Italy reached new heights, qualifying for their first-ever Volleyball Nations League (VNL) final with a powerful 3-1 victory over Slovenia. The semifinal clash ended 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-18, sealing a historic moment for Italian volleyball and guaranteeing the team its first VNL medal since the competition’s launch in 2018.
Inside the packed Beilun Sport and Arts Centre, 4,000 fans witnessed a high-energy, high-stakes match where Italy proved once again that they are a force on the world stage.
The match opened with a bang, as captain Simone Giannelli delivered an ace on the very first point. Both teams went back and forth early on, but Italy’s sharper attacking edge gave them the set 25-22. Slovenia came roaring back in the second, punishing Italian errors and riding strong performances from Mozic and Stern to take it 25-22.
Refusing to lose control, Italy regrouped in the third set. Michieletto took over with a dominant showing at the net, and timely substitutions, including Romanò and Galassi, gave Italy the momentum. They pulled away late to close the third 25-21.
In the fourth and final set, Italy left no room for a Slovenian comeback. Michieletto continued to shine, Giannelli ran the offense with confidence, and the defense held firm. With Romanò adding firepower and Gargiulo delivering at the net, the Azzurri stormed ahead and shut the match down 25-18.
Match Top Scorers
- Alessandro Michieletto (Italy): 26 points
- Daniele Lavia (Italy): 12 points
- Kamil Rychlicki (Italy): 11 points
- Yuri Romanò (Italy): 9 points
- Rok Mozic (Slovenia): 14 points
- Ziga Stern (Slovenia): 11 points
- Jan Kozamernik (Slovenia): 10 points
This win also continues Italy’s strong record against Slovenia, following crucial victories in the 2021 European Championship final and 2022 World Championship semifinal. Their current VNL campaign now includes an impressive 12 match wins.
Italy will face either Brazil or Poland in the final, scheduled for August 3 at 13:00 CET (11:00 UTC), with live coverage on VBTV.
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