Alan Nine
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 brought a broad mix of international results, youth-national-team updates and transfer-market movement on Volleyball.it. The day’s clearest on-court headline came from Koszalin, where Italy opened the Memorial Agata Mróz-Olszewska with a straight-sets win over France. Elsewhere, the Italian youth sector answered quickly at the Under 17 Women’s World Championship, while the market focused on major coaching and roster moves involving Milano, Galatasaray and several internationally relevant names.
The same cycle also pushed the calendar forward. Asia now has its men’s continental pools for Fukuoka 2026, with an Olympic place already attached to the tournament, while Italy’s leading women’s beach-volleyball pair heads into the continental championship in Stare Jablonki with a top-three seeding and direct Olympic qualification also at stake.
International
Italy’s women began their Koszalin campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over France, taking the match 25-15, 25-22, 25-13. Julio Velasco started with Orro, Antropova, Nervini, Sylla, Danesi, Fahr and libero Fersino, and got immediate control through serve and block. Sarah Fahr finished with 14 points, Ekaterina Antropova scored 13, and the third set was effectively sealed by Antropova’s run of four consecutive aces. Italy will return to the court on Wednesday, August 12 against Ukraine.
Another international development came from Fukuoka, where the pools were drawn for the AVC Men’s Volleyball Continental Fukuoka 2026, scheduled from September 4 to 13. The tournament will feature 12 national teams split into three groups of four, and the winner will secure the direct Asian place for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Japan was placed with Australia, Bahrain and Oman; Iran will face China, India and New Zealand; and the third pool includes Qatar, South Korea, Chinese Taipei and Thailand.
International Under
At the Under 17 Women’s World Championship in Santiago del Cile, Italy reacted to its previous defeat against South Korea by beating Puerto Rico 3-0 with set scores of 25-18, 25-21, 25-15. The team coached by Monica Cresta moved to three wins and one loss in the competition. Hillary Uwadiae led the Italian scoring with 19 points, while Terzi added 13 and both Borrello and Scalzotto finished on 10.
Italy made the difference mainly in attack and from the service line, closing with 46 winning attacks against 25 for Puerto Rico and with 10 aces against 2. Puerto Rico was better in blocking, 5-3, but Italy controlled the match throughout and now heads into its last Pool D match against Chinese Taipei, scheduled in Italy for the night of August 12.
Italian Transfer News
In the Italian market, Gianlorenzo Blengini moved closer to becoming the new head coach of Numia Vero Volley Milano. The source article made clear that official announcements are still pending, but also reported that the former Italy men’s national-team coach is already working on the construction of the staff that would accompany him in his first experience in the women’s game. That operational step makes the move significantly more concrete.
The same report also pointed to the parallel consequence of the deal: Stefano Lavarini is expected to move to Fenerbahce, with Turkish media indicating a €200,000 buyout for Milano to release the coach from his contract. However, that figure appears disproportionate and unrealistic: according to our information, the actual buyout is no more than €50,000.
For Blengini, it would mark a major transition after a career built entirely in the men’s game and after his recent work with the Bulgaria national team.
Foreign Transfer News
In Turkey, Efe Mandiraci was officially presented by Galatasaray after his spell with Piacenza. The outside hitter described the move as a personal return to the club he supported as a child and linked it to a new competitive goal after winning the CEV Cup in Italy. During the presentation he also explained that he is still working through the physical issue that kept him out of the Volleyball Nations League with Turkey, although he said his condition has improved.
The article also clarified the club’s ambition for the new men’s project. Vice-president Mehmet Cibara framed the roster around domestic trophies and another step forward in the Champions League. Mandiraci, who chose shirt number 99 after not taking the number 9 used by Jean Patry, is expected to be one of the reference players in a squad built with significant international depth.
Beach Volley
Italy’s women’s beach-volleyball campaign at the European Championships in Stare Jablonki will start on Wednesday, August 12 with Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth entering the event as the third seeds. Their opening match in Pool C is scheduled for 11:30 against the Lithuanian pair Vasiliauskaite-Kliokmanaite, in a group that also includes the German teams Bock-Kunst and Paul-Lippmann.
The tournament will not include Italy’s other planned women’s pair, because Claudia Scampoli’s hand injury forced the withdrawal of the team with Giada Bianchi. For Gottardi and Orsi Toth, the event follows a 2026 campaign that already includes the second place in Brasilia, a fourth place in Hamburg, victory in Falconara Marittima and silver in the CEV Nations Cup. The European title carries extra weight this year, because the winning pairs in both draws will earn direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
