Italy overcame a shock opening-set defeat to beat the Czech Republic 3-1 in Modena on Tuesday evening, staying unbeaten at the top of Group A in the men's European Volleyball Championship, known as EuroVolley.
Italy and the Czech Republic had been the only two unbeaten teams in the group, so the match doubled as a contest for first place in the table. Italy, the reigning world champions, went in as clear favourites.
The opening set brought an immediate surprise. Italy struggled to trouble the Czech serve, and the Czechs built an early three-point lead at 11-8. Italy briefly edged ahead at 15-14, but Czech attacker Patrik Indra was in inspired form, and it was Matous Drahonovsky's serve that proved decisive. Three straight points off his serve put the Czechs 18-15 up, and they soon stretched the lead to 21-16.
Italy fought back late, with Gianelli and Romano both landing service aces, but it was not enough. Romano then erred on serve at the third set point, and the Czech Republic held on to win the set 25-23.
Italy Respond to Level the Match
Ferdinando de Giorgi's side reacted immediately in the second set, sharpening their serve from the start. Romano fired down three more aces and Mati added another, while the Czechs struggled with their reception and could not finish attacks. Italy shot into a 4-12 lead and never let their advantage slip below seven points, cruising to a 25-16 win to level the match at 1-1.
Italy Turn the Match Around
The pattern repeated early in the third set, as the Czechs again could not handle Italy's serve, with Bottolo and Lavia scoring points straight off their own serves to put Italy 11-5 up. Italy's lead briefly evaporated when they dropped four points in a row and their coach called a timeout, and from there their advantage hovered around two points for some time. Two further aces from Bottolo made it 20-18, before points from Lavia and Romano sealed a 25-20 win, with the set ending on another Romano ace. Italy led the match 2-1.
The fourth set stayed close for long stretches, with Italy holding only a narrow edge. Czech reserve Jiri Benda answered with strong attacks and an effective block to keep his side in touch, but Italy would not give up the lead, with Romano proving almost unstoppable in attack. In the decisive stretch Italy pulled away again: back-to-back kills from Bottolo made it 22-19, before another Romano attack and a block from Galassi handed Italy match points. They converted the second, through Bottolo, closing out a 25-20 win and a 3-1 victory in the match.
Group A Standings
The win kept Italy top of Group A with a perfect 12 points from four matches. The Czech Republic sit second on eight points, ahead of Slovenia, Greece, Sweden and Slovakia.
EuroVolley is the continental championship for national volleyball teams, organised across several host countries. Italy have held the world title since winning it in 2022 under head coach Ferdinando de Giorgi.
