German volleyball players lose to Italy: dramatic set loss!
Germany narrowly lost 22:25 against Italy in the volleyball round of 16 of the 2025 World Cup and showed strong performances.

German volleyball players lose to Italy: dramatic set loss!
In a thrilling round of 16 of the 2025 Volleyball World Cup, the German women's team had to admit defeat against the favored Italians 22:25 today, August 30, 2025. Despite a strong performance from the Germans, the Italians, who are unbeaten in 32 games, were a stubborn opponent. Olympics.com reports that the Italian team found its way into the game right from the start and started with a 4-2 lead.
However, the German team showed character. In particular, the cautious Libera Anna Pogany and a strong block ensured that Germany was able to catch up again and again in the match. Hanna Orthmann managed to equalize the score at 7:7 in the early stages, and Emilia Weske set another exclamation mark with her point to make it 9:7. But the Italians stepped up a gear and soon led 12:10 and extended their lead to 18:13.
A race against time
However, the German team kept pace. Orthmann and Lena Stigrot shortened the gap to 18:21. It was a real thriller: Italy had five set points, but Stigrot and the equally attentive Cekulaev fended off two. Alsmeier finally made it 22:24, but the Italians took a timeout and won the set. This exciting phase shows that the German women and Italy can act almost on equal terms, even if the end result did not bring the hoped-for victory.
A look back at the previous encounter in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL), where Germany also met Italy, shows that there is new hope. On June 6, 2025, the Germans lost in an exciting tiebreak 2:3 (25:22, 10:25, 25:20, 13:25, 9:15), but they showed the potential to keep up with the world's best. Lena Kindermann and Lina Alsmeier were the most successful scorers for the DVV team with 15 points each. The Volleyball Association emphasizes that national coach Giulio Bregoli emphasized after the game that the team had to work on its consistency.
Growth of volleyball
The VNL, which has grown in popularity over the last few years, is no longer just held in front of the players' friends and families. Volleyball World reports that the games will now be played in large arenas and televised worldwide. This development shows that volleyball is not only popular with athletes, but also with the public. From school gymnasiums to television: sport has reached a broader base today.
Looking ahead to the upcoming games, the question remains whether the German team, inspired by their performance so far, can turn things around. The next tasks in the VNL are coming up and the prospect of an exciting season is definitely there. Let us surprise you!