USA and China to battle for gold

MILAN, Italy, October 11, 2014 – World No. 2 United States and World No. 5 China have advanced to Sunday’s gold medal match at the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship Italy 2014. The United States have scored an astonishing 3-0 semifinal win over World No. 1 Brazil while China – in front of 12,600 thrilled fans in Milan’s Mediolanum Forum – proved too strong for host Italy (3-1).

The Mediolanum Forum will again be sold out for Sunday’s highly anticipated FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship Italy 2014 gold medal match that feature No. 2 United States against No. 5 China at 20.00 (local time). World No. 1 Brazil will take on World No. 4 Italy at 17.30 (local time) in the battle for the bronze.

World No. 2 United States have scored an amazing 3-0 (25-18, 29-27, 25-20) semifinal win over World No. 1 Brazil on Saturday evening. USA outplayed Brazil in attacking and serving, to make up for Brazil's superior blocking. However, the reigning Olympic champions contributed to the final score with as many as 19 unforced errors (to USA's 12). It was Brazil's first defeat in 12 matches at these World Championships. USA are 10-2.

USA have never won the World Championship gold medal, finishing second in 1967 and 2002. This is the first time they have reached the gold medal match since going away from the round-robin format. USA have never won a major tournament title that includes the World Championships, World Cup and Olympic Games.

Saturday’s triumph was USA's revenge for the 1-3 loss in the final of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

In Saturday’s second semifinal, World No. 5 have kept the upper hand over host Italy 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 20-25, 30-28) to advance for the fifth time in their history to the gold medal match of World Championship. China will attempt to win their third World Championship title with gold in 1982 and 1986.

China already met Italy in the 2002 semifinals but lost 3-1 as Italy went on to win the title. China are now 5-1 in semifinal matches. They won the first four semifinals in straight sets before losing to Italy in 2002. Italy have now lost two of their three semifinal matches (win in 2002 and lost in 2006).