SENDAI, Japan, 19 July 2005 — Defending champions Brazil missed several match points in the fourth set before edging past Italy to retain the women’s volleyball World Grand Prix title yesterday.
The Brazilian women took a commanding two sets to one and 24-22 in the fourth before repeating deuces four times to lose the set, but jumped ahead 8-1 in the fifth to seal a 25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 27-29, 15-7 victory.
Brazil finished the six-team round-robin competition with four wins against one defeat. Italy and Cuba have identical 3-2 win-loss records.
Earlier in the day, former champions Cuba downed the Netherlands 25-20, 25-22, 25-20.
It was a repeat performance for the Brazilians, who defeated Italy in four sets in last year’s final.
It was a record fifth title for Brazil, following their victories in 1994, 1996, 1998 and last year. Russia have won the Grand Prix three times, while Cuba and the United States have won twice each and China once.
