Italy 🇮🇹 vs. Netherlands 🇳🇱 - Quarter Finals | Highlights | Women's VNL 2026

Here we go. The first quarterfinal of the VNL 2026. Italy on the right side in the blue. The Netherlands on the left side in the white. And you know they have to be aggressive right out of the gate. Solid serve for the Netherlands. Quick through the middle. No surprise there. Italy immediately establishing their middle. A little bit of voodoo magic from Herstetter. Italy, three points to the good. And a good block to go with it. That's the Anna Dainese inside arm. You do not want to test. Alessia Oro. Best setter and MVP of the world champs last summer. Gets a great dig. Chance to return. Antropova goes a little softer. Two people playing defense for the Netherlands. Comes back as a free ball. Italy to the middle. And Dainese with the fastest of arms. Problem for the Netherlands is Italy are stacking a few points together. Oro stays at the service line. Delvanini with a good defense. Silla. Oh, that is too good on that inside slice of dice from Silla. Meanwhile, Oro working on Antropova again. That is the highest swing we've seen all night. Into the match to see if she can stabilize this reception. Not that they need much help right now. That one, probably the worst we've seen all night. And the Netherlands, can they capitalize? Not yet. Oh, great pick up. Free ball chance. Italy back to the right side. Ooh, defense looking good. Netherlands try to stay alive. The hustle play is on, but the Netherlands take the point. Phenomenal dig down the line by Hesley Asper. And then the speed up play again to get Dondrink that quicker swing. The Netherlands really scrambling to keep those opportunities. Netherlands need to find something here. Italy are knocking on the door of this first set. Rhode Island flings it quickly to the middle. Fersino becomes the setter for Italy. And that's the result. High and wide. And that's enough for Antropova. Aggressive swing, but there's that double libero situation paying off. Fersino, or Spirito, excuse me, in the backcourt. She goes again. Chance for Navini. And she goes straight into a big Dutch block. And it's an ace serve. Netherlands putting some pressure on Italy here down the stretch. Fourth set point for Italy. Can they close it here? Navini finally gets it done for Italy. It took a little longer than they might've expected or liked. That first set is in the pocket. 25-21, Italy over the Netherlands. No changes from the first set. As we get underway, set number two. Netherlands with the first serve. Italy taking a swing. A ball has gone through Navini. Picks up. She gets another opportunity. The tip this time. Gets on the setter. That's a smart play. And a good scrappy attempt by the Netherlands. But the blocking has been solid on the Italian side. Oh, the ball. Good pick up. Chance for Antropova again. That's another good defense. Netherlands trying to stay in it. But the block returns and it's Twinkle Toes still up. And Donese at the net. Italy getting more and more comfortable as the match progresses. How about a solo block from Antropova on the right side? I think Janssen thought the cross court angle was open. And then the hands just- Italy well and truly in control. 14-7. And a defense. Rhode Island looking for solutions. Bayerns is one of them, but the block continues firing. Transition opportunity. In the end, the Bayerns can't find a way past that. Antropova on the service line. There it is. First ace of the match. Far from the end line this time. Goes between two receivers. Chance for Italy. Easily handled. Can be back to Igonu. And there it is. Good serve in. But again, so quick. And even when Italy- Two opposites on court. No setters for Italy. Who's going to step in? Firstino is there. Still up. Into hands and a good coverage. Chance again on the right side, but it goes down. A big block for the Netherlands. Vos to serve. Van der Waals, excuse me. There's the tip. Ready to swing. Italy with the defense. Comes over. Doesn't drop. Again, Silla keeping it in play. The Netherlands stay alive again. Third set point opportunity for Italy. Put it away with a tip. Body's on the floor. Yes, they can. Anna Deneze has done it. 25-16. And Italy take the second set. Third set underway. Italy now on the left side. Still in the blue. Netherlands still in the white, but now on the right side as Italy take a swing from their right side. And Trakova finding plenty of space. Better reception from the Netherlands. And there's the result. Help, but too much speed, too much angle. What can they do now? Italian attackers going deep almost every single time. Defense there. Chance again for Silla. This ball behind her. She opts to go free ball. And the Netherlands try to get something going, but again, Antropova with a chance. Tip is good. Another swing. Were there fingers? None called. There's a look at it. And indeed, all in play. Good dig from Otto. Chance for Antropova from off the net. Free ball coming back over. Deneze handles it perfectly. Again, to the opposite. One more chance for Italy. They can't find the floor just yet. Walkers doing their job. Back set coming from the libero, Jasper. And Italy, can they outlast the Netherlands? No, they cannot. Fantastic determination from the Dutch. Well, they know about making some really good decisions in a defensive position. It's a good serve in. Antropova again, quickly gets Italy off the point. She has been ruthless from the end line. Continues to. Paloma into the hands again. And another block for Italy. Really is a big run on the Deneze serve to open this set up again. And another big block. There is nowhere to go. Far and Antropova. She is putting that heat on. 1-1-13, the lead down the middle. Overpass, Sarah Farr is all over it. And another point for Italy. There's the second half of the sub. Can be checks in in the backcourt. They're going and running all the way across the front courts. No swing to be had. An overpass for the Netherlands. Now on whoever they play next. Loving our creative camera angles down there. Seeing that one through the arm of the bench. And another point. Goes the way of the Netherlands. Italy. I'd like this one to be resolved. That ball is in neutral space. So the challenge is unsuccessful. Has broken the vertical plane of the net. First match point. To send them to the semi-finals. The block is there. Netherlands try to stay in play. Good touch off the Italian side. Can be pushes it back to Igonu. She rolls it over. That's well dug. Down the line. No touch. Ball is out. And Italy have done it. Three sets is all it takes for the reigning VNL champions to move on to the semi-finals.