By Elliott Almond

San Jose Mercury News

BEIJING — Erzsebet Valkai is an engaging, friendly woman who speaks five languages. She also is a dreaded Italian water polo player, a member of a team that has built a reputation as one of the most brutish in the world.

“Anybody but Italy,” said one Australian when describing who she likes to play against.

But the top-ranked United States had no choice Wednesday night at Ying Tung Natatorium. In their second match of the Beijing Games, the Americans faced the team that defeated them in the semifinals of the Olympics four years ago.

A taut match ended in a 9-9 tie when Italy’s Elisa Casanova scored with 22 seconds left after Stanford’s Alison Gregorka was excluded. In typical fashion of the sport, Gregorka was called for a major foul after Casanova showed little love by elbowing the American in the face.

Because so much of the nasty stuff happens underwater, it can be difficult to tell who the culprit is in these situations.

”There are going to be some hits,” former Cal star Heather Petri said. “If there isn’t it wouldn’t be water polo.”

Valkai, 29, played for Hungary in the Athens Games. After marrying an Italian she switched allegiances and joined the 2004 silver medalists. Her analysis of the Italian style: The women aren’t as big so they do what they can to equalize the situation.

”We pull each other’s swim suits, we kick, we hit,” said Valkai, whose sister Agnes plays for the Hungarian Olympic team. “I think it is almost a different kind of sport than men’s water polo. I don’t think we are the hardest team. We are smaller, we are not so strong.”

Perhaps her assessment is true, but it didn’t look that way Wednesday. Italy is anchored by, well, an anchor the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Casanova.

After Casanova’s shot, the Italians celebrated wildly, whereas the Americans looked somber. But their disposition certainly improved an hour later when China upset Russia, knocking one of the world’s top teams out of the medal round. China’s victory also ensured the United States will advance to the quarterfinals. The Americans end round-robin play Friday against Russia.

The Americans, led Wednesday by two goals each from Brittany Hayes and Stanford graduate Brenda Villa, have a different attitude in Beijing. Four years ago they arrived in Greece with too much confidence as the defending world champions. This time, the reigning world champions know every match will be difficult.

”The teams are giving it the best and we’re giving it right back,” Petri said.