Italy and Japan lock up final two places in Rio after tough five set clash

Tokyo, Japan, May 22, 2016 – Italy and Japan have both secured their tickets to the 2016 Olympics, after the Europeans beat the host nation 3-2 (23-25, 27-25, 27-25, 21-25, 15-9) in front of an ecstatic crowd in Tokyo.

Italian blocker Cristina Chirichella (15 points, nine blocks) was outstanding for the winners, while Japanese captain Saori Kimura was brilliant with 31 points.

Japanese volleyball fans are very knowledgeable, they knew exactly what their team needed to do against Italy.

It was a situation requiring a captain to stand up, and both did. Saori Kimura was dynamic early in helping her team establish an early lead, and Antonella Del Core worked hard to bring her Italian team back into the contest.

Through Kimura, Yuki Ishii and Miyu Nagaoka Japan pushed out to an 18-13 lead, before Italy’s Martina Guiggi served the visitors into the lead at 19-18.

The remainder of the set was a pulsating affair, ended by Cristina Chirichella serving into the net.

Oh to have a bench player like Paola Egonu at your disposal. Italian coach Marco Bonitta is the fortunate coach to have 17-year-old Egonu at has disposal, and he used her perfectly to close out the second set.

Italy had been in control ever since the scores were locked at 7-all, …

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