With a European champion title in men's volleyball, a silver medal in women's tennis, and a 7th place in women's basketball, the University of Montpellier (UM) excelled at the European Universities Games (EUSA Games) held from July 18 to August 1. UM secured tenth place in the European university rankings, making France the most decorated nation at the event.
Over 4,500 student athletes participated in this edition, with the Montpellier delegation returning with two medals. This achievement is part of France's overall exceptional performance, finishing as the top nation with 23 medals, ahead of Spain and Croatia.
The men's volleyball team won the European title 23 years after their last victory. Composed mainly of students from the UFR Staps, the team, the youngest in the tournament with an average age of 19, had an almost perfect run, defeating Rostock in the final 3 sets to 1. This success is built on collaboration between UM, Pôle France, and local clubs such as Arago de Sète, MHSC Volley, and Volleyball Arlésien. Adelin Nowaczyk was the top scorer and Matthias Delolme was elected best player.
In women's tennis, the team secured the silver medal after a challenging competition. They emerged first from their group, defeating Paris-Dauphine and the University of Valencia before losing to the favored German team from Cologne in a hard-fought final.
The women's basketball team finished in a convincing 7th place in Europe. First in their group, they reached the quarterfinals before narrowly losing to the University of Bucharest, and then won their final match against Aveiro.
This positive outcome highlights the University of Montpellier's ability to support student-athletes balancing higher education and high-level sports, notably through the 'SHN' program. UM thus reaffirms its position among the leading institutions in European university sports.
