Turkey defeats Italy in five-set European Women's Volleyball Championship final
Turkey defeated Italy 3-2 in a five-set final to win the European Women's Volleyball Championship in Istanbul, denying Italy a historic international treble.
Italy fell short of a historic international treble after losing 3-2 to host nation Turkey in the European Women's Volleyball Championship final in Istanbul.
The Italian side under head coach Julio Velasco took the lead twice by winning the first and third sets, but Turkey rallied to claim victory in the tie-break, finishing 25-16, 22-25, 25-12, 21-25, 10-15 before a capacity crowd of 16,000 at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall. Paola Egonu scored 28 points for Italy, while Ekaterina Antropova added 16 points.
The loss prevented Italy from adding a European crown to their recent Olympic and World titles, a treble previously achieved only by the Soviet Union between 1968 and 1970. With the victory, Turkey secured qualification for the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Serbia took third place after defeating Poland 3-1.
Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Gazzetta dello Sport, La Repubblica
Sources
- Corriere della Sera — Italia-Turchia, finale Europei pallavolo femminile in diretta |
- La Repubblica — Volley l’Italia cede al tie-break in finale, Turchia campione d’Europa
- Il Messaggero — Italia-Turchia, le pagelle della finale di volley femminile: Egonu (7,5) garanzia, Antropova (5,5) la meno brillante, Danesi (7) c'è sempre
- ANSA — Eurovolley: sfuma in finale il sogno del 'triplete' per le azzurre di Velasco
- La Gazzetta dello Sport — Eurovolley finale, Italia-Turchia 2-3: highlights. Tie-break fatale per le Azzurre
Earlier coverage
- Sep 7, 2026, 03:30 AM UTCTurkey defeats Italy in five-set EuroVolley final in Istanbul