GOTHENBURG – The women's national team won Pool D and finished first in the group stage of the CEV Trendyol EuroVolley 2026. Against a France team that put the Italians to the test, Julio Velasco's team won 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-23, 25-19) and completed the week in Gothenburg with their fifth consecutive victory.
It was a victory unlike any previous one, built on adversity. France raised the bar, forcing Italy to find new solutions and adapt to the game's changing circumstances. Coach Velasco deployed Orro as distribution manager, Egonu as opposite hitter, Sylla and Nervini as spikers, Danesi and Fahr as middle blockers, and Fersino as libero. The Italians responded with personality and character, finding their game when the game demanded something extra, and thus leading the match to a significant victory.
Paola Egonu, who scored 22 points and was the Italian team's top scorer of the night, emphasized the value of the team's performance: "I definitely had a lot of fun with my teammates. It was a great team show, and I'm happy we were able to play this game this way, because facing a team that blocks and defends can really put you in trouble. We stayed focused and did what we had to do, so I'm very happy. Congratulations to us and to them, too, because they truly played a great game. We did a great job helping each other, despite our small imperfections. But that's precisely why we're a team, and that's why we'll always continue to help each other out.".
A 3-1 victory over France sealed Italy's group stage victory: five wins in five matches and 15 points. A clean sweep that secures the Azzurre first place in Pool D and now opens the door to the knockout stage. The national team's journey will continue in Brno, Czech Republic, where Italy will play the round of 16 against the fourth-placed team from Pool B. The opponent will be determined at the end of the group stage.
