The U16 men’s teams of Bulgaria and Romania, whose federations are supported by FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, earned gold and bronze at the BVA U16 Men’s Volleyball Balkan Championship last week.
BVA U16 Men’s Volleyball Balkan Championship in Mytilene, Greece
FIVB Volleyball Empowerment beneficiaries Bulgaria (pictured in the main photo; source: volleyball.gr) triumphed southern European zonal champions at the BVA U16 Men’s Volleyball Balkan Championship in Mytilene, Greece, while Romania took third place and brought home bronze. The silver medals went to Turkiye.
The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation has so far been funded with a total of USD 210,000 in FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support for their national volleyball selections. Their men’s teams benefit from the expertise of Italian coach Gianlorenzo Blengini. In addition, the BFV has received USD 167,000 in volleyball equipment. The Federatia Romana de Volei has so far been granted USD 168,000 in FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support for their volleyball national teams, in addition to USD 11,500 in volleyball equipment. Their men’s selections train under the supervision of coach Sergiu Stancu.
The BVA U16 Men’s Volleyball Balkan Championship was held in a five-team single round-robin format. Bulgaria cruised through the tournament undefeated in four matches played to top the final standings on a 4-0 win-loss record and 12 points. They beat Turkiye by 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 26-24), Romania by 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 22-25, 25-14), Serbia by 3-1 (25-10, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18) and hosts Greece by 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-21).
Romania produced a 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-20) sweep of their first game against Serbia, and after losing to Bulgaria, they put together a 3-1 (25-23, 27-25, 15-25, 25-23) victory over Greece. On the last competition day, in a deciding game for the second place, Turkiye achieved a 3-0 (29-27, 25-16, 25-18) shutout of Romania to claim silver on 3-1 and 8 and leave the Romanian boys with bronze on 2-2 and 6.
Greece finished fourth on 1-3 and 3, while Serbia took fifth place on 0-4 and 1.
Bulgaria’s outside hitter Kristian Petkov was honored as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
BVA U16 Men’s Volleyball Balkan Championship: results and standings
