Teams from Austria and Czechia claim Snow Volleyball top honours at European Universities Winter Championships

Teams from Austria and Czechia emerged victorious from the Snow Volleyball competition that featured prominently at the inaugural EUSA European Universities Winter Championships held in Val di Zoldo, Italy. Snow Volleyball was one of three sports on the programme – together with Alpine skiing and snowboarding. 

As previously announced (click here), six teams per gender representing universities from six countries had registered for the competition run by the European Universities Sports Association (EUSA). The University of Vienna and the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague were the eventual winners after three days of exciting competition against the truly unique backdrop provided by the Dolomites. The results do not come as a surprise, since both Austria and Czechia have embraced Snow Volleyball since the very beginning of its still young history – and student players from these countries did further assert their commitment and enthusiasm for the sport in Val di Zoldo. 

The Bucharest University of Economic Studies (Romania) and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Italy) completed the women’s podium. Teams representing the University of Klagenfurt (Austria) and Technical University of Darmstadt (Germany) claimed the men’s silver and bronze medals, respectively. 

Michaela Wengler from the University of Vienna (AUT) and Tadeas Trousil from the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (CZE) received the awards for the Most Valuable Players. Trousil adds this prestigious accolade to the multiple medals he has already earned from stops of the annual European Snow Volleyball Tour run by the CEV. 

Next to the actual competition across three sports, the programme in Val di Zoldo included the delivery of the EUSA Winter Forum 2023 attended by more than 60 participants, among them officials, athletes, EUSA Executive Committee members and other guests. The aim of this event was to gather and work with National Federations, partners, volunteers, athletes, and other supporters to create unique winter sports experiences with a reduced footprint on nature, while educating and inspiring as many people as possible to make sport events more and more sustainable. CEV Snow Volleyball Coordinator Daniel Horvath attended a round table on legacy and sustainability of sports events, sharing the CEV’s experience and vision on those topics.

The first edition of the EUSA European Universities Winter Championships brought together more than 200 athletes from across Europe. It coincided with Snow Volleyball’s debut in a multi-sport event of any kind – and more Snow Volleyball history will be made in 2024 with the inaugural U20 European Championships due to take place in early March in Bakuriani, Georgia.