Two zonal U20 volleyball tournaments were held in Europe last week, also serving as qualifiers for the respective continental championships in 2027.
WEVZA U20 men’s volleyball zonal tournament in Frankfurt, Germany
France triumphed at the WEVZA U20 men’s volleyball zonal tournament in Frankfurt and earned direct qualification for the 2027 CEV U20 Men’s Volleyball European Championship. Italy and Spain finished first and second runners-up.
France cruised through the tournament on a streak of four wins in four matches played. After sweeping their pool games against the Netherlands and Germany in straight sets, they delivered a 3-1 (21-25, 25-16, 27-25, 25-16) semifinal win over Spain. In the final showdown, the French juniors mastered a 3-1 (25-15, 15-25, 25-15, 28-26) victory over Italy and triumphed as tournament winners.
Italy took the full nine points from their pool encounters with Switzerland, Portugal and Spain, and followed up with a 3-1 (25-21, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22) semifinal win over hosts Germany to progress to the final.
In the third-place playoff, Spain also defeated Germany, by 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 32-30).
Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland, in that order, lined up from fourth to seventh in the final standings.
France’s 18-year-old opposite Viden Natzev was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
WEVZA U20 men’s volleyball zonal tournament: results and standings
BVA U20 women’s volleyball zonal tournament in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Russia and Belarus returned to the international volleyball stage as participants in the BVA U20 women’s volleyball zonal tournament in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina. They even met in the final, with Russia defeating their neighbors and qualifying for the 2027 CEV U20 Women’s Volleyball European Championship. Turkiye finished third and, as the highest placed Balkan Volleyball Association member, also booked a direct ticket to the continental championship.
In the only match they lost in the tournament, Russia conceded a five-set defeat at the hands of Turkiye in their pool. On a 2-1 win-loss record each, Russia and Turkiye finished pool winners and pool runners-up, respectively, separated on points earned, and both advanced to the semifinals. In the other pool, Belarus emerged victorious from all three matches played, joined by Romania into the semis.
Russia went on to sweep their semifinal against Romania in straight sets, 3-0 (25-10, 25-21, 25-20), while Belarus managed a 3-1 (15-25, 25-11, 25-22, 25-19) win over Turkiye.
In the gold medal showdown (pictured in the main photo; source: cev.eu), Russia put together a 3-1 (25-18, 19-25, 25-18, 25-16) victory over Belarus and triumphed as tournament winners. In a direct battle for the BVA ticket to the European Championship and for the bronze, Turkiye mastered a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-18) shutout of Romania.
Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and North Macedonia, in that order, took the places from fourth to eighth in the final standings.
Russia’s 16-year-old outside hitter Mariia Makroguzova earned the MVP nomination. Her teammates Mariia Sugrobova and Veronika Dashkina took the Best Setter and the Best Outside Hitter awards, respectively. Viyaleta Loika of Belarus received the award for Best Middle Blocker. The Best Opposite recognition was for Turkiye’s Minel Nefin Ozen, while Teodora Ambulija of Bosnia & Herzegovina was honored as the Best Libero.
BVA U20 women’s volleyball zonal tournament: results and standings
