Okayama, Japan, September 1, 2006: Brazil improved their win-loss record to 7-0 by beating world champions Italy 3-0 in the first match of the World Grand Prix Okayama leg on Friday afternoon. The five-time Grand Prix champions won 25-22, 25-22, 30-28 to condemn Italy to their second defeat in seven preliminary round matches.
 Italy missed five set points in the third set, before Sheilla Castro finished the match by scoring the last two points from 28-28.
 With a mixture of power and subtlety, and early Italian lethargy, Brazil jumped out to a 4-0 lead, and at 6-1 down Marco Bonitta called his first TO.
 Valentina Fiorin, who had excelled for Italy in Japan last year, was struggling with her game this time and was replaced with her team trailing 12-8.
 Sheilla Castro stepped up the pace for Brazil midway through the set with a flurry of spikes and blocks to take the Canaries to the second TTO ahead by five, 16-11.
 Italy responded through Sara Anzanello at the net and Francesca Piccinini out wide, and Brazil had to call a break when their lead had been cut to two, 19-17.
 Trailing 21-17, Italy won three straight points, before Jaqueline Carvalho ended the run with a terrific jump and spike for Brazil, giving them the lead at 22-20. Nadia Centoni reduced it to one point again, 22-21, and the Italians reacted angrily when the next point was awarded to Brazil when they clearly felt they had kept the ball alive in the rally.
 Leading 23-21, Brazil took the first set 25-22 on their second set point with a trademark winner at the net by Fabiana Claudino. Bonitta made his feelings clear again on the disputed point as the teams changed sides.
 Italy made sure they stayed closer in the early stages of the second set, but from 14-13 behind they lost the next two points as Brazil reached the second TTO with a three-point advantage at 16-13.
 Anzanello was involved in a punishing battle with Fabiana for control of the centre of the net, while Piccinini and Carvalho  were trading flashing spikes on the flanks to keep the neutral crowd entertained.
 Mari Steinbrecher continued to go about her work in her usual business-like manner and kept Brazil out in front, until Joyce Silva brought up set point at 24-21 and the fired-up Carvalho finished it 25-22 on their second set point after Simona Rinieri had saved the first one.
 Steinbrecher had scored nine points in the first two sets and maintained this form in the third. A gentle winner into space, followed by a block point on Martina Guiggi, carried Brazil to the first TTO with a two-point lead, 8-6.
 A brilliant running set by Fofao was met by another searing winner from Steinbrecher, and Brazil looked to be in control when Carvalho blasted her team to a four-point lead, 12-8.
 A series of mistakes by Italy, both on serve and attack, gave Brazil a six-point cushion at the second TTO, 16-10, but Fiorin brought her team back into it with two quick winners on the left, looking more like her normal dangerous self.
 Centoni also lifted Italy in attack and defence, and a Fiorin winner down the middle brought the teams level 20-20.
 A mistake on serve return by Carvalho gave Italy set point at 24-23, but Fabiana came to the rescue, 24-24. Italy, with Paola Paggi outstanding, would miss five set points in all, before Castro scored the last two points of the match to give Brazil the set, 30-28.