The EuroVolley Women final on Sunday, September 6, 2026. Playing in front of a roaring home crowd of over 17,000 fans at the Sinan Erdem Sports Hall in Istanbul, the "Sultans of the Net" defeated Italy in what was an epic final. 
With this triumph, the Turkish squad retained the title they acquired in the previous edition in 2023 and also secured an automatic qualification spot for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The context of this blockbuster matchup carried immense narrative stakes for both volleyball powerhouses. Italy arrived in Istanbul aiming for a historic triple crown, riding the momentum of their Paris 2024 Olympic gold and their 2025 World Championship title—where they had beaten Türkiye in the final. 
On the other side, Daniele Santarelli’s Turkish squad was fueled by a fierce desire for revenge and the ultimate home-court advantage, determined to keep their trophy on home soil.
The progress of the match was a dramatic rollercoaster as both teams traded dominant periods. Italy completely overwhelmed the hosts in the odd sets, easily taking the first (25-16) and third (25-12) frames behind a flawless blocking game and lethal service runs from setter Alessia Orro. 
However, facing tremendous pressure, Türkiye relied on their collective resilience and crowd energy to fight back, clawing their way to victory in the second (25-22) and fourth sets (25-21). In the definitive tie-break, the hosts broke a 4-4 deadlock to pull away and seal the continental crown with a 3-2 total score (16-25, 25-22, 12-25, 25-21, 15-10).

Key players on both sides delivered a world-class spectacle, spearheaded by the unstoppable Melissa Vargas. The Turkish opposite hitter exploded for 28 points, carrying the offensive load and delivering the decisive serves that broke Italy in the final set. 
She was heavily supported by iconic veteran captain Eda Erdem Dündar and substitute Derya Cebecioğlu, whose crucial stabilization of the reception turned the tide in the second set. For Italy, superstar Paola Egonu matched Vargas step-for-step with 28 points of her own alongside strong net play from Myriam Sylla, but it wasn't enough to shatter the Turkish defense.
Photos: European Volleyball