Myriam Sylla celebrating with Galatasaray, no feat for Chieri

Galatasaray Istanbul has won the 2026 CEV Cup in women’s volleyball, Europe’s second most prestigious competition after the Champions League. After the tie-break success in the first leg match, the Turkish lineup repeated itself in the return, imposing itself in front of the 4,600 spectators at the Burhan Felek Salonu and lifting the trophy for the first time in its history (after the finals lost in 2012 against Busto Arsizio, in 2016 against Dinamo Krasnodar and in 2021 against Monza).

The team led by Alberto Bigarelli overcame Chieri 3-1 (25-28; 25-22; 25-18; 25-18). The Piedmontese tried to turn the tide (a 3-0 or 3-1 victory was needed, or in the tie-break with subsequent golden set), starting strong with success in the advantages in the first set and leading 14-11 in the second. From that moment, however, came the reaction of the hosts, who changed the inertia of the match by dominating the third and fourth set.

So the en-plein in continental competitions fades for Italy, after Vallefoglia’s triumph in the Challenge Cup, while the wait remains for the Champions League Final Four with Conegliano and Scandicci as protagonists.

Chieri failed to confirm the title won in 2024, while Myriam Sylla celebrated her first trophy in Turkey with the Galatasaray jersey. The Italian women’s attacker was among the best with 14 points (42% attack, 38% reception), centering her second European success after the Champions League won with Conegliano in 2021.

Alongside her were Ilkin Aydin (19 points), Alexia Carutasu (15) and center Yuanyuan Wang (11 points, with 4 walls and 2 ace). For Chieri, the most incisive were Anett Németh (16 points), Stella Nervini (15) and Laura Kuenzler (9), with Sarah Van Aalen at the helm and center contributions from Anastasia Cekulaev (6 points, 4 walls) and Sara Alberti (8).