AGUASCALIENDES (MEXICO)- Start with the wind at your back Marco Mencarelli’s national under-21 team in the World Championship. In the opening match of Pool B, the Italians beat Tunisia 3-0 (25-15, 25-8, 25-16) in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

The Blues dominated Africa’s formation and the result was never in doubt.

Top scorer of the night was spiker Stella Nervini who scored 16 points (1 block, 75% on offense). apart from her, among the blues, Anna Adelussi also finished the match in double figures (11 points, 2 blocks, 75% in the attack).

Italy will return to the field tomorrow at 19.00 (Italy match time), again in Aguascalientes, to face the Dominican Republic on the second day of the first phase of the world championship.

For this debut match at the Under-21 Women’s World Championship, coach Marco Mencarelli lines up the hexagon with diagonal Bartolucci-Adelusi, spikers Giuliani and Nervini, center Marconato and Eckl and libero Ribechi.

It is the Azzurrine who immediately find a good pace of play (3-1, 6-4, 8-5). Tunisia try to hold on (8-8), but Italy’s restart is judged, winning by 3 (11-8) and keeping their opponents at bay (12-9). An effective serve change by Giuliani, supported by a good block and attack performance, led Coach Mencarelli’s girls to +8 (17-9). The timeout requested by Tunisia does not change the inertia of the set: the Azzurrine continue to play a good game and points (21-11) and easily win the first set (25-15).

Italy was the undisputed protagonist on the field in the second half with Tunisia unable to contain the good play of the Azzurrine (12-1). Ribeci and her teammates are good at keeping the focus and tempo up (14-3, 19-5, 22-6) and getting to 2-0 without difficulty (25-8).

The beginning of the third set was more balanced (3-3, 5-5, 8-8) with the Tunisians immediately correcting the Azzurrine’s expansion attempt (10-8, 10-10) and overtook (10-11). ). Italy’s reaction did not take long to come (14-12). Coach Mencarelli therefore chooses the diagonal change: out of Bartolucci-Adelussi in Eze-Adriano. The Blues stretch again (16-13, 18-15). The time-out requested by the Tunisian bench does not interrupt the good play of Italy who continue to lead (20-16) and close the set and match with an excellent block performance (25-16).

THE TABLE-

ITALY-TUNISIA 3-0 (25-15, 25-8, 25-16)

ITALY: Giuliani 4, Marconato 7, Andeluzzi 11, Nervini 16, Eccles 4, Bartolucci; Ribechi (L), Adriano 3, Eze, Gardini 4, Costantini 1. New: Bellia. Mencarelli herd.

TUNISIA: Fatnassi 1, Tesnime 3, Djenhani, Eshid 6, Engazou 5, Baazaoui 4; Mbarek (L), Sassi (L), Chekili, Ben Hamida 1, Salhi 3. New: Ben Youssef. Everything. Messelmani.

REFEREES: Jorge Ernesto Erazo Maldonado (COL), Rocio Aida Huarcaya Lopez (PER)

SET DURATION: 22′, 17′, 19′ Total: 58′

ITALY: 2 y, 10 sc, 9 sc, 16 et.

TUNISIA: 1 y, 8 sc, 0 sc, 25 et.

THE FIRST PHASE SCHEDULE-

Thursday, August 17, 2023

19.00 – Pool C (Lèon) – Serbia-China 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 26-24)

19.00 – Pool B (Aguascalientes) – Italy-Tunisia 3-0 (25-15, 25-8, 25-16)

10.00 p.m. – Pool C (Lèon) – Poland-Argentina

10.00 p.m. – Pool B (Aguascalientes) – Brazil-Dominican Republic

01.00 (August 18) – Pool A (Lèon) – Egypt-Thailand

01.00 (August 18) – Pool D (Aguascalientes) – United States-Cuba

04.00 (August 18) – Pool D (Aguascalientes) – Netherlands-Turkey

04.30 (on August 18) – Pool A (Lèon) – Mexico-Japan

Friday, August 18, 2023

19.00 – Pool C (Lèon) – Serbia-Argentina

19.00 – Pool B (Aguascalientes) – Italy-Dominican Republic

10.00 p.m. – Pool C (Lèon) – Poland-China

10.00 p.m. – Pool B (Aguascalientes) – Brazil-Tunisia

01.00 (August 19) – Pool D (Aguascalientes) – United States-Turkey

01.00 (August 19) – Pool A (Lèon) – Egypt-Japan

04.00 (August 19) – Pool D (Aguascalientes) – Netherlands-Cuba

04.00 (August 19) – Pool A (Lèon) – Mexico-Thailand

Saturday, August 19, 2023

19.00 – Pool C (Lèon) – Serbia-Poland

19.00 – Pool B (Aguascalientes) – Italy-Brazil

10.00 p.m. – Pool C (Lèon) – Argentina-China

10.00 p.m. – Pool B (Aguascalientes) – Dominican Republic-Tunisia

01.00 (August 20) – Pool D (Aguascalientes) – United States-Netherlands

01.00 (August 20) – Pool A (Lèon) – Thailand-Japan

04.00 (August 20) – Pool D (Aguascalientes) – Turkey-Cuba

04.00 (August 20) – Pool A (Lèon) – Mexico-Egypt

* Italian game times