Russia claim U18 Girls’ Worlds to extend fabulous year for European Volleyball

A truly fabulous year filled with unprecedented success for European Volleyball continued on Wednesday, as Russia ended a 28-year drought to secure their third FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U18 World Championship title. The reigning U17 European champions topped the podium at the 2021 edition of the tournament held in Durango, Mexico.

Russia beat two-time winners Italy 3-0 in the gold medal match (25-16, 25-17, 25-20) as 2019 gold medallists the United States completed the podium at the FENADU stadium, taking the bronze medals.

The Russians maintained their excellent form and completely dominated Italy in the first two sets on their way to secure their sixth straight-set victory in seven matches and take the title. The Americans returned to the podium for a second-straight edition of the tournament as the 2019 winners claimed a four-set victory in the bronze medal match with Serbia.

Another three European teams finished in the top 10 – with Romania, Turkey and Poland claiming the sixth, seventh and eighth place, respectively, as Slovakia and Bulgaria were 12^th and 17^th.

The future of European Volleyball could not look any brighter – as next to Russia’s and Italy’s top-two finish at the U18 Girls’ World Championship, Italy, Serbia and Russia completed a European clean sweep of the podium at this year’s U20 World Championship held in the Netherlands and Belgium. Moreover, Poland and Bulgaria were the gold and silver medal winners at the U19 Boys’ World Championship held this summer in Tehran, Iran.

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