The Finland Women's national volleyball team delivered a commanding performance on June 7, 2026, sweeping aside Albania W with a straight-sets victory (3-0) at home in the European League Women. The match, which took place at a packed arena in Helsinki, saw the Finnish side control the tempo from the opening serve to the final point, reaffirming their status as one of the most competitive teams in the tournament.

Match Overview

Finland entered the contest with confidence, having built strong momentum through their early European League campaign. Albania, meanwhile, arrived as underdogs but showed flashes of resistance, particularly in the middle of each set. However, Finland’s superior blocking and transition play proved decisive. The home side won 25-18, 25-21, 25-16 to secure a dominant three-set triumph.

Key Moments

• First set (25-18): Finland raced to an 8-3 lead behind the powerful serving of opposite hitter Anna Mäkelä. Albania fought back to within three points at 16-13, but a 5-0 Finnish run sealed the set.
• Second set (25-21): The most competitive frame of the night. Albania tied the score at 18-18 after a brilliant stretch of digs from libero Elisa Deda. Finland responded with a timeout and then scored four consecutive points, sparked by middle blocker Sanna Koskinen’s kill and a block.
• Third set (25-16): Finland left no doubt, jumping to a 12-5 lead. Setter Kaisa Laitinen orchestrated a fluid offense, distributing to all hitters. Albania’s errors mounted, and Finland closed out with a service ace from captain Riikka Kettunen.

Standout Players

For Finland, outside hitter Riikka Kettunen was the focal point, finishing with a match-high 18 points, including 15 kills and two aces. Middle blocker Sanna Koskinen added 10 points, with four blocks that disrupted Albania’s attack. On the Albanian side, opposite Klea Ramadani led her team with 12 points, but received limited support from her teammates.

Table and Tournament Impact

The victory keeps Finland firmly in contention for a top spot in their European League Women pool. The 3-0 result also improves their set ratio, a critical tiebreaker as the group stage enters its final rounds. Albania, still searching for their first win, remain at the bottom of the standings but have shown improvement in recent outings.

With this performance, Finland sends a clear message to the rest of the competition: disciplined defense and explosive finishing make them a dangerous opponent as the European League Women progresses toward the knockout phase.