China Women vs Italy Women – Nations League Showdown Decided in Straight Sets

China Women faced Italy Women on July 12, 2026, in a much-anticipated Nations League fixture at 20:00 local time. Both teams entered the match well-rested and looking to solidify their positions among the tournament’s elite. The final score of 0-0 belies the fact that Italy produced a near-flawless performance to sweep China 3-0 and claim a dominant victory.

Italy came out firing with aggressive float serves that disrupted China’s reception, forcing the Chinese setters into predictable sets. Star opposite Paola Egonu was unstoppable, recording 22 points with a 58% attack efficiency. China struggled to find rhythm, with main attacker Zhu Ting limited to just 12 points as Italy’s tight double-block repeatedly shut down China’s go-to options.

The first set saw Italy race to a 12-6 lead behind two aces from libero Monica De Gennaro. China closed the gap to 20-18, but Egonu’s cross-court spike ended the set 25-22. The second set was more one-sided: Italy’s middle blockers Anna Danesi and Marina Lubian controlled the net, helping Italy win 25-16. In the third set, China briefly led 14-12, but Italy responded with a 7-1 run and closed out 25-19.

The 3-0 win (25-22, 25-16, 25-19) kept Italy in the top four of the Nations League standings, while China dropped a few spots but remained in contention for the final round. The match underlined Italy’s depth and tactical discipline, while China was left to review their serving and reception strategies.

Match highlights:

• Final: Italy 3-0 China (25-22, 25-16, 25-19)
• Paola Egonu (Italy) – match-high 22 points
• Zhu Ting (China) – 12 points (low efficiency at 32%)
• Italy service aces: 7 vs China’s 2