Paola Egonu dominated the court with 17 points as Italy secured their spot in the Women's Volleyball Nations League final, sweeping past hosts Poland in straight sets during Saturday's semifinal match in Lodz.
Italy, the defending champions, continued their perfect tournament run without dropping a single match throughout the group stage and playoffs.
"We played with great focus and energy today. Our goal has always been to defend our title, and we're one step closer," – a determined Egonu might have said after her stellar performance.
The Italian diagonal hitter was simply unstoppable, collecting 15 points in attack while adding a block and an ace to her impressive tally. The Polish defense had no answer for her power and precision throughout the contest.
On the Polish side, captain Agnieszka Korneliuk fought valiantly as the home team's best performer, contributing 11 points with 6 in attack and 5 crucial blocks. Despite her efforts, the hosts couldn't mount enough resistance against the well-oiled Italian machine.
Interestingly, Italy has yet to drop a single set in the knockout phase, showcasing their dominance in this year's competition. Their championship form has certainly put potential finals opponents on notice.
The Italians now await the winner of the second semifinal between Brazil and Japan, scheduled for later in the evening. The gold medal match will take place tomorrow, July 27, while Poland will compete for bronze against the loser of the Brazil-Japan encounter.
Can anyone stop this Italian team from claiming back-to-back titles? Their flawless performance so far suggests it would take something special.
