Italy welcomed back several leading players and opened the final week of the Volleyball Nations League 2026 Preliminary Phase with a 3-1 win over Ukraine in Hong Kong.
The reigning Olympic and world champions won 25-15, 23-25, 25-10, 25-21 after Ukraine briefly disrupted their momentum by taking the second set.
Setter Alessia Orro, outside hitter Myriam Sylla, middle blockers Sarah Fahr and Anna Danesi, and opposite Paola Egonu all made their first VNL appearances of the season. Their return added experience to an Italian squad that had used a younger group during the opening two weeks.
Ekaterina Antropova led Italy with 25 points, producing 19 kills, four aces and two blocks. Fahr added 14 points and Sylla scored 12.
Italy improved to seven wins from nine matches and 21 points, keeping pace with leaders United States and Brazil, who both have eight wins and 23 points.
Ukraine remain 15th with two wins and six points. Captain Svitlana Dorsman scored 12 points, while Anna Artyshuk added 11.
In other matches, Canada strengthened its Finals hopes with a five-set win over China, while Brazil defeated hosts Japan in Osaka. The United States swept Thailand, and Türkiye moved above Poland after a four-set victory.
Results
- Italy beat Ukraine 3-1: 25-15, 23-25, 25-10, 25-21
- Canada beat China 3-2: 19-25, 25-17, 25-22, 23-25, 15-11
- Belgium beat Dominican Republic 3-2: 25-19, 25-20, 14-25, 24-26, 15-12
- Brazil beat Japan 3-1: 25-20, 19-25, 25-19, 25-23
- United States beat Thailand 3-0: 25-21, 25-18, 25-20
- Türkiye beat Poland 3-1: 27-25, 20-25, 25-19, 25-19
- Netherlands beat France 3-0: 25-22, 25-18, 25-23
- Germany beat Czechia 3-1: 22-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-17
- Serbia beat Bulgaria 3-0: 25-16, 25-19, 27-25