Alan Nine
Volleyball.it on July 8 moved from senior international competition to youth continental events, federation-level decisions and the Italian market. The main result came in Hong Kong, where Italy's women's national team opened the last week of the Volleyball Nations League with a win over Ukraine. The day also brought two more positive results from Italy's youth teams in the European Championships, a major FIVB decision on Russia's return, institutional news around Men's EuroVolley 2026, and another significant move in SuperLega.
Women's VNL
Italy began Pool 8 in Hong Kong by beating Ukraine 3-1 at the Kai Tak Arena. The set scores were 25-15, 23-25, 25-10, 25-21, giving the team coached by Julio Velasco its seventh victory in this VNL and moving the Azzurre closer to mathematical qualification for the Finals in Macao.
Ekaterina Antropova finished as Italy's top scorer with 25 points, including 19 kills, 2 blocks and 4 aces. Sarah Fahr added 15 points and Anna Danesi scored 9. Volleyball.it reported that Italy regained structure with the return of Alessia Orro, Myriam Sylla, Danesi and Paola Egonu, then recovered well after dropping the second set and later coming back from a fourth-set deficit. Italy's next match is against Belgium on July 10.
International Under
Italy's youth teams also collected two important wins. In Porto San Giorgio, the Italy Under 18 men's team beat Serbia 3-2 in its European Championship opener, with set scores of 15-25, 25-23, 25-14, 15-25, 15-9. The side coached by Fanizza recovered after a difficult first set, lost momentum again in the fourth, and then controlled the tie-break. Diego Bussolari led the match with 27 points, while Massari and Mangini both reached 11. Italy returns to the court against Finland.
In Riga, the Italy Under 18 women's team also won 3-1, this time against Spain, after losing the first set. The final score was 20-25, 26-24, 25-16, 25-21. Volleyball.it highlighted the second-set escape and the comeback from 16-19 in the fourth. Lisa Monari Gamba and Bianca Legrenzi scored 16 points each, while Tessariol added 15. The result keeps Italy in the race for the semifinals before the decisive group-stage match against Turkey on July 9.
International And Institutions
Two wider international stories stood out on Volleyball.it. The first was FIVB's formal reinstatement of Russian athletes, coaches, clubs and national teams to official competitions. According to the report, Russia will be reinserted into the world ranking with the same points frozen in 2022, which places the men's team back at 352 points and in third place in the current ranking, while the women's team returns with 277.59 points in ninth place. Volleyball.it noted that the decision could immediately affect qualification paths, including the race for entry into the Volleyball Nations League 2027.
The second institutional update concerned Men's EuroVolley 2026, presented in Rome. Volleyball.it reported that the tournament will be staged in Italy from September 10 to 26, 2026, with matches in Naples, Modena, Turin and Milan, alongside co-hosts Bulgaria, Finland and Romania. The most notable announcement was that President Sergio Mattarella is expected to attend the opening match at Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples.
Italian Transfer News
On the market, Cucine Lube Civitanova made official the signing of setter Simeon "Moni" Nikolov on a three-year contract. The Bulgarian playmaker, born in 2006 and listed at 208 cm, arrives from Lokomotiv Novosibirsk. Volleyball.it recalled that he won the NCAA title with Long Beach State before moving to Russia and that he also collected a silver medal at the 2025 World Championship with Bulgaria. The move also reunites him at Lube with his brother Alex Nikolov.
Another confirmed move came from Tinet Prata, which completed its libero department by adding Federico Guadagnini alongside Alessandro Toscani. Guadagnini, born in 2004, developed at Materdomini Castellana Grotte and is preparing for his first season in SuperLega.
Sitting Volleyball
Italy's women's sitting volleyball team is ready for the World Championship in Hangzhou. Volleyball.it reported that the Azzurre, coached by technical director Pasquale D'Aniello, will open against France in the night between July 9 and 10 at 5:00 Italian time. Italy is in Pool D with Brazil, France and Thailand, and arrives as the fourth-ranked team in the world.
D'Aniello said the immediate objective is to confirm at least the fifth place achieved at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, while any better finish would confirm the team's growth. Volleyball.it also noted that the event will award the first direct qualification berths for Los Angeles 2028 to the winners of the men's and women's tournaments.
