MATCH INFO

Kumamoto, Japan, November 25, 2011 - Italy picked up a key second round win against the USA in a match that started with the longest set in FIVB World Cup history.

Italy coach Mauro Berruto: I’m extremely happy about this victory because I knew the USA is one of worst opponents we could face. They have wonderful organization - serving, blocking, defense - they are a kind of model for us. I knew it would be tough. I’m extremely happy we could use our skills; blocking attack, side out attack, dig attack. But we were solid, mentally solid and technically solid to handle this exciting fight in first. We showed a good starting six but with two or three wonderful players off bench… Parodi, Zaytsev… each of them did something. We leave Kumamoto knowing more about ourselves, knowing we have big roster that will help us in the third and fourth rounds.

On Ivan Zaytsev playing less today: Ivan is a wonderful talent, but we have three great wing spikers and I always have a headache when I have to choose starters. They are both also wonderful receivers who pass well, and all would deserve to play on any team in world. I’m extremely lucky they are all on my team. I think until end of tournament and future of this team, the possibility to use all them is a great choice for me to have.

On next few matches: We now move to the next city waiting, and have three very high level matches waiting in Cuba, Serbia, and Argentina. These nine available points will [be very important].

Italy captain Cristian Savani: Overall we had a tough game today, but it’s always like this. The third set today was very especially tough for us. But we’re happy to have beaten the American team.

USA captain Clayton Stanley: I thought today both teams battled back and forth, I think this game was won on blocking and Italy blocked better. Italy got some good serves, got in a couple of aces. We relaxed a little too much on coverage of hitters, and those little points cost us the game. Good luck to Italy in rest of their matches

USA coach Alan Knipe: I thought tonight both teams sided out well; both offenses sided out a high number. The first game was a marathon. Both teams had opportunities, and we’ll look back at opportunities we had and see what we could do better. Clay mentioned hitter coverage, but our opportunities in transition could have been better. Italy played well, blocked well. We haven’t done so well at beginning of this tournament, but I hope we’ll use this as building block because we can’t get in gym and train at this point. But we’ll take away some good points from this, because there were a lot. But congratulations to Italy.