Italy face tall order for men’s volleyball hat-trick at Rhine-Ruhr 2025

BERLIN - Italy face tough competition as they begin their quest for a third consecutive men’s volleyball gold medal when the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games tournament starts in Berlin on 16 July.

The reigning champions have been drawn in a tricky group D against Republic of Korea, FISU Games-debutants USA, and hosts Germany, whose coach Christian Dünnes (GER) picked the European rivals as the team to beat.

“It’s a tough group,” said Dünnes. “Italy will have some first-league regulars. It will be a big challenge to prevail against them.

“The USA is fundamentally a top nation in volleyball, especially with their strong university league. They will certainly put together a top team right from the start.

“In this group, every set you win is already a strong performance. Every game you win is highly valued.”

Italy won on home soil at the Napoli 2019 FISU Games before defending their title at Chengdu, China, two years ago, defeating Poland in both gold medal matches. With top scorer Giulio Magalini (ITA), who scored 14 points in the Chengdu final, still in the team, Italy have a strong chance of defending their title in the German capital.

California dreaming

Represented by a squad from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), USA hope to upset the big volleyball nations. UCI have claimed four national titles and are frequently ranked in the top 10 in the USA college sports.

The current team this year equalled the university’s 2003 record of 10 straight victories in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s volleyball league.

Poland have been matched with Colombia, Argentina and Chengdu bronze medallists China in group C as they aim to turn their two consecutive silver medals into gold.

Michal Gierzot (POL) was in the team that suffered a 3-0 defeat in the 2023 final against Italy and will be hoping to go all the way this time.

Outside hitter Stal Nysa from the PSG side is one of three Polish players from the country’s top volleyball league, the PlusLiga, along with Trefl Gdansk’s opposite hitter, Aliaksei Nasevich (POL), and JSW Jastrzębski Wegiel’s middle blocker, Jordan Jerzy Zaleszczyk (POL).

Poland’s women also made it to the podium in Chengdu and will look to upgrade their bronze medal in Berlin.

Their outside hitter Weronika Szlagowska has represented Poland at a senior level and has bags of experience from the country’s top league, TauronLiga. She was a key player in 2023, with 21 points in the bronze medal match, and will hope to lead the Poles to another success.

Defending champions China start their quest for a second consecutive title with group A clashes against newcomers Mongolia, plus Argentina and Germany.

“China is the absolute favourite, but we have to try to keep up,” Dünnes said. ”Realistically, our aim is to finish second but that will be anything but easy.”

Twin towers

France boast 18-year-old twin sisters Kallista and Nina Jioshvili-Ravva (FRA), who hope to follow in their parents’ footsteps by making their own mark on the court against Japan, Chile and Czechia in group B.

The twins are part of a true volleyball dynasty as their Georgia-born parents, Alexandre Jioshvili and Victoria Ravva, were both professional players. Victoria was a three-time Champions League MVP (Most Valuable Player) with 19 French championship titles to her name.

The volleyball tournament takes place over nine days at four venues across Berlin – Grosse Sporthalle Sportforum, Ballsporthalle Köpenick, Horst-Korber-Sportszentrum and final venue Max-Schmeling Halle.

The two top teams in each of the four groups will face each other in the quarterfinals with the women’s and men’s gold medal matches scheduled for 23 and 24 July respectively.

FGNS pl/mb

Photos: © FISU