage of it. The set ended to 25-20 in 24 minutes thanks to Paola Peña´s service (three serves in a row).

At the beginning of the fourth set, Italy did not started well. The first technical time out was for Dominican Republic at 8-5. At this moment, Italy started to recover the game and they reached the tie score at 15-15 thanks to their good reception and block (16 points in the match). The first technical time out came in favor of Italy with one point of difference because of Brenda Castillo´s bad reception. Italy kept the advantage and reached 20 points thanks to Diouf´s serve (six points in the set). Dominican Republic tried harder to reach the win, but Camera (one point in the set) and Silvia Lotti´s block (one point in the set) stopped their attacks. Diouf defined the set with a harder spike to 25-20 in 25 minutes.