Merit Chinenyenwa Adigwe was honored with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s U21 World Championship. Her stellar 34-point contribution in the final match against Japan was instrumental in securing the gold medal for Italy.
Expressing her joy, Adigwe remarked, “I’m incredibly happy and proud of this achievement. The MVP award is truly significant, and I eagerly anticipate sharing this moment with my family and teammates.”
The Italian opposite hitter concluded the tournament as its most dominant scorer, accumulating an impressive 166 points. This total comprised 132 attack points, 24 blocks, and 10 aces. Furthermore, Adigwe recorded three additional matches with 30 points or more, facing formidable opponents such as Poland, China, and the host nation Indonesia.
Beyond her MVP title, Adigwe was also recognized as the Best Opposite in the tournament`s official Dream Team. She was joined by two compatriots: Teresa Maria Bosso, acknowledged as one of the Best Outside Hitters, and Dalila Marchesini, who excelled as one of the Best Middle Blockers. The inclusion of these three Italian players underscored the team`s collective strength in their gold medal campaign.
Japan also demonstrated a strong presence in the Dream Team, with Sae Omori sharing the Best Outside Hitter position with Bosso. Chisato Hanaoka was honored as the Best Setter, and Ami Uchizawa received the Best Libero award. Completing the elite lineup, Brazil`s Luana Camila Kuskowski was named the second Best Middle Blocker.
Oliver Wrenwick 
Finley Blackwood