BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States twice
rallied from one set down to beat World Cup winner Italy in a full-set
quarterfinal to reach the semifinals of the Beijing Games women's volleyball
event on Tuesday.
The United States needed two hours to claim their
first win in six meetings against Italy since 2004, prevailing through at 20-25,
25-21, 19-25, 25-18, 15-6 and will meet Cuba in the semifinals on Thursday.
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Lang Ping, coach of the women's
volleyball team of the United States, hugs her team members during the
Women's Quarterfinals match U.S. vs Italy of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. The U.S. beat Italy
3-2. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
"I felt very happy with the result, they can always
bring me surprise. I am so proud of them," American head coach Lang Ping, a
former Chinese player, said after the match.
After splitting the first two sets, Italy started to
find the rhythm in the third set, storming to a 10-3 lead and keeping the morale
until they clinched the set at 25-19.
But in the fourth set, the Italian spikers ceased
fire again and looked fragile on the net, trailing 8-0 behind at the first
technical timeout.
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Lang Ping, coach of the women's
volleyball team of the United States, talks to her team members during the
Women's Quarterfinals match U.S. vs Italy of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. The U.S. beat Italy
3-2. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
After losing the set at 25-18, the Italians were
still uncharacteristically underperforming in the tie-breaker which they lost at
15-6.
"I don't know," answered Italian player Simona Gioli
in the mixed zone when asked what happened in the fourth set. "When such things
happen, there is not an explanation. We are powerful contender, but we were not
focused enough. But right now I cannot say what happened exactly."
"This is probably going to be my last Olympics, so I
have an even bigger regret (for losing). But sport is like this, you lose
sometimes and you have to be able to cope with disappointment."
In the other semifinal, host China will take on
Brazil.
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Logan Tom (#15) of the United States
spikes the ball during the Women's Quarterfinals match U.S. vs Italy of
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19,
2008. The U.S. beat Italy 3-2. (Xinhua/Zhao Zhongzhi)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
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Players of the United States celebrate
during the Women's Quarterfinals match US vs Italy of Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games volleyball event in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2008. The US beat Italy
3-2)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
