"We needed to win at least two sets to finish first and we did it. The first two sets were beautiful, then I'm very happy that we managed to give everyone some playing time because further down the line we'll need everyone's contribution; they hadn't played for a while and it was extremely difficult, they were really good at fighting through two sets and then going on to win the tie-break because it wasn't a foregone conclusion." These were the words of Simone Giannelli, captain of the national volleyball team, after the 3-2 victory over Slovenia, with high praise for the team's substitutes who came on in the third set.
"These have been great days of volleyball for us, with various situations," said Giannelli. "I'm happy that today we had a set, the second one, where we really struggled, we started from behind but we didn't give in, which is a very important thing. We did it and we managed to come back. Now we have to go to Turin taking the good things with us and try to bring them into the upcoming matches. As captain I try to do my part to help my teammates and I try to let them help me too because sometimes I need it as well: that's how a team works, that's how volleyball works."
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