Italy vs Cuba Women s World Championship 2025

For Paolo Rigonu, Silla with the service, Moreno sets, Martinez Well, she's going to have to be very good tonight to give Cuba a chance and she's one swing, one point as well. Choice on the set, putting Dainese right into the space. It's tough to defend when it happens that quickly. First free ball of the day, Oro tees up far and both middles off the mark for Italy. That's a sign of things to come, perfect situations. Not a great start for Cuba. Lovely touch by Oro. Free ball, Cuba, this needs to go down. Moreno has a check. Goes out wide! That is enormous! ...as well. Ball gets to the antenna, Tarin. Goes straight on approach, does. Serves that one deep behind the baseline. Cuba just, the first touch not good enough, not giving themselves any opportunity. Oro tees, and Silla finishes that one off. Italy look relaxed, and it's all a little bit too free and easy for them right now. 14-5, but that's a really good pass. That's the opportunity for 3-8. Dainese, scooting edge to edge. Oh, Giorno! Reception from Cuba was good. 20, and they've not been out there long. Giorno with the first touch, Oro, back to Giorno! Up and over! Dainese got a touch on it, I don't know why it's there. Over on one, wins the set. Even the errors are working out for Italy right now. And Italy, makes the rally go beyond a couple of phases. Oro is so good, and the quality of the block is so good. Phenomenal choice by Palma, who wanted to help out on this block. The Brazilian second. Oro, float service, Moreno, Martinez. You're not going to get any joy with those tips when Di Gennaro is in behind. And Dainese dominates it. Oro's ability to speed up the ball here. Dainese being ready as well. Better pass. Got it, gets down. Free ball, Oro. Kept the ball in the air. Di Gennaro. Oh! That is a monster swing. And asking other teams to keep up. Martinez, thought about the swing, but then thought better of it. Touch and defense. He's still on point. A 10-2. No such thing. Dainese. Touch one for Zino too. She just does all the parts well. Better pass. That's some of the physicality we know. The athleticism is there, the size is there. They just haven't been able to display it often enough. Dainese and Oro out there. And this is. Short to serve this time. And to Maran. Silla backcourt. Oro overhead. He got it. The heel of the hand. Not even going wide, but Sanchez played it. Great cover by Oro. Di Gennaro. Lavini. Defense. Can he turn it into a point? Not yet. Great positioning from Silla. Lavini again. Cross court for Sanchez. Crowd going crazy at this point. Still in the air. Di Gennaro to the goal. Glorious volleyball. Cuba were great. Set point. Dainese serving. That's a checker run. Silla. Face first on the court. Lavini for the set. Far. Scrambled back over. Far. Goes again. And this time succeeds at Italy. 1-1. Nice to get that pass in. But it's a better pass. Di Gennaro. In at setter. Can't find the floor. From deep. The platform phenomenal. Where's that been played? They're not as under the pump. Great foot here, Cuba. Drop over. Ooh, that's dropped in. Big block and a drop over. And Cuba lead by five points to two. The rhythm. The change is coming at the start of the third set. Martinez. Up for the pipe again. Finding her feet at the net. Murray makes one. Force wide. That's Martinez. Picks on a drop over. Good cover by Moreno. Madad. Pass. And drop over. Credit to Oro. Her block touch on a scramble. The hand control to direct the ball back into the middle of the court is phenomenal. This one, Mia. The positioning, the awareness of where. Again. Approach. Doesn't have time to really use her feet to create the angle. How good is that by Di Gennaro? A drop over. We're a good 10 to 12 meters away from the court. And I was still scared that that one. 19-13. Italy closing in on their very comfortable victory. Watched by Akrari. Still more work to do. Still more work done. Oro involved again. Her blocking has been outstanding. The blocking. Dressed as the second lead row. Everyone else has got to stretch their legs and stretch them impressively. Works off the block. Saves. Whitney James. 16-24. Into the net. And it is over. It has taken an hour and three minutes. And Italy have booked their place in the round of 16.