The Italian women’s national volleyball team secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Sweden in the quarterfinals of the CEV EuroVolley Women 2026, advancing to the tournament semifinals in Istanbul, according to reports from Corriere della Sera, La Gazzetta dello Sport, and Sky Sport Italia. Playing at the tournament venue in Brno, Czech Republic, head coach Julio Velasco’s squad dropped the opening set before mounting a decisive comeback to win 21-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-23.
For the Italian side, the quarterfinal triumph marks their seventh consecutive victory since the start of the continental tournament and their second win in the knockout stages, following a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria in the round of 16, as noted by Sky Sport Italia. The program is now tracking toward its thirteenth all-time appearance in a European Championship semifinal, matching a history that most recently included a 3-0 quarterfinal win over France during the 2023 edition.
Sweden put up a formidable challenge behind an extraordinary individual performance from Isabelle Haak, who racked up 42 points on the night, as reported by Sky Sport Italia. Despite the offensive load shouldered by the Swedish star, Italy’s balanced attack wore down the defense. Paola Egonu led the Azzurre with 27 points, earning praise from La Gazzetta dello Sport for stepping up when her team needed her most. She was supported by Ekaterina Antropova with 22 points and Miriam Sylla with 14 points.
Reflecting on the tense battle, Paola Egonu shared her thoughts with Sky Sport Italia after the match. “It was great to play, suffer, and come out of it well. I am happy to have found my rhythm and to have given everything for my team,” Egonu said. “At the beginning, we had to find our positions a bit, then they played a great game, but we sorted ourselves out and managed to close it out. Meanwhile, we’ve arrived in Istanbul, and then we’ll see.”
Tactical adjustments and the road to Istanbul
While Orro experienced moments of uneven rhythm—earning a 5,5 rating in La Gazzetta dello Sport’s player evaluations—the team’s depth ultimately stabilized the game after the opening set went to Sweden 25-21.
The second set proved to be the turning point of the match. Italy scraped through 26-24, neutralizing Sweden’s momentum before taking control of the third set 25-21 and closing out the fourth 25-23. The victory sets up a semifinal clash in Istanbul, where the Azzurre will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between Poland and the Netherlands.
Historical context and tournament implications
The current European campaign carries historical weight for the Italian program. The team is pursuing an international treble, attempting to match a feat accomplished by the Soviet Union between the late 1960s and early 1990s: holding the Olympic, World, and European championship titles concurrently, according to Sky Sport Italia records. This run follows a demanding international calendar that earlier saw the Azzurre’s 39-match win streak snapped by Brazil on June 7 in the Volleyball Nations League.
In the other bracket developments reported by Sky Sport Italia, Serbia advanced to the semifinals with a 3-0 win over Greece and awaits the winner of the quarterfinal between Germany and Turkey. The final four matches in Istanbul will determine the continental champion as the tournament reaches its concluding weekend.
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