After the match - Simona Gioli is congratulated by her husband Vincenzo.

Italy won the first set by the narrowest of margins, 25-23. Although Serbia continued to press through the rest of the match, particularly in the third set where they went point-for-point with the Italians for the first 20 points of the set, they could not quite get to grips with the powerful and deservedly-fancied Italians, and eventually they succumbed 23-25, 20-25, 19-25, although they will be bitterly disappointed to have conceded the match on a foul serve.

The noisy Italian fans celebrated their team's triumph, while Chinese minds immediately turned to the evening's juicy prospect - the biggest clash of the women's volleyball so far: China v. the USA.

Italian supporters show that they know how to celebrate.

(China.org.cn August 15, 2008)