Pardo Mati emerges as breakout star for Italy at European Volleyball Championships

Pardo Mati, a 20-year-old middle blocker for Modena, has emerged as a standout performer for the Italian men's national volleyball team during the 2026 European Championships. During the round of 16 match against Slovakia, Mati set a new record for points scored by a middle blocker in a single match for Italy, recording 22 points and surpassing the previous record of 21 set by Andrea Giani in 1999.

In addition to his scoring, Mati has established himself as a dominant defensive force at the net. He currently ranks second in the tournament's blocking standings with 20 blocks, averaging 4 per match. He trails only Belgium's Martijn Colson in the rankings. Following Italy's victory over Slovakia, the team is set to face Finland in the quarterfinals.