VolleyBar80# : Friday September 4, 2026

On this day..
Amarcord and volleyball birthdays, France, AVC Continental Championship, finals of Women African Championship and Adam Michalski

Welcome to 80th episode of VolleyBar!
Yes, we’ve reached another important milestone, so we’re taking the opportunity to remind you that we were the very first to come up with the idea of a daily column bringing together all the main volleyball news of the day in one place.
The various “press reviews”, daily roundups written in approximate English, or “volleyball world” sections featuring the day’s news — most of which are taken from us — are simply imitations.
And this might be our last edition of the week, as we may take a little break for the weekend.

Either way, September 4 has produced some memorable moments in international volleyball, from European Championship triumphs and World Championship battles to historic milestones and the birthdays of some of the sport’s most recognisable names.

On September 4, 2021, Italy became European champions in one of the most memorable finals in the history of the women’s European Championship. In front of a record crowd of 20,565 spectators at Belgrade’s Štark Arena, Davide Mazzanti’s Italy defeated hosts Serbia 3–1 (24:26, 25:22, 25:19, 25:11) to claim their third European title, following their previous triumphs in 2007 and 2009. Paola Egonu led the way with 29 points as Italy completed an unbeaten tournament. The victory was particularly sweet because Serbia had eliminated Italy in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo Olympic Games only a few weeks earlier. Meanwhile, the 20,565 spectators also established a new attendance record for an indoor women’s volleyball match.

The same day produced a spectacular match in the men’s tournament.
Poland defeated Serbia 3–2 (25:21, 23:25, 20:25, 25:20, 16:14) in Kraków, with the deciding set going all the way to 16–14. Croatia and Latvia also needed five sets, with Croatia winning 3–2 after an extraordinary fourth set that ended 31–29.

On September 4, 2014, Italy defeated Belgium 3–1 (26:28, 25:15, 25:16, 28:26) at the Men’s World Championship in Poland. The match featured two sets decided by only two points, including a dramatic fourth set which Italy eventually closed 28–26.

September 4, 2016 brought another memorable comeback.
At the CEV U20 European Championship in Varna, Italy recovered from two sets down to defeat Russia 3–2 (22:25, 16:25, 26:24, 25:12, 15:13). The Italian team featured several players who would later become familiar names at senior level, including Yuri Romanò, Gianluca Galassi, Roberto Russo and Riccardo Sbertoli.
On the same date in 2016, Russia won the U19 Women’s European Championship, defeating Serbia 3–0 (26:24, 25:19, 25:18) in the final in Nitra.

Three years later, on September 4, 2019, Serbia reached the semifinals of the Women’s EuroVolley after beating Bulgaria 3–0 (25:19, 25:18, 28:26).
Tijana Bošković scored 22 points as the defending champions continued their title defence. Italy also advanced to the semifinals after eliminating Russia 3–1 (25:27, 25:22, 27:25, 25:21), while Poland defeated Germany 3–2 and Türkiye swept the Netherlands 3–0.

On September 4, 2022, the Men’s World Championship in Poland and Slovenia produced another dramatic five-setter. The United States defeated Türkiye 3–2 (25:21, 25:17, 22:25, 19:25, 15:12) in the Round of 16. Türkiye fought back from 0–2 to level the match, but the Americans held their nerve in the deciding set. It was nevertheless a historic World Championship for Türkiye, who had reached the knockout stage for the first time.

The following year, on September 4, 2022, hosts Poland also advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Tunisia 3–0 (25:20, 25:15, 25:20).

And on September 4, 2025, Türkiye made history in the Women’s World Championship in Thailand. The Turkish team defeated the United States 3–1 (25:14, 22:25, 25:14, 25:23) in Bangkok to reach the semifinals of the World Championship for the first time ever. Ebrar Karakurt scored 23 points, Melissa Vargas added 21 and Eda Erdem contributed 13, including seven blocks. It was another major milestone in the rapid rise of Turkish women’s volleyball.

Among the players celebrating their birthdays on September 4 is Serbian opposite Aleksandar Atanasijević, born in Belgrade in 1991. A two-time European champion with Serbia, in 2011 and 2019, he became one of the most recognisable opposites of his generation and spent a significant part of his club career in Italy with Sir Safety Perugia.

American outside hitter Thomas Jaeschke was also born on September 4, 1993. A member of the United States national team for many years, and now ready to start a new season with Italy’s Modena, he won Olympic bronze at Rio 2016 and was part of the American team that claimed another bronze medal at Paris 2024.

Dutch volleyball legend Bas van de Goor was born on September 4, 1971. One of the key figures in the Netherlands’ golden generation, the middle blocker won Olympic gold at Atlanta 1996 after the famous five-set final against Italy. He also represented the Netherlands at Sydney 2000.

Canadian Gino Brousseau, born on September 4, 1966, was another long-serving international player. The outside hitter represented Canada for 16 years, from 1984 to 2000, and competed at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.

September 4 is also the birthday of Peruvian star Leyla Chihuán, born in Lima in 1975. A long-time captain of Peru, Chihuán competed at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games and represented her country at the 1998 and 2006 World Championships.

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In France, Paris Volley have announced the signing of French middle blocker Daryl Bultor for the 2026–27 season, bringing an experienced international player and Olympic champion to the French capital. Meanwhile, French setter Sergej Jokanovic, 20, is leaving Cannes for a year in the United States. He will continue his career in the NCAA with Loyola University Chicago, combining volleyball with his master’s studies.

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Iran opens their AVC Continental Championship campaign with a dominant performance, sweeping New Zealand in straight sets: 25:15, 25:12, 25:22.
Korea opens its Pool C campaign with a win after defeating Chinese Taipei in four sets, 29:27, 19:25, 25:15, 25:15.
World Rank 64 Oman makes history at the AVC Men’s Volleyball Continental Championship, taking a set off World no. 6 Japan’s team for the first time ever, winning Set 3, 25-20.
Japan, however, opens its campaign with a four-set victory over in front of a jam-packed crowd at Kitakyushu City Gymnasium in Fukuoka: 25:18, 25:13, 20:25, 25:9.
Oman showed strong resistance in the third set, taking a set off Japan for the first time in history before the hosts closed out the match in the fourth.

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Kenya and Egypt will contend for the title at the African Women’s Volleyball Championship, which is taking place in Nairobi.
The two teams left no doubt about their superiority in the semifinals and reached the decisive match without losing a single set. Thus, they also qualified for next year’s World Cup finals.
The host and reigning champion Kenya defeated Cameroon 3-0 (25:19, 25:20, 25:20) in the Kasarani Indoor Arena controlling the match in all three sets and continue their quest for a record 11th African title.
In the other semifinal, Egypt crushed Rwanda 3-0 (25:5, 25:17, 32:30), starting with a dominant 25:5, convincingly won the second set, and the serious battle only came in the third, when Rwanda lost 30:32.
Thus today, Friday, September 4, Kenya and Egypt will face each other in the grand final. The stakes are double – the African title and a direct quota for the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.
Interestingly, the final will be a repeat of the 2023 title battle.
Then, Kenya defeated Egypt 3:0 and won its tenth continental title. Now the hosts are chasing No. 11, while Egypt is trying to become African champion for the first time since 2003. Before the final, the match for the bronze medals between Cameroon and Rwanda will also be played.

And, on this day, Cameroon have officially qualified for the 2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup after clinching the bronze medal with a straight-set victory over Rwanda, 25:17, 25:16, 25:19.

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Former Cuprum Lubin middle blocker and PlusLiga player Adam Michalski has died at the age of 38, leaving behind a career built on perseverance, team spirit and a lifelong love for volleyball 🖤🕊️

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