VolleyBar116#: Monday October 26, 2026

On this day…
Amarcord and volleyball birthdays, 2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup, and world trophies of the weekend.

Welcome to the 116th Episode of VolleyBar, the first one after our usual weekend break.
And, as always, just a reminder to beware of imitations: our Italian friends just won’t give up, continuing to put out daily features with all the news we publish ourselves here and on our site.
The best volleyball website in Italy?
No. Absolutely ridiculous.

In 1967, Men’s European Volleyball Championship began in Turkey on October 26 and ran until November 8. The Soviet Union eventually won the title, with Czechoslovakia finishing second and Poland third.

October 26, 2023, brought several European qualification matches.
In the CEV Cup, Ukrainian side VC Zhytychi-Polissya Zhytomyr beat Serbia’s OK Vojvodina Novi Sad 3–2 (26:24, 22:25, 25:16, 21:25, 15:10). Viktor Shapoval scored 23 points, while Zhytomyr produced 13 blocks. On the same date, Belgian club Decospan VT Menen defeated Ukraine’s Epicentr-Podolyany Horodok 3–1; Gilles Vandecaveye was the match’s top scorer with 22 points.

In the Challenge Cup, Omonia Nicosia beat Slovenia’s Panvita Pomgrad Murska Sobota 3–2 after coming back from two sets down. However, the Slovenian team won the decisive golden set 15–5, advancing despite losing the match itself. It is a particularly interesting reminder of how the old two-leg qualification format could produce a winner different from the winner of the second match.

On this day in 2024, in Poland, Projekt Warszawa end Lublin’s unbeaten run
The team from country’s capital overturned an opening-set loss to beat Lublin 3-1 (21:25, 25:20, 25:15, 25:21) and move temporarily to the top of the PlusLiga standings. Lublin had arrived in the capital unbeaten after eight consecutive victories. German opposite Linus Weber was named MVP after scoring 22 points, including six aces; Arthur Szalpuk added 16. Wilfredo Leon scored 19 for Lublin, but the visitors’ winning streak came to an end.

Also on October 26, 2024, Cannes stop Sète’s winning streak after a 0-3 away win: 20:25, 23:25, 21:25, ending the rivals’ run of three consecutive victories. Reda Haikal led the winners with 16 points and a 64% success rate in attack.

Japanese volleyball coach Shigeo Yamada, later inducted into the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in 2006, was born on October 26, 1931. He became one of the most influential figures in Japanese women’s volleyball, coaching Hitachi Musashi to 18 Japanese First Division titles and guiding Japan’s women to the 1974 World Championship and 1976 Olympic gold. He also led Japan to Olympic silver in 1968 and bronze in 1972 and 1984. He died on February 5, 1998.

The Czech former player Tomáš Široký was born on October 26, 1982. He represented the Czech Republic at international level and played for VK Ostrava.

Evangelia “Eva” Chantava was born on October 26, 1990. The Greek outside hitter turns 36. A long-serving member of Greece’s national team, she has played an unusually wide range of club volleyball, with spells in Greece, Italy, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Romania, Brazil, Indonesia and Japan.

Celeste Plak was born on October 26, 1995. The Dutch outside hitter/opposite turns 31 today. A familiar face in European club volleyball, she won silver at the 2015 and 2017 European Championships and bronze at EuroVolley 2023. She also helped the Netherlands claim bronze at the 2016 World Grand Prix. One possible angle is her place in the history of the Dutch national team: she made her senior debut in 2013 and became its first Black player!

The Kenyan opposite Sharon Chepchumba Kiprono was born on October 26, 1998 and turns 28 today. Known as “Chumba,” she has represented Kenya on the international stage, including at the 2018 World Championship and the Olympic Games.

Back to the present, ithe draw for the 2027 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup, has been completed today at 16:00 CET, with the 32 qualified teams divided into eight pools of four. The tournament will take place from August 20 to September 5, 2027, in the United States and Canada, with the final in Anaheim.
A notable detail for a Swiss audience: Switzerland have qualified for their first Women’s World Cup. Italy enter as defending champions, while the United States and Canada will host the competition.

Meanwhile, in the weekend, Sada Cruzeiro won the men’s Super Cup for the eighth time, beating Vôlei Renata Campinas 3–2. Yoandy Leal, aged 38, was named MVP, while in Italy, Prosecco Doc Imoco Conegliano won the women’s Super Cup for the ninth time, beating Savino Del Bene Scandicci 3–1. Isabelle Haak was MVP.
In Poland, BOGDANKA LUK Lublin retained the Super Cup by sweeping Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie 3–0, with Marcin Komenda named MVP.
In South Korea, Incheon Korean Air Jumbos won the men’s national cup for the seventh time, beating Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers 3–1. Canadian national team standout Xander Ketrzynski made an immediate impact in his first KOVO Cup tournament, earning Most Valuable Player honors after helping the Korean Air Jumbos capture the 2026 Yeosu-NH Nonghyup Cup Professional Volleyball Tournament title.
He delivered an outstanding performance, pouring in 25 points in the final.
In Democratic Republic of the Congo, Garde Republicaine Kinshasa won the men’s cup after a 3–2 final, while La Loi Kinshasa retained the women’s trophy and in Maldives, Dhivehi Sifainge Male won the men’s 2026 National Volleyball League after winning all four of their matches.