The elimination phase has begun in EuroVolley Women 2026 with the Round of 16 featuring two matches on the schedule this Sunday.

The day started with a monumental upset as Greece swept world No. 15 France in straight sets at the Winning Group Arena in Brno, Czechia. 
Entering the knockout phase as the clear underdogs against a highly-rated French squad, the Hellenic team delivered a masterclass performance to finish 3–0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-20). 
This historic victory books Greece's first-ever ticket to the EuroVolley quarterfinals. The absolute star of the match was Greece's 2.02m powerhouse opposite Martha Anthouli, who dominated as the top scorer with 20 points, while Cyrielle Depie led France with 12 points.
Later in the evening in the very same arena in Brno, Serbia advanced to the quarterfinals by overcoming a resilient Croatia. After dropping the first set, the heavy tournament favorites found their rhythm to secure a 3–1 victory (19-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-12). 
For Serbia, world-class superstars Tijana Bošković and Aleksandra Uzelac shared top-scoring honors with 18 points each. Croatia's offense was spearheaded by Samanta Fabris and Mika Grbavica, who scored 15 points apiece.
he high-stakes Round of 16 action will continue tomorrow, Monday, August 31, with four more thrilling matchups split across the two host cities. 
The excitement remains high at the Winning Group Arena in Brno, Czechia, where tournament powerhouses Italy will face Bulgaria, followed by host nation Czechia taking on Sweden.
 Meanwhile, the knockout phase kicks off at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Istanbul, Türkiye, featuring a clash between the Netherlands and Slovenia, before the local crowds gather to watch Poland square off against Portugal.
Photos: European Volleyball