VolleyBar66# : Monday August 17, 2026

On this day..Italian “friends”, France, Club World Championship, 2026 Pan American Cup and a little bit of beach volleyball.

Welcome to the first weekly episode of VolleyBar, even though this time we never stopped over the weekend!
First of all, our Italian “friends” have copied yet another one of our ideas: a column we originally published five years ago on our sister website, “Random-Times”.
Besides the two or three VolleyBar bad copies, press reviews, “volleyball worlds” featuring daily news, and even a daily column written in rather questionable English, all of which started appearing just a few days after our debut, we are also expecting exclusive photo galleries (if they ever manage to find someone up to the task) and perhaps even an “On This Day” column, which we have been publishing since the very beginning of VolleyTimes — and even before that on Random.

But let’s get back to volleyball, shall we?

France: the 2026–2027 season calendar has been unveiled!
The new French professional volleyball season is approaching… and it promises to be packed with excitement, thrilling battles and major fixtures!

📅 Mark your calendars for the start of the championships:

✅ Men’s Division 1: October 17, 2026
✅ Women’s Division 1: October 3, 2026
✅ Men’s Division 2: October 17, 2026

Men’s Round 1:
• Toulouse – Sète
• Poitiers – Cannes
• Plessis-Robinson – Chaumont
• Paris – St-Nazaire
• Tourcoing – Narbonne
• Royan – Montpellier
• Tours – Nice

In their final preparation match against Spain in Sète, France B were defeated 3–1, with a bonus set played afterwards (18:25, 20:25, 18:25, 15:7).

All the participants in the 2026 FIVB Men’s Club World Championship, which will be held in Poland from December 15 to 20, 2026, have now been announced.
The International Volleyball Federation has awarded the next two editions to Poland, specifically to the Silesian region. As already announced, this year’s group-stage matches will be played in Katowice and Sosnowiec, while the semifinals and medal matches will take place in Częstochowa.

The tournament will bring together some of the strongest teams from their respective continents:

• Sir Safety Perugia (Italy) – the reigning Club World Champions and Champions League holders
• Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (Poland) – Champions League finalists
• Ziraat Bankkart Ankara (Türkiye) – Champions League bronze medalists
• Sada Cruzeiro (Brazil) – South American champions
• Vôlei Renata (Brazil) – South American runners-up
• Jakarta (Indonesia) – Asian Champions League winners
• Sirjan (Iran) – Asian Champions League finalists
• Al Ahly (Egypt) – African champions

USA wins the 2026 NORCECA Pan American Cup after dropping the first set with a 3-1 (22:25, 25:16, 25:23, 25:19) victory over Puerto Rico in the championship match.
The United States won its sixth gold medal and its first since 2012, while Puerto Rico took silver, its 3rd in the history of the eventz
Jacob Pasteur and Kyle Hobus led the winners with 17 and 16 points, respectively, while Pelegrin Vargas top-scorer Puerto Rico with 15.
Canada claims back-to-back Bronze Medals after a 3-1 win over host Mexico (28:26, 25:18, 20:25, 25:23) in the bronze medal match in Morelos. Arthur Szwarc led the winners with 14 points, while Franky Hernández tallied 23 points on the other side of the net.
Fifth Place of Men’s Pan American Cup Goes to Dominican Republic after winning a tough five-set battle to Cuba, 3-2 (23:25, 25:22, 25:21, 26:28, 18:16). Edward Rojas for the winners and Bryan Camino for Cuba recorded 22 points each.

Congratulations also to the Individual Award winners.
Outstanding performances throughout the competition earned these athletes well-deserved recognition:

MVP: Patrick Rogers (USA)
1st Best Spiker: Franky Hernández (Mexico)
2nd Best Spiker: Patrick Rogers (USA)
1st Best Blocker: Parker Tomkinson (USA)
2nd Best Blocker: Jeremy Vanega (Costa Rica)
Best Setter: Michael Wright (USA)
Best Opposite: Daniel Martínez (Cuba)
Best Libero: Darian Picklyk (Canada)
Best Digger: Darian Picklyk (Canada)
Best Receiver: Pedro Molina (Puerto Rico)
Best Server: Franky Hernández (Mexico)
Best Scorer: Daniel Martínez (Cuba)

Beach Volleyball: Olympic Qualification Secured!
Sweden has officially secured a spot at the LA 2028 Olympic Games after Jacob Holting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson were crowned champions of the 2026 European Men’s Beach Volleyball Continental Championship, earning an Olympic quota for their country.
Congratulations to Jacob Holting Nilsson, Elmer Andersson, and Team Sweden on this remarkable achievement!
Meanwhile, The Netherlands have officially secured a spot at the LA 2028 Olympic Games after Katja Stam and Raïsa Schoon captured the 2026 European Women’s Beach Volleyball Continental Championship title! Their continental triumph earned the Dutch NOC a direct berth to Los Angeles 2028.
Congratulations to them too!
Elsewhere, Alas Pilipinas duo Sofia Pagara and Khy Progella captured the gold medal at the 2026 Beach Pro Tour Futures Busan after defeating fellow Alas Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons in an all-Filipino final.
Pagara and Progella claimed the title in straight sets, 21-18, 21-13, to complete a incredible 1-2 finish for the Philippines.

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