China W vs Italy W

Italy opened strongly, taking the first set 25-19 behind Antropova's early attacking power. China responded in the second, levelling at 1-1 with a 25-21 win. The hosts then grabbed a 2-1 lead by edging the third set 25-22, putting the Olympic champions on the back foot.

Italy responded emphatically in the fourth set — a dominant 25-12 that showcased their depth even without Egonu. The decisive fifth set was tight, but Italy prevailed 15-12 to close out the victory.

Li Chenxuan came off the bench to lead China with 19 points, but the hosts were out-hit in attack (74-60) and could not contain Antropova's power from the right side.

The fourth set was the match's decisive swing. After trailing 2-1 in sets, Italy reset completely — Antropova and Sylla combined for a relentless attacking display while China's reception crumbled, conceding the set 25-12. That 13-point margin shifted all momentum into the decider, where Italy's composure under pressure proved decisive.

• Ekaterina Antropova (Italy) — 28 points, Player of the Match. The opposite hitter carried the scoring load with Egonu rested, dominating from the right side and serving as Italy's go-to option in clutch moments.
• Li Chenxuan (China) — Team-high 19 points off the bench. Her introduction gave China a spark in sets two and three.
• Sarah Luisa Fahr (Italy) — 16 points, including crucial blocks in the fourth-set surge.
• Myriam Fatime Sylla (Italy) — 15 points, steady passing and leadership in the absence of Egonu.

Italy's 74-60 advantage in kills tells the story of the match: China could not match the Italians' offensive firepower, especially in the fourth set where they managed just 12 points. The VNL standings show Italy at 10-2 (28 points) and China at 6-4 (18 points) — the gap in attacking efficiency reflects the difference between a side that finished second in the prelims and one that placed ninth.

Italy finished the preliminary round in 2nd place with 28 points (10 wins, 2 losses), behind only the USA (29 points, 10-2). China ended the prelims in 9th place but qualified for the VNL Finals (22–26 July, Macao) as the host nation. The full Finals lineup: USA, Italy, Brazil, Türkiye, Canada, Japan, Netherlands and China.

Italy's next fixture is the VNL Finals in Macao starting 22 July. China, as host, will also contest the Finals on home soil.

A match that told you everything about Italy's depth. Even without Egonu for most of the contest, the world champions found a way through Antropova's brilliance and a crushing fourth-set response. China showed fight in the middle sets but lacked the firepower to sustain it. Italy head to Macao as one of the tournament favourites.