Germany 🇩🇪 vs. Italy 🇮🇹 - Highlights | Week 1 | Women's VNL 2025

Well, the countdown is on. The crowd is ready to see the Olympic gold medalists of Italy take it on Germany. The ball is moving. That means we're underway in the first swing on the right side out of Kindermann. Germany, I agree, highly underrated the position of Setter. They don't get those big point scoring moments, but they are touching every ball. And here's another one from Oro dished up perfectly to the outside. And Giovanini just touching it to the middle. Two year old playing in Scandichi. Twenty twenty one. Take a little heat off that. She's got more in the tank for sure. Oro to the outside. Giovanini with a fast arm that's coming back Italy's way. Another opportunity changes it up to go line. Now it's Grozer again with the roll into another stuff. Brock Barr gets a piece of it this time. Bench of Italy not looking too concerned to say only two points down. Plenty of volleyball left to play. They came back and set three against USA yesterday. Down seven points in that set. And what do you think it was they did that brought him back in? The biggest thing was the serving. They really turned it up. And Indonesia had a phenomenal serving run back on the line. So giving up more than they're getting is unusual. I'll smile. Looks for one can't find the floor. Free ball coming back. Condition auto. Quick ball to the outside. That's the speed. I'll smile. Loves high ball in response. Still doesn't go down. Great defense by Grozer. Oh, with a stinger is a non-covered ball. Spend some time playing over the NCAA in Texas. Back in 2020. Big swing in response from Germany. Solid serve ball is in perfect position, which means Italy can run that offense. Keep that ball in place and let Italy make the mistake. Let's see if it pays off again in set number two. We are underway. And Denesi with the first swing for Italy. Kinderman, the lefty, gets beyond the arms of the block. Germany is swinging. Sometimes it's nice to be the underdog because you have nothing to lose. You're just getting after it. Yeah, there's nothing better than playing one of the best teams in the world and just feeling like you can just put everything out there. Certainly what the teams will be doing against Brazil later as well. It's fun. There's just no pressure. And Germany is definitely playing like that. You can tell just how tight they are as a unit, how much fun they're having. Again, keeps it in play, gets Germany off the net, out of system. Still scoop that up. And then Antropova again being fed. And it is a clean swing that Antropova has had. I wonder if they're really just trying to target that specific part of their game. She gets another high ball from Dejanato this time and goes OT. Antropova back at the line, does what she does best, which has caused some confusion for Germany, and she gets a chance to swing again. Germany on the outside, grows her into hands, both still alive. Bauer somehow gets it off the defense. But then you see that too, they completely lay an egg and look like a different squad. But that's also a sign of just kind of that inexperience and learning how to be a mature team. The youth showing now on Germany's side as they try to hang on. Italy with set point. And they make it happen on the first time. Free ball from Dejanato, handled well from Cesar. Still in play and still up, will sneak one by. And that is the second set in the pocket of Italy. How about that scoreline? Twenty five to ten. That is a huge turnaround for the world's best team. Olympic gold medalist. That is why they can play like that. This shows that Italy is a very mature team, even if they get punched during. I think everyone for Germany was a little bit quiet in the second set. That's fair. That's fair. Only four attack points among them. Well, we're starting off set number three. Last night, Italy took on Team USA and was down seven points late in the set and came back to win it. So this is a team that stays composed no matter the score. Composed, disciplined, aggressive, especially that swing. If he's giving information to his setter, I think it's often good to listen to it. Abide by it. Cross court swing goes behind. Still up with the tip just over. Good pick up by Alcmaier. But Grozer into hand. Zantropova and Denezey teaming up again. When that happens, you'll see those errors pile up. Now, not too tough of a serve, but handled beautifully by Strava to keep that for Weizel. What a set from Strava. This ball. Velasco asking for heart, but he's going to need some points, too. Iradi puts one on a platter for Kambi. The swing beautifully taken by Dejanato and another bit of pressure. But Germany defending like it is their job. And you can tell how much this match. Still set point for the German side. And Zantropova goes for the serve. She's going straight down the middle to Clive and gets it done on the slide. And Germany have taken set number three. Give their veterans a break just for that first week coming off of long club seasons. No break for most of the Italians, but let's see if they can get a break from Germany first, their first point on the board. They're trailing by two. Still a targeted, beautiful pickup by Oro. What a butter. It's just a stunning set and an even more beautiful swing from Sarah Far. Upside hitter. Doesn't matter, though. Solid serve again into hands and straight down the block of Italy is back. Figure it out. It's so much different when it's in real time. So it's bigger in real time, too. Good pick up. Zantropova in a good place. Degradi takes the speed off of it. Clever play. Babichuk's looking for Degradi. She'll get the response of attack. Swing into hand. Italy cleaning things up at the net. Not down yet. And there comes Degradi again. And there's the power that we know she has. That really shows the versatility that Degradi has. I like her go up there and just want to hit away from her, because, of course, she's such a good blocker herself. So then others start to get a little bit more action. It's always that game of cat and mouse. To the outside, big swing. Germany not going quietly. Another one from Babichuk's. Recycle play is good from Germany. They're not letting this ball fall. Silla into the hands. Good touches. Stays in play again. Oro back to her go to outside, and that'll get it done. But she's there when she's needed. Looking for Weizel, Degradi, and Danese said no, ma'am. They have to win this game. Well, a fifth set underway. The first fifth set of these matches here in Rio. Germany down by three. Chikulai now on the serve, drops it on Degradi, who struggles with it. Oh, Petropova, no struggle there. Tip from Altsmaier doesn't work, but down the line again. The defense of Italy is everywhere. And then it's just up to Silla to put it where she wants. Up by four. Moves down the middle, and it's Weizel into hand. Straube back to Altsmaier, who's picked up. Degradi making it look easy. But there's the Weizel we know and love. That one's solid on Silla. Off the hands, Senza running it down. And Weizel is finally slowed down. Short ball on Grozer. She makes a good move there. Altsmaier trying to cut it. Degradi, she hasn't been slowed down yet. That changed better. Hands on the ball. Doesn't matter, though. Degradi, Deneze in that blocking combo, say no. Just step by step towards the end line. The onus now is on Germany to get these side out points. Deneze pops one back to Antropova. She already has 30 points to her name. And another block far. And Antropova teaming up to make it nearly impossible for Altsmaier. Antropova, you know what she can do from the end line. Altsmaier handles it well. It's off the net. Hindemann can have a tip. Degradi rolls into hands. The coverage is there, but it doesn't come back on Germany's side. Degradi, Degradi. Degradi with an ace to serve to finish it off. Italy have done it in the fifth set, 15 to 9. Germany with the heart, the hustle and everything to try and take a win off Italy.