WARSAW, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Italy defeated Russia 25-27, 25-22, 27-25, 25-21 in Lodz, Poland on Wednesday to reach the European Women's Volleyball Championship semifinals.
Winning five of six clashes at this European Championship in straight sets, the Italian girls were the favorite with their leading point scorer Paola Ogechi Egonu.
However, Russia coach Vadim Pankov didn't think about laying down their arms, counting on hitter Nataliya Goncharova, who scored 30 points in the round of 16 match against Belgium, who proved that she is a shining star of the 'Sbornaya'.
Both teams started cautiously, but then Russia showed character. Italy had no solution for Goncharova and Pankov's team, which secured the first set 27-25.
Davide Mazzanti's players responded in the second set where Italy win three points in a row to level the score 1-1 and the 2018 World Championship silver medalists continued the momentum in the following sets thanks to Miriam Sylla and Paola Ogechi Egonu. Russia threw everything up front, but the Italian women were stronger.
Mazzanti's team will meet Serbia in the semifinals on Saturday.
