Julia Ituma, who recently celebrated her 18th birthday (October 8, 2004), has already achieved significant milestones, including a gold medal from a European Championship and an MVP award. The talented Italian opposite was a driving force behind her team`s victory at the #EuroVolleyU19W tournament last summer, where her exceptional performance earned her the title of Most Valuable Player. Ituma played in eight matches, totaling 27 sets, and amassed 116 points, averaging 4.3 points per set. Notably, she scored 21 points (with 43% hitting efficiency) in the thrilling 3-2 final match against Serbia. Now, she is focused on excelling in the Italian League, competing for Igor Gorgonzola Novara. Having previously played for Club Italia, Julia Ituma is widely considered a potential future star in the world of volleyball – discover her story now!
The Beginning
Whether by fate or simply chance, volleyball entered Julia`s life unexpectedly. Due to her height (currently 191cm), she began playing the sport in the sixth grade, after initially trying basketball.
Going Pro
Soon after joining Club Italia, Ituma realized that pursuing a career as a professional volleyball player was a real possibility.
“I was looking at all the players who were there – top players, and they were doing something that I too loved, and in which, according to those who understood much more than me, I could get pretty good. So, I decided to put my heart and soul into it, and I`d say we`ll see how it goes on.”
The National Team
The summer of 2022 was particularly successful for Julia and her national team colleagues. They first secured a win at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) held in Slovakia, and then immediately focused on their next objective: claiming the trophy at #EuroVolleyU19W.
The Club
Ituma is currently gaining valuable experience with one of Italy`s most decorated clubs, Igor Volley Novara. She is determined to maximize every opportunity to learn and improve her game on the court.
“Here, in Novara, I am again the one who has so much to learn and to demonstrate. They are placing a lot of trust in me, and now, it`s up to me to show that it is worth it. One of my main goals is my personal growth – always keeping eyes and ears open to new opportunities, to learn and to improve myself. I want to thank the staff – I am more than sure they have a lot to take. I am learning a lot from the players as well – from my team and from others, I am finding and will certainly find many ideas for the game.”
The Inspiration
Rather than being inspired by a single specific player, Ituma is focused on developing her own distinct identity and leaving her unique mark on the sport.