Italvolley dominates, beats Bulgaria 3-0, and advances to the quarterfinals

The European Championship is moving to the next stage, but Italy’s momentum remains unchanged. Julio Velasco’s Italian women’s team continues to dominate the CEV Trendyol EuroVolley 2026 and secures a spot in the quarterfinals thanks to a decisive 3-0 victory over Bulgaria (25-18, 25-13, 25-13). For the women’s national team, this marks their sixth consecutive victory in the competition, following their perfect run in Pool D in Gothenburg.

In the stunning setting of Pavilion P at the BVV in Brno, Italy defeated a young, solid, and well-organized Bulgarian team, though Bulgaria never truly posed a threat to the Italian champions. Velasco’s team approached their first knockout match with great focus and wrapped up the match in just three sets. Once again, Antropova and Egonu led the way for Italy. Antropova scored 18 points, including 6 aces, 2 blocks, and a 48% attack success rate, while Egonu finished with 14 points. Sylla also made an important contribution, dominating especially in reception with a 40% perfect reception rate.

Service and blocking were the key factors in the match. Italy finished with an impressive 13-1 edge in aces and also dominated at the net, winning 8-1 in blocks. These numbers tell the story of a match controlled from start to finish and a national team capable of raising its level even further when the stakes get higher. For the Azzurre, this marks their first victory in the knockout stage of this European Championship. Their next opponent will be the winner of the round of 16 match between the Czech Republic and Sweden, scheduled for tonight in Brno.

Once again, the BVV Veletrhy (Pavilion P, Brno Exhibition Center)—a 5,000-seat venue that has hosted all of Pool B’s matches and four Round of 16 matches—will serve as the setting for Italy’s next match. The quarterfinals are scheduled for September 2, with start times still to be determined. The Serbia-Greece match and the Italian team’s game will also be played in Brno, while the other two quarterfinals are scheduled for September 3 in Istanbul at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall.