Home Soil: Swedish Setter’s Emotional European Championship Debut

**GOTHENBURG, Sweden** – Few athletes get the chance to compete in a major championship on home soil. For Vilma Julevik, the opportunity to play the European Volleyball Championship in Gothenburg carries special weight. The setter, who is responsible for directing the team’s attack and finding her hitters, will make her championship debut in front of a home crowd. For Julevik, this is not just another tournament; it is a deeply personal milestone. “It means everything,” Julevik said of the upcoming matches. The pressure of performing at home is real, but so is the motivation. As the team’s playmaker, her role is to find the “target”—the hitters—with precise passes, a task made more meaningful when the stands are filled with familiar faces. The championship marks a rare moment for the Swedish squad, giving local fans a chance to see their national team compete at the highest level without traveling abroad. For Julevik, the emotional weight of the occasion is clear. She is not just playing for a medal; she is playing for her city.