Ukraine Women Volleyball Team Finishes Memorial With Three Losses

Ukraine’s women’s national volleyball team concluded the Agata Mróz-Olszewska Memorial in Koszalin, Poland, with three defeats against strong European opponents. The tournament served as a preparation stage ahead of the 2026 European Championship, where the team is scheduled to open group-stage play in August.

Although the results column showed three losses, the fixtures offered a crucial testing ground for head coach Jakub Głuszak’s roster selections ahead of continental competition.

Opening Losses Against Poland and Italy Set Tough Tone in Koszalin

Ukraine opened the competition in Koszalin against tournament hosts Poland, falling in straight sets with a 0:3 scoreline (17:25, 19:25, 20:25). While the Polish side commanded the opening two sets, the third stanza proved far more competitive. Ukraine held an early 14:11 lead and stayed level at 18:18 before the hosts pulled away in the closing rallies.

In their second fixture, the team faced Italy and secured a strong start by taking the opening set 25:18. The Italian squad quickly adjusted, claiming the next three frames 25:14, 25:22, and 25:20 to hand Ukraine a 1:3 defeat.

Five-Set Thriller Against France Closes Out the Memorial Tournament

The final day of competition saw Ukraine engage in a dramatic five-set battle against France that ended 2:3 (20:25, 25:17, 25:19, 19:25, 10:15). The French side entered the match having also dropped their opening two fixtures of the memorial.

The Ukrainians twice seized the lead by winning sets two and three, but the French team rallied to force a deciding fifth frame. France dominated the tiebreak 15:10 to secure the match victory and leave the tournament floor with the final-day win.

Looking Ahead to the 2026 European Championship Schedule

With the memorial tournament concluded, the team turns its focus to the upcoming European Championship. The team has named an expanded roster and faces a demanding group schedule in late August.