Ankara, Turkey, June 24, 2016 - Natalia Pereira contributed to Brazil's victory over Italy 3-1 (24-16, 25-22, 25-13, 25-22) scoring 17 points at the FIVB World Grand Prix match on Friday.
Brazil's second best-scorer was Fernanda Rodrigues with 13 points while Italy's Paola Ogechi Egonu scored match-high 26 points. These teams most recently met earlier in this year's competition on 9 June. Brazil won 3-1 and are currently on their longest winning streak against Italy in the World Grand Prix (11).
Italy have lost their last four World Grand Prix matches - 3-1 against Netherlands and Brazil and five-set defeats against Russia and Thailand.
Set one saw both team trading points until Italy managed to expand the margin to two points 16-14 at the first technical timeout. Brazil, however, brought back the score to 17-17 and finally went up 21-20. In the decisive moments Italy kept their nerves calm to take the set 26-24.
Italy started the second set with a serving error by Ofelia Malinov and soon Brazil raced out to a 8-5 lead. Italy managed to close the gap at 13-13 but they cannot endanger more their opposition who convincingly finished off at 25-22.
Set three saw Italy's early lead 5-4 but then Brazil pushed back creating a number of hitting opportunities bringing the score to 18-8 in their favour to eventually close the set out at 25-13.
Italy regropued in set four and went up 8-4 and 13-7 later on their great defence. Throughout the next phase of the set Brazil were slowly buy constantly reducing the gap to finally tie the score at 19-19. Towards the end of set Brazil maintained the control of the game to finish it off 25-22.
Related information: