Italy women's volleyball prepares for VNL clash with Netherlands

Italy's women's national volleyball team entered the 2026 Volleyball Nations League after a 3‑0 victory over Bulgaria. Coach Julio Velasco is using the tournament to test new line‑ups, including debutants Francesca Scola, Denise Meli, Linda Manfredini and Merit Adigwe, while senior players such as Alessia Orro, Myriam Sylla, Sarah Fahr, Anna Danesi and Paola Egonu are rested.

The next match on 5‑6 June in Brasília pits Italy against the Netherlands, a rising European side coached by Felix Koslowski. The Dutch roster features captain and outside hitter Nika Daalderop, plus a strong block of players such as Marrit Jasper, Jolien Knollema and Elles Dambrink. The contest will highlight contrasting styles—Italy’s varied attack versus the Netherlands’ physical play—and Velasco’s experiment moving Kate Antropova from opposite to an outside‑hitter role.