USA women fall to Italy in Volley Masters final

by Paul Soriano USA Volleyball Manager, Media Relations & Publications

Simona Rinieri scored a match-high 20 points and Francesca Piccinini added 16 as Italy defeated the USA women's national volleyball team, 3-1, in the championship match of the Volley Masters Sunday afternoon in Montreux, Switzerland.

Rinieri had 16 kills and a match-high four blocks in the 20-25, 25-18, 33-31, 25-20 victory. Piccinini posted 14 kills, one block and one service ace and Nadia Centoni chipped in with 15 points on 15 kills as Italy finished the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record.

Two of the Italian's wins came against the United States (3-2), which still managed to post its best-ever finish at this tournament.

Tara Cross-Battle and Keba Phipps scored 18 points apiece to lead four Team USA players in double figures.

Cross-Battle (Houston, Texas), who is gunning for a record-fourth Olympic appearance later this summer, had 16 kills and two blocks. Phipps (Las Vegas, Nev.), an Olympian in 1988, also had 16 kills and two blocks.

Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa) added 16 points on 13 kills and three blocks to finish third among all players with 84 points in five matches (71 kills, 10 blocks and three aces). Phipps finished fifth with 73 points (61 kills, 11 blocks and one ace).

Danielle Scott (Baton Rouge, La.) had 11 points on seven kills, two blocks and two aces as Team USA dropped to 5-5 overall this season.

In other action on Sunday, China swept Cuba to win the third-place match, while Germany upset Russia, 3-0, in the fifth-place match.

Montreux Volley Masters Final Standings 1. Italy 2. USA 3. China 4. Cuba 5. Germany 6. Russia 7. Japan 7. Poland

Sunday's Results

Fifth-Place Match Germany def. Russia, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-21)

Third-Place Match China def. Cuba, 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-23)

Championship Match Italy def. USA, 3-1 (20-25, 25-18, 33-31, 25-20)

For more information, go to the USA Volleyball web site.