Facundo led Argentina to victory over Italy with 20 points
Bydgoszcz, Poland, September 13, 2014 – After two unfortunate losses against France and Iran, Argentina got a scoring boost from outside hitter Facundo Conte in their 3-1 (17-25, 25-21, 30-28, 25-21) victory over Italy in Pool E of the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship at the Luczniczka Hall on Saturday.
Key Points
• Argentine Conte scored 20 points in the four-setter, topping all scorers with impressive numbers – 12 attacks, two blocks and six aces.
• Italian Giulio Sabbi, who came off the bench in the second and third sets, got his numbers right to start in the fourth set had 15 points in a losing effort.
• Argentina’s sevice marvelled the Italian defenders with 11 aces.
• Rodrigo Quiroga worked the Argentine defence, with 13 excellent receptions.
Argentina and Italy had a tight scoring contest in the beginning of the first set that continued until the first technical timeout in favour or Argentina 8-7. Italian setter Dragan Travica had some powerful stints at the service line that hindered the Argentines to set-up proper offence, that shifted the lead to their side 16-12. Italy dominated Argentina on the attack led by Simone Parodi and Filippo Lanza. Even setter Travica got involved in the offence and pushed the Italians to secure the first set 25-17.
Argentina did not hold back and started the second set with a fierce take on their offence, with Conte and Luciano De Cecco unleashing excellent serves to lead 5-1. The Italians got their rhythm back and started to push hard. The Italian comeback did not trickle the Argentine determination as the latter kept their lead. Conte scored two more aces that prompted Italy coach Mauro Berruto to call for a timeout at 14-8. Italy only managed to score on some blocks and attacks but Argentina played tougher and levelled the match at 1-1 with a 25-21 win in the second set.
In the third set, both teams played excellent defence that resulted to a close contest with an 8-7 lead for Argentina. Argentina managed to gain better advantage with a 6-1 run for a 14-8 score, as Conte led again their offence that left the Italians with a defensive meltdown. Italy somehow managed to recover and tied the score at 17-all. A series of rallies occurred to the delighted the crowd until the final rallies favoured Argentina 30-28.
Argentina led 10-7 in the fourth set but Sabbi and Simone Buti worked the Italian offence to spark up a run, as Argentina struggled on defence. Italy managed to score a deadlock at 17-all. Then the challenge called by Berruto on the block touch of Argentine middle Martin Ramos favoured Argentina 19-17. Italy could not recover as the Argentines pulled through with a 25-21 victory.