Overview
- Italy swept France 3-0 in Biella to start the 2026 season, winning 25-18, 25-17, 25-14.
- Outside hitter Linda Manfredini led with 11 points and earned MVP honors on her birthday.
- Coach Julio Velasco fielded an experimental side, resting stars like Paola Egonu and Anna Danesi to manage workloads for the summer.
- The teams meet again in Novara in a second friendly, with live coverage on RaiSport and Sky and streaming on RaiPlay, NOW TV, and Sky Go.
- These tune-ups begin Italy’s build-up to the Nations League, which starts June 3 with a debut in Brasilia against Bulgaria, before a home European Championship in August.