The University of Montpellier: A European Sports Powerhouse at the EUSA Games
A European championship title in men’s volleyball, a silver medal in women’s tennis, and a remarkable 7th-place finish in women’s basketball. From July 18 to August1, theUM shone at the European University Games , ranking tenth in the European university rankings. France was the top medal-winning nation.
It was hot this summer in Salerno, in southern Italy. Despite the weather, the University of Montpellier achieved one of the best results in its recent history at the European University Games, the flagship multisport event of the European University Sports Association. This year’s event brought together more than 4,500 student athletes competing in thirteen sports.
Competing primarily in men’s volleyball, women’s tennis, and women’s basketball, the Montpellier delegation returned home with two medals: gold in volleyball and silver in tennis. This double victory allowed theUM to rank tenth on the official medal table, alongside the continent’s leading sports universities. This achievement is part of an exceptional overall performance by France. With 23 medals—including seven gold, nine silver, and seven bronze—France finished as the top nation at the Games, ahead of Spain (16 medals) and Croatia (13).
Men's Volleyball: A Title 23 Years Later
Twenty-three years after its last championship, theUM has regained its title as European University Men’s Volleyball Champion. This achievement is particularly remarkable given the youth of the roster, which, with an average age of 19, was the youngest team in the tournament. Having qualified for Salerno by winning the 2025 French University Championship, the Montpellier team had a nearly flawless run. They recorded three wins in the group stage, came back from a 3-0 deficit against Zagreb in the quarterfinals, won a nail-biting semifinal against Maribor (Slovenia) 2-1, and delivered a strong performance in the final against Rostock (Germany), where they clinched a 3-1 victory.
Composed mainly of students from the UFR Staps, the team draws on the collaborative efforts of the University of Montpellier, Pôle France, and several local youth development clubs, including Arago de Sète, MHSC Volley, and Volleyball Arlésien. Adelin Nowaczyk finished as the competition’s leading scorer, while Matthias Delolme was named the championship’s Most Valuable Player. Crowned 2026 French champions a few weeks ago, the team will defend its European championship title in Granada, Spain.
Women's Tennis: Silver Under the Blazing Sun
The draw had placed them in a particularly tough group, from which they emerged in first place, winning all their matches despite the sweltering heat on the court. In the quarterfinals, the Montpellier team defeated Paris-Dauphine 2-0 before eliminating the University of Valencia in the semifinals. However, they ultimately lost 2-1 to the tournament favorites, the German team from Cologne, after a hard-fought match.
This runner-up finish at the European Championships is a testament to the team’s consistency, solidarity, and ability to raise their level of play as the competition progressed—all against a stunning backdrop with views of the sea and the mountains.
Women's Basketball: An Impressive 7th-Place Finish
The women’s basketball team also put on a top-notch performance. Finishing first in its group, Montpellier advanced to the quarterfinals thanks to an intense, consistent defense that was particularly difficult to break through—though it wasn’t enough to secure a victory against the National University of Science and Technology “Politehnica” in Bucharest, a game they lost 57–59. Despite the disappointment, the team ended the tournament with a convincing 74–63 victory over Aveiro, securing 7th place in Europe.
Beyond simply tallying results, Montpellier’s outstanding performance demonstrates the University of Montpellier’s ability to support students who balance higher education with high-level athletic competition. It also attests to the effectiveness of the official “SHN” program, which supports student-athletes throughout the season. This Italian event will be remembered as a major one, where the “UM ” confirmed its place among the leading institutions in European collegiate sports and reaffirmed the commitment of students and their coaches to the human and cultural values embodied by sports.
