Italy captures historic first WPV World Cup medal with comeback win over Canada < World ParaVolley

Italy earned their first-ever medal at the World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Cup after defeating Canada 3-1 (24-26, 25-20, 25-13, 25-18) in the women’s bronze medal match at the Turnstone Center in Fort Wayne. The European side emerged from a set down with a composed and balanced performance led by Sara Cirelli and Francesca Bosio.

Canada won the opening set 26-24 after a tense exchange in which both sides exchanged strong attacks. Heidi Peters led Canada’s attack, while Bosio kept Italy in rhythm with sharp settings and precise attacks. The score was tied at 22-22 when a joust at the net between Katelyn Wright and Bosio gave Canada the lead. Peters followed with an off-the-block hit to reach set point, and Julia Chisholm capped it off with two consecutive strikes up the middle.

Italy responded strongly in the second set, erasing an early Canadian lead thanks to the efforts of Cirelli, Bosio and Anna Ceccon. Eva Ceccatelli provided depth on the wing, while Raffaela Battaglia’s serve disrupted Canada’s reception. Canada briefly closed through Allison Lang’s middle game, but Italy retained control and sealed the set 25-20 to tie the match.

With the score level, Italy took full control in the third set. Cirelli found her rhythm early with powerful swings, and solid defense helped Italy to a 14-7 lead. Their precision at the net and consistent passing allowed them to dictate the game as Canada struggled to regain composure. Cirelli closed the set with a key block for a 25-13 victory and a 2-1 lead.

Italy kept the momentum in the fourth, building a 16-11 lead behind Cirelli’s aggressive hitting and Bosio’s steady distribution. Canada continued to fight, but could not keep up the pressure on Italy’s organized attack and defense. Eva Ceccatelli brought up match point at 24-18 and followed with an ace to end the match.

The win marked a historic milestone for Italy, who secured their first-ever medal at the World ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Cup after a determined and well-rounded performance against a resilient Canadian team.

Meanwhile, Croatia defeated Japan in the men’s seventh place 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-14) to end their World Cup campaign on a high. Ivan Cosic led all scorers with 17 points, while Edvin Zdionica added 15 to help Croatia secure victory.