Ismailia, Egypt, September 12, 2019 - Italy remain on track to defend their title from 2017 and go for an unprecedented third straight gold, after shutting out Peru 3-0 (25-19, 25-10, 25-18) here Thursday evening and advancing to Friday's semifinals at the 2019 FIVB Girls' U18 World Championship.
Italy will go up against China in their last obstacle before Saturday's medal matches. The Asian powerhouse had earlier in the day eliminated Romania in straight sets to make the top four of the competition.
Semifinals on Friday
• Brazil v USA
• China v Italy
Peru will next play Russia on Friday for positions 5-8. But the South Americans can no longer match or improve on their previous best of 4th, in 1993 and 2013.
Italy's Giorgia Frosini stretches out in front of coach Marco Mencarelli to keep the ball in play against Peru at the quarterfinals of the 2019 FIVB Girls' U18 World Championship in Ismailia.
Peru kept up with Italy through most of the first set, but there was never any doubt who was in control of the game and the 'Azzurre' broke away after the second technical timeout to open up a comfortable margin.
But the pace set by the Europeans was just a bit too much for Peru, who truggled to find a way around, over or through the Italian block.
Italy stuffed Peru ten times (to just one) - Emma Graziani accounting for six of these blocks to emerge top scorer of the game on 12 points. Oghosasere Omoruyi added another 11 for Italy.
No amount of substitutions by Peru coach, the legendary Natalia Malaga, could turn the tide, as Antuanett Arteaga the South Americans' high of seven points.
Peru in a rare celebration of a point against Italy Thursday night in Ismailia for the quarterfinals of the 2019 FIVB Girls' U18 World Championship.
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