Coming off a tough five-set loss to Brazil that snapped its unbeaten run in Week 1, Italy wasted no time getting back on track.
The world’s top-ranked team opened the Pasig City leg of the 2026 FIVB Women’s Volleyball Nations League presented by the Philippine Sports Commission with a commanding straight-set victory over Czechia, 25-18, 25-21, 25-22, on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena.
Italy entered Week 2 eager to rebound after falling to host Brazil, the world No. 2 squad, 25-15, 25-22, 22-25, 24-26, 15-12, on June 8. Determined to move forward from that setback, the Azzurre improved to 4-1 in the tournament with an emphatic bounce-back win.
“We’re really happy to start a new week. We know that playing against Brazil in Brazil was hard and we’re really happy with the result this time,” said Italy wing spiker Kate Antropova.
“It’s not fun losing, but it’s a great match to learn from,” she added as Italy continues its VNL campaign without star opposite hitter Paola Egonu.
Antropova stepped up once again, shining in an outside hitter role with 21 points built on 14 attacks, six aces, and one block.
For the 23-year-old, serving as Italy’s primary scorer during the first two weeks of the tournament has been a rewarding challenge, especially amid the team’s constant positional adjustments aimed at increasing versatility.
“I’m happy that I could help my team with 21 points. We’re still fighting over it, though, and we’re still switching positions. For now, it’s easy to find my game, but I’m happy when I can help my team,” said the 6-foot-8 standout.
The straight-sets triumph earned Italy the full three points, lifting the defending champions to the top of the 18-team standings with 13 points from a 4-1 record.
Antropova emphasized the significance of Week 2 in the Philippines as Italy seeks to strengthen its bid for a third consecutive VNL crown.
“We know that every match gives us points. For sure, it’s hard for us to go to the finals. We’ll see. For sure, this team is really young. We need to learn from them. They have different styles of volleyball. But we know that every match is important for the finals,” said Antropova, who plays professionally for Savino del Bene in Italy’s Serie A1.
