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USA qualify to third round despite loss to Italy

OSAKA, Japan, October 11, 2018 - Italy completed a 9-0 clean sweep in the first two rounds of the FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship by defeating the United States 3-1 in Pool F at Osaka Municipal Central Gymnasium on Thursday afternoon.

On the back of an astonishing individual performance by Paola Egonu, Italy won 3-1 with set scores of 25-16, 25-23, 20-25, 25-16 to extend their perfect 9-0 win-loss record while dropping the Americans to 7-2 with their second defeat in two days.

The USA team secured the third spot of Pool F and the spot in the third round when China eliminated Russia 3-1 (25-22, 21-25, 25-23, 25-15).

Egonu scored 33 points, with 25 spikes, five blocks and a hat trick of booming jump serve aces. Miryam Sylla added 22, with 16 spikes, four blocks and two aces, meaning Egonu and Sylla contributed 55 points between them.

Captain Jordan Larson led the USA reply with 14 points and Kimberly Hill added 12 as the Americans were second best on the day against a dynamic Italy team.