Czechia survive Sweden in EuroVolley's first tie-break, Italy edge Greece

The action in Pool A continued on Saturday in Modena, where Sweden, returning to the EuroVolley stage for the first time since 1993, pushed Czechia all the way in the first tie-break of the CEV Enel EuroVolley 2026 Men. After a dramatic five-set battle, the team led by Lukas Vašina prevailed by the smallest of margins. In the second match of the day, in front of a packed Palapanini, hosts Italy earned their second straight-set win of the campaign after a nail-biting battle against Greece, who pushed the main medal contenders hard in the opening two sets before Daniele Lavia and Yuri Romanò led Italy to another triumph.

Sweden vs Czechia 2-3 (22-25, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17, 13-15)

Sweden returned to the EuroVolley stage for the first time since 1993, highly motivated to fight for their first win after the historic opening match against Italy in Naples. Czechia, meanwhile, were looking to build on their victory over Greece a day earlier. Hampus Ekstrand opened the match with a powerful ace, and an impressive block from Patrik Johansson and Axel Enlund soon gave Sweden a 3-1 lead. Czechia quickly regrouped, with Lukas Vašina and Marek Sotola helping them level at 5-5 and set up a tight point-by-point battle. Vašina then put pressure on Sweden from the service line as Czechia moved 13-10 ahead. Sweden responded strongly, using their block to great effect (four points in the set), and turned the score around to lead 15-14. Jakob Ekman, who scored six points in this set, and Enlund, who added five, led the Swedish charge as the teams continued the tight race. Czechia regained control at 20-18 after a smart play from Antonin Klimes, and Sotola and Vašina took over in the closing stages. Vašina, who scored six points at an impressive 75% success rate, delivered the decisive attack to seal the set 25-22.

The intense battle for every point continued into the second set, with neither side able to establish even a two-point advantage for long. Both teams benefited from solid reception — 64% for Sweden and 62% for Czechia - giving their setters plenty of options and producing another thrilling race. Jacob Link and Axel Enlund led Sweden with four points apiece, while Czechia could count not only to Vašina (six points) and Sotola (four), but also Matouš Drahonovsky who stepped up, adding six points. Czechia finally began to pull away in the decisive stage, with Vašina putting pressure from the service line and Drahonovsky’s powerful spike making it 22-20. Sweden responded immediately through Link and Ekman, levelling at 22-22, but Sotola restored Czechia’s advantage with a kill for two set points at 24-22, and this time there was no comeback, as Jakub Klajmon closed out the set 25-23.

Sweden refused to give up, opening the third set on the right foot and racing to a 10-5 lead after an ace from Patrik Johansson. Powerful attacks from Jacob Link and Axel Enlund, who scored three and five points respectively, kept Sweden firmly in control. Czechia, sparked by Sotola (five points in this set) and Drahonovsky, gradually chipped away at the deficit. Blocks from Sotola and Klimes helped reduce the gap to 13-12 before Czechia turned the momentum around completely, moving 16-14 ahead after a series of Swedish errors. Sweden quickly restored the point-by-point battle, levelling at 17-17. Czechia edged ahead again at 20-18, but Sweden responded when it mattered most. Link’s attack put them 24-22 in front, before Ekman delivered the decisive kill to close the set 25-23 and keep Sweden alive.

Playing fearlessly, Sweden carried their momentum into the fourth set, racing to a 7-4 lead after a spike from Hampus Ekstrand, who scored five points in the set. Czechia tried to close the gap, reaching 9-7, but Sweden responded immediately with another series of powerful attacks from Enlund and Link, who also contributed five points each, to extend the advantage to 14-7. Czechia head coach made several substitutions in an attempt to change the course of the game, but Sweden remained firmly in control at 17-10, putting even more pressure from the service line. Despite Czechia’s efforts to fight their way back, Sweden continued to dominate and closed the set 25-17, forcing a deciding tie-break.

Vašina and Indra powered Czechia to a 3-0 start in the deciding set, forcing Sweden’s head coach Gido Vermeulen to call an early time-out. It quickly produced the desired response, as Sweden won the next two rallies and reignited the fierce battle for every point. Czechia moved 8-6 ahead after a spike from Klajmon, but Sweden immediately erased the deficit. The Czech side proved stronger in the battle of nerves, restoring a two-point advantage at 11-9. Sweden launched one final comeback attempt in the decisive moments, but Czechia found a powerful weapon at the net. Drahonovský’s block gave them match point, before Indra delivered the decisive stuff block to seal the victory.

Vašina topped the scoring for Czechia with 19 points, all from kills at 40% success, while also recording 73% positive reception. Sotola and Klimes added 14 points each, with Drahonovsky contributing 13. Sweden’s Axel Enlund was the match’s top scorer with 23 points, including 20 kills and three blocks, but his efforts and those of his teammates were not enough to deny Czechia a second victory.

Greece vs Italy 0-3 (23-25, 23-25, 16-25)

After winning their historic opening match in spectacular venue in Naples, hosts Italy moved to Modena to face Greece in front of a sold-out Palapanini. The team coached by Ferdinando De Giorgi made a perfect start, racing to a 7-3 lead, but Greece quickly showed they would not give up easily, cutting the deficit to 7-6 and forcing the Italian head coach to call a time-out. Greece played fearlessly, defending impressively and keeping pace with the world champions. Alexandros Raptis, who scored five points in the set, and Theodoros Voulkidis, with four, helped Greece move 13-12 ahead and set up a fierce battle for control. Italy relied on Gianluca Galassi, Daniele Lavia and Yuri Romanò, who contributed five points each, but could not establish a significant advantage. Greece even moved 20-19 ahead after a spike from Raptis, but Italy kept their composure when it mattered most. Romanò delivered the decisive attack to seal a tightly contested opening set 25-23 for the hosts.

Greece were not discouraged, pushing Italy hard from the very beginning of the second set and refusing to let the hosts build any advantage. The teams remained locked together at 15-15, with Italy led by Daniele Lavia and Yuri Romanò, who contributed four and five points respectively. Despite Italy’s powerful attacks, Greece consistently responded with quality plays of their own, with Dimitrios Mouchlias scoring five points and Alexandros Raptis adding three to keep their team firmly in the race at 21-21. Once again, however, Italy found another gear in the decisive moments. Luca Porro’s spike gave the hosts their first set points, before Giovanni Sanguinetti finished the job with an attack to seal the set 25-23.

The hosts were determined to raise their level in front of a packed Palapanini. After an ace from Daniele Lavia, Italy took an early 7-4 lead and, powered by strong attacks from Lavia and Yuri Romanò, kept Greece at a distance at 12-8 before extending their advantage to 17-10.

Lavia was unstoppable, scoring six points in the set, while Romanò added four as Italy continued to dominate. Greece struggled to find an answer to the hosts’ excellent play, with Italy extending the lead to 22-14. Romanò then delivered the final blow, sealing the set and Italy’s second straight-set victory.

Lavia topped the scorers’ chart with 15 points, including 14 kills at 61% success and one ace, while Romanò added 14, all from kills at 58%. Greece were led by Raptis with 12 points.