Innsbruck, Austria, September 10, 2011. Italy needed some time to adjust to the play of Belgium – well commanded by setter Frank Depestele – but after losing the opening set the “Azzurri” got back on track to claim their first game at the “Olympiaworld” in Innsbruck.
Italy struggled in the opening of the match by committing many mistakes and Belgium fully used its chances to seal the first set with the score of 25-22.
Belgium’s efficiency in defense dropped down dramatically in set 2 and this provided the Italians with good conditions to stamp a series of massive blocks. Italy claimed that section of the game quite easily before going for an already deciding set 3. Belgium set the pace there almost all the way through but Italy’s setter Dragan Travica completed the turnaround as he went to serve with the score being 21:19 for the opponents. He changed the course of the game by shaking the Belgian defense and Italy used its experience on the international scene to come out on top after a close final rush (29-27). Italy had no more problems in set 4, scored 4 aces there and via a 5:0 mini-break went up 18:11, a margin Belgium could no more cut.
Italy’s captain Cristian Savani top scored with 21 points – with Lasko adding 18 and Zaytsev 14 – while Gert van Walle totaled 14 for Belgium.
“We needed some time before one of our main strengths, our block, started working properly. We had again some problems after the second set but I guess we are more experienced and that is why we won such a close third set” commented Italy’s mentor Mauro Berruto.
“I am very disappointed, we have worked a lot in the past weeks and we hoped to win this match” stated Claudio Gewehr, Belgium’s head coach. “Italy scored the deciding points. We want to play that well also for the remaining matches of the Pool phase”.
“I think we probably underestimated the Belgian team in the beginning and we had to fight hard to win this match” stated Cristian Savani.
“Even though we have lost today, I remain confident for the next matches” singled out Depestele. “We are a young team and are still missing some experience. Everything was going well for us in the third set but we could not finish it off”.