Julio Velasco has selected the 14 members of the Italian women’s national volleyball team for the European Women’s Volleyball Championship
The Italian women’s national volleyball team’s summer is entering its decisive phase: after weeks of training and a run that included a third-place finish in the VNL, Italy is ready to turn the page and focus on the 2026 European Championships. The continental tournament, scheduled for August 21 through September 6, will take place in four countries (Turkey, the Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, and Sweden), with the Azzurre placed in Group D in Gothenburg, alongside Croatia, Montenegro, Sweden, Slovakia, and France—whom Italy will face in that order.
The team will depart for Sweden on Tuesday and will hold its first practice that same afternoon at the Scandinavium, the venue for all group-stage matches. Their debut is scheduled for Friday, August 21, at 4:00 p.m. against Croatia. Italy heads into the tournament after an intense preparation period, which began with a training camp in Cavalese and continued in Poland with the Agata Mróz-Olszewska Memorial, where they secured the championship title.
At the end of this preparation period, Julio Velasco finalized the roster of 14 players. Loveth Omoruyi is not among them, as she has been sidelined due to an injury sustained during the tournament in Poland. The head coach has chosen to rely on the setter duo of Carlotta Cambi and Alessia Orro, as well as the solidity of outside hitters Stella Nervini, Myriam Sylla, Gaia Giovannini, and Ekaterina Antropova.
The middle blockers combine experience and physicality with Denise Meli, captain Anna Danesi, Linda Nwakalor, and Sarah Fahr, while Merit Adigwe and Paola Egonu will play as outside hitters. Finally, the libero position will be filled by Ilaria Spirito and Eleonora Fersino. Italy, the reigning world and Olympic champion, is aiming for redemption at the European level: in the last edition, the Azzurre finished off the podium, losing to Turkey in the semifinals and to the Netherlands in the third-place match.
Below are the 14 Azzurre players called up for the 2026 European Championships and their jersey numbers:
Setters: 3. Carlotta Cambi, 8. Alessia Orro;
Outside Hitters: 16. Stella Nervini, 17. Myriam Sylla, 22. Gaia Giovannini, 24. Ekaterina Antropova;
Middle blockers: 2. Denise Meli, 11. Anna Danesi (C), 14. Linda Nwakalor, 19. Sarah Fahr;
Opposite Hitters: 15 Merit Adigwe, 18. Paola Egonu;
Liberos: 5. Ilaria Spirito, 7. Eleonora Fersino.
