2003 🇮🇹 Italy vs USA 🇺🇸 🏐 Women Volleyball 🏐 FIVB World Grand Prix

2003 FIVB World Grand Prix was the 1st time held in non-Asia countries. The location changed to Italy because of the SARS outbreak in Asia that year. The broadcast quality with huge room of improvement. 12 teams split into 2 pool and top 3 team entered into final round and played round robin to decide the champion.
Post-Match Commentary :
This was preliminary round Day 5 match. Both teams were confirmed can enter the final round so it became a training match for both team. These two teams were gold and silver medal holder of 2002 World Championship.
USA was the 1st runner up of 2002 World Championship. Japanese coach made this American squad defence improved. #18 Metcalf (25yo, 1.84m) played with #15 Logan Tom (22yo, 1.84m) as outside hitter while #3 Haneef (24yo, 2m) as opposite hitter in Montreux but #1 Prikeba Phipps (34yo, 1.9m) & #13 Tara Cross battle (35yo, 1.8m) back in WGP. In this match #15 Tom was rest. For Italy, MVP #3 Togut didn't play in lineup, Italian coach used new form since Montrex and WGP, 2003 Italy performance was not as good as 2002 and Piccinini even not in the 14 roaster. It was funny how Italy scored in the last point in 5th set.

[@flamesniper126]

Centoni was a good alternate for Togut

[@SolobayashiVolley]

She’s better than Togut, personally feeling