Another title for Italy - the Women U17 claim the EuroVolley trophy
Recap
After seven days of exciting games in Prostejov and Hradec Kralove (Czechia), the CEV U17 Volleyball European Championship Women -2022 came to an end with the medal matches taking place. Italy are the newly crowned champions in this age category, improving significantly their 2020 achievement, when they finished fourth, one step away from the medal. The team, led by head coach Michele Fanni outplayed Türkiye at 3-1, taking a sweet revenge for the 1-3 loss in the pool phase of the tournament. In the Big Finale that turned out to be a rematch between the teams, the Italians proved to be the better team, giving only a set away. Türkiye, on the other hand, grabbed again the Silver, as they did in 2020.
The German team claimed the Bronze medal, dethroning Serbia from the third position on the podium (where they finished two years ago).
Dream team of #EuroVolleyU17W
Best setter: Safa Allaoui
Best outside hitters: Erika Esposito and Ceylin Kuyan
Best middle blockers: Linda Manfredini and Begum Kacmaz
Best opposite: Leana Grozer
Best libero: Danica Ruzic
MVP: Safa Allaoui
Gold Medal Match
Italy 3-1 Türkiye (25-16, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22)
Italy started better in the match, taking an early lead at 9-5, forcing coach Berk Rasit Inanc to take a time out. It didn’t work out good, as the Italians continued building a point-difference, 12-6. The young Italians kept controlling the game (14-8), counting on strong serve, scoring ace after ace. The setpoint for Italy also came after an ace.
Türkiye reacted immediately in the second set, storming to a 6-1 point lead. However, Italy got closer at 8-4 thanks to good contribution by Erika Esposito and Merit Adigwe. The teams then delivered an amazing Volleyball spectacle, with an intense point-for-point race, as Italy were breathing down their opponents’ necks (and even took the lead at 16-15). However, Türkiye showed mental strength. A time-out by coach Fanni at 17-20, didn’t work out completely, as the Turkish players emerged victorious at 25-23 in their favour tying the set score.
Inspired, the Turkish team entered motivated in the third set, but with 5 points by Agiwe (4 aces), the Italians were able to take control (7-4). The Turks weren’t ready to give in yet. With the set unfolding, they got closer in the score, and both sides started chasing each other in the score. The Italians, however, were determined to not let their rivals get ahead in the result, and pushing on the attack, could close in their favour at 25-20.
The fourth set turned out to be a real Volleyball battle. The teams were constantly following each other, not giving each other a breather (8-8, 14-13, 19-18). Italy were performing better towards the end of the set, but fighting hard,Türkiye were giving it all in these moments (22-22), forcing the Italian staff to call a time-out. It worked out, as the Italians scored a break point, and in attack by Erika Esposito put the end of the discussion, claiming the title.
Merit Adigwe topped the charts in the final, scoring 21 points, followed by Erika Esposito with 15. For Türkiye, Ilyada Mumcular finished with 11.
Safa Allaoui"It is a beautiful evening. I am really happy with this victory. It was a tough match, but we were motivated and determined. Our goal was to win, and we did. We worked very hard to get to this point, we are a good group and this success repays us for the commitment and sacrifices we have made. "
Erika Esposito"It was a challenging match, just as all the finals are. We suffered, fought, but we deserved this victory and the prizes we managed to win tonight. Ours has been a growing path, and this gold medal is a dream come true. I am proud of my companions and of the results we have managed to obtain ”.
Michele Fanni"It was certainly the best match we played during this European Championship and it clearly testifies to the important growth path we have undertaken in from the beginning of June to today. It is about individual and team growth from both a technical and an attitude point of view. I am very happy with this victory because it pays off for all the work done."
Head coach of Italy
Rasit Berk Inanc“We played very well for the whole tournament; this game was especially about the serve. Opponents knew how to play against us. This tournament was really long, we had really hard games in our group, especially against Poland and Italy. I’m really proud of my players. Obviously, we played in the Finale, and we get a medal, this is important for us.”
Head coach of Türkiye
Bronze Medal Match
Germany 3-1 Serbia (25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 25-16)
Both Germany and Serbia started rather nervous in the Bronze medal match. None of the teams was able to build a comfortable point difference, as the score was even until the 20th point. The German players were able to show resilience in these last deciding moments, and allowed their opponents to score only a point afterwards, thus, emerging victorious.
Inspired by the good beginning, the Germans were on fire in the second set, not leaving any doubts over who was the better team, taking a 2-0 set lead, getting closer to the final win. However, nothing was over for 2020 bronze medallists -Serbia. In what became a real "cat-and-mouse game", the third set gave the spectators a lot to enjoy - Serbia were leading with five points, when the Germans got back, tying at 18-18. In the dramatic last minutes of the set, the Serbian players left their souls on the court, and emerged victorious at 25-21. However, this what the best the could do in the bronze medal match, as in the fourth set, Germany responded with high levels of concentration, and won at the 3-1.
Manuel Hartmann"We changed our game, we played better than yesterday. We already played against them in this tournament, and I think that Serbia played better in the first match. I’m just happy for my girls. I think that in the beginning of the tournament, nobody expected that we will have medal. So, I’m totally satisfied.”
Head coach of Germany
Mirjana Musulin“First, I want to congratulate Germany. They were better today. I think that we were still feeling the blues because of the lost in the semi-finals. And the same thing happened again – we were too nervous and made mistakes. Germany weer patient enough to win the game. But it was a great tournament, in the group phase, we performed good."
Head coach of Serbia
In the classification matches for 5-8 place, Poland outclassed Bulgaria at 3-0 in the battle for the fifth place, while the Netherlands proved better than Slovenia, gaining the seventh position.
Match for 5th place:
Bulgaria – Poland 0-3 (20-25, 16-25, 20-25)
“We really wanted to win this game, we showed good game, played well. I think that we had advantage in many technical skills. Thanks to the Czech federation for the organization of this tournament. We lost two games against the finallists, Italy, and Türkiye. We did our maximum for the success. Looking back, at this moment, we are satisfied with 5th place. But we came to play for medals,” Polish coach Waldemar Kawka said.
“I wouldn’t say that it was a difficult match. In some moments, it looked like that our girls didn’t have motivation to fight for 5th place. During the whole tournament, we had our ups and downs. This year, the competition was on a very high level - I have been on many championships in these categories, and for the first time, I think that first eight teams can beat each other, which is great, because that is the sign, that very good players are growing, ” Bulgarian coach Diyan Boyukliev commented.
Match for 7th place:
Slovenia – The Netherlands 0-3 (12-25, 22-25, 20-25)
“We played only with six players for the whole tournament, so they were really tired. We played good games on high level on this tournament, but we are not satisfied with our result. We didn’t have bench, I think that is the key, why we lost some matches,” Slovenian coach assistant Jaros Stekl said.
“Today was the perfect end of this tournament. The Czech organization was perfect, I have to say nothing, only compliments. And for us, we learned how to get stronger day by day. But we aren’t strong enough to defeat Serbia, Bulgaria, and Poland. Our goal was to be in the TOP 6, I think that we were close to that, but we missed the chances against Bulgaria and Poland. On the other hand, we improved a lot than the last year, when we weren’t on the European championship, now, we are here, and we will go to European Young Olympic Festival next year," Dutch coach William Klaver commented on the whole tournament.