Some seasons are merely remembered for the trophies raised; others become genuine turning points for the sport itself. The 2025 women’s Volleyball season, however, felt deeper. It was a year characterized by sheer presence—a season shaped by formidable leadership, incredible longevity, strategic reinvention, and those crucial moments when a few select players simply refused to yield control of the game.
Across the CEV Champions League Volley tournaments and the relentless national team schedule, numerous athletes left indelible marks in 2025. This feature spotlights five of them—emblematic figures in a year defined by excellence, while acknowledging that the season’s richness extended far beyond any single list.
Monica De Gennaro – The Legend’s Final Bow (in Blue)
If 2025 had a rhythm, it was the persistent, decisive sound of Monica De Gennaro’s knees hitting the court. At 38, the Italian libero concluded her international career precisely where a legend belongs: at the absolute pinnacle.
When Italy secured that grueling five-set victory over Türkiye in the 2025 World Championship final, it represented more than just a gold medal—it was the definitive final seal on a national team career that fundamentally redefined the libero position.
Following Olympic gold in Paris and this World Championship triumph, De Gennaro’s 2025 was a masterclass in defying the passage of time. Being named VNL MVP as a libero—one of the sport`s rarest honors—captured her unique ability to dictate matches without ever needing the spotlight. She has been the foundational anchor of the Azzurre for nearly two decades.
Her farewell from the national team was a calculated transition, not a retreat. As Italian media highlighted, she stepped away not because she lacked the ability to compete, but because she had nothing left to prove while wearing the blue uniform.
The story continues on the club circuit: De Gennaro remains the cornerstone of Prosecco DOC Imoco Conegliano, entering her 13th season. She holds every club longevity record, has been crucial to all 29 major trophies, and is still the global standard by which liberos are measured. In 2025, European Volleyball didn’t merely wave goodbye to Moki—it stood up and applauded.
Alessia Orro – The Courage to Evolve
The leadership expected from a setter is often quiet and intensely tactical. In 2025, Alessia Orro’s leadership was a clear declaration.
After cementing her status as the tactical heart of Numia Vero Volley MILANO, Orro executed one of the boldest moves in the European transfer market by joining Fenerbahçe Medicana ISTANBUL. Entering the high-pressure environment of the “Yellow Angels” is not for the timid, yet Orro didn’t just adapt—she commanded.
She fully embraced the intensity of the Turkish Sultanlar Ligi, demonstrating that elite playmaking requires as much psychological resilience as it does precision technique. “I didn’t want a choice based on comfort,” she stated in interviews. “I sought a life experience that would challenge my fundamental limits.” By guiding a star-laden roster through a high-stakes season with remarkable composure, Orro proved that sometimes, evolution is the most potent form of leadership.
Eda Erdem — The Eternal Captain
There are athletes who simply define eras. Then there is Eda Erdem, who defines lasting values. In 2025, the captain of both Türkiye and Fenerbahçe continued to defy expectations, gravity, and age. Statistically dominant and tactically essential, she maintained her place among the game’s truly elite middle blockers. However, her impact extended far beyond the confines of the net.
Her appointment as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador elevated her role to a global stage, transforming sporting excellence into profound social leadership. In a country where women’s Volleyball has become a formidable cultural force, her message—”Every girl can be the captain of her own life”—resonated deeply, far beyond the sports arena.
While awards followed, including major Volleyball Player of the Year honors, Erdem’s true accomplishment in 2025 was illustrating how an athlete can shape national identity, culture, and purpose, not just match results.
Agnieszka Korneluk – The Great Wall of Poland
For a position built on precise timing and clear authority, Agnieszka Korneluk found her perfect operational rhythm in 2025. After moving from the Polish league to join the powerful environment of Fenerbahçe, Korneluk immediately provided structure and steel to an already intimidating roster. A Super Cup victory set the tone for a season marked by consistency and defensive control.
As captain of the Polish national team, she remained the reference point for a generation that now rightfully expects to compete at the highest international level. Being named Best Middle Blocker in the VNL Dream Team for the second consecutive year solidified her status: attacking against Korneluk is synonymous with attacking a solid wall.
In 2025, she didn’t just perform—she definitively set the standard for her position.
Ekaterina Antropova – The Arrival of Inevitability
If a single moment symbolized the shifting global hierarchy in 2025, it was the Club World Championship final, with Ekaterina Antropova standing squarely at its heart. Leading Savino Del Bene SCANDICCI to their first-ever world title, the 22-year-old opposite delivered a stunning 25-point masterclass against Imoco Conegliano.
Finishing the tournament as Top Scorer, Best Opposite, and the overall MVP, she announced her arrival with undeniable authority. Calm, clinically effective, and relentlessly powerful, Antropova represents the vanguard of a new generation of power hitters. In a season celebrated for legendary farewells and established icons, her meteoric rise provided the perfect counterpoint. The future, she demonstrated, is no longer merely approaching—it has already arrived.
The 2025 season transcended a simple sequence of matches or medal ceremonies. It was a rich narrative shaped by women who led, endured, boldly evolved, and inspired—alongside countless others whose impact merits recognition beyond this article.
From De Gennaro’s perfect transition to Orro’s brave reinvention, Erdem’s leadership beyond the court, Korneluk’s defensive mastery, and Antropova’s thunderous breakthrough. These players didn`t merely participate in the game. They owned it.
Finley Blackwood