On August 13, 2026, in the Polish city of Koszalin, a dramatic match took place at the Agata Mróz-Olszewska Memorial arena between the women's national teams of Ukraine and Italy. The Ukrainian volleyball players, despite their status as underdogs in this group, managed to offer worthy resistance to the reigning world champions, demonstrating incredible will to win and tactical flexibility.
Incredible surge in the opening set
The match began with a surprise for all observers. The Ukrainian national team, which had suffered a defeat the day before against the tournament hosts — the Polish team with a score of 0:3 — took to the court ready to fight. At the very beginning of the match, the "blue-and-yellows" were losing 0:5, which set the tone for an early defeat. However, it was at this moment that the Ukrainian girls found the strength for a powerful surge. A series of nine consecutive points won, orchestrated on the serve of Alexandra Milenko, allowed the team not only to equalize the score but also to confidently close the first set with a score of 25:18. This success was a real surprise for the match favorites.
Turning point: injury to Italy's leader
The start of the second set was marked by a serious loss for the Italian team. Attacker Lovet Omoruya suffered an injury and was forced to leave the court. Despite this personnel blow, the favorites of the match were able to adapt quickly to the situation. The Italians gradually seized the initiative, neutralizing the attacking surge of the Ukrainian team. In the end, despite the tough fight, the Italian team won the next three sets, finishing the match in their favor.
Statistics and key players
In the Ukrainian team, the most productive player was Anastasia Danchak, who scored 15 points. Among the opponents, the star Paola Egon stood out, bringing 17 points to her team. According to the main statistical indicators, the teams demonstrated equal play: both teams had 7 blocks to their credit, and the advantage in aces was minimal in favor of the Italians — 4:3. This statistics confirms that Ukrainian volleyball players are capable of competing on equal terms with the strongest teams in the world.
Final match before Euro 2026
The Ukrainian national team will play its final match of the tournament today, August 13, against the French team. The start of the match is scheduled for 21:30 Kyiv time. The French team, known as "Les Bleues", lost their first two matches to the Italians and Poles with the same score of 0:3. This game will be the final test of strength for the Ukrainian volleyball players before the start of the European Championship, which begins on August 21. The team will strive to end the tournament on a positive note to enter the main tournament of the year with confidence in their abilities.
