Volleyball

Croatia stops Hungary’s winning streak as Czechia, Italy, and Poland remain unbeaten at #EuroVolleyU16W

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Article Fri, Jul 4 2025

On Friday, Croatia delivered one of the most surprising results of Pool II so far at the CEV U16 Volleyball European Championship 2025, sweeping previously unbeaten Hungary 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-20) in a dominant performance at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina. Czechia remains the only undefeated team in the group after their flawless 3-0 victory over hosts Kosovo. Italy boasts a perfect 3-0 win-loss record in Pool I after on Friday the Azzurrine beat France in four sets – and later in the evening they were emulated by Poland, as the White-and-Reds crushed Bulgaria in three straight sets.  

Croatia shocked previously unbeaten Hungary on Friday in Prishtina

After a difficult opening loss to Czechia, followed by a strong bounce-back win over Slovenia, Croatia entered their third match with growing confidence. That momentum was fully evident on court, as they controlled the match from start to finish and handed Hungary their first defeat of the tournament.

Hungary, who had shown great resilience in their five-set win over Montenegro and a clean 3-0 victory against Slovenia earlier in the week, looked out of rhythm throughout the match. Croatia’s aggressive service game and smart shot selection kept the Hungarian defence under pressure, especially in the first two sets, which ended 25-13 and 25-14.
The third set was more competitive, with Hungary attempting to mount a comeback, but Croatia held firm, showing better composure in key moments and closing the set 25-20 to complete the sweep.
With this win, Croatia not only claims its second consecutive victory but also repositions itself as a serious contender in the race for a top spot in Pool II. Hungary, meanwhile, will need to regroup after a setback that contrasted sharply with their previous performances.

Greece continued their rise in Pool II with a confident 3-0 victory over Montenegro (25-19, 25-20, 25-17), in their third match played at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina.
After opening the tournament with a loss to Türkiye, the Greek team has bounced back in impressive fashion. Their straight-sets win over hosts Kosovo on Day 2 was followed by another dominant performance against Montenegro, a team that had pushed Hungary to five sets in their previous outing.
In the opening set, Greece applied consistent pressure from the service line and capitalised on Montenegro’s errors to take the set 25-19. Montenegro tried to respond in the second set, showing flashes of their quality that had nearly earned them a win against Hungary, but Greece’s stability in reception and clinical finishing gave them the edge, 25-20.
The third set saw Greece tighten their grip on the match, maintaining control with strong net play and defensive coverage. They closed it out 25-17, sealing their second straight win and continuing their upward momentum in the group standings.
Montenegro, after an opening win over Kosovo and a closely contested match against Hungary, appeared to lack rhythm in this clash and will look to regroup ahead of their next matches.

The Czech youngsters remain the sole unbeaten side in Pool II

Türkiye bounced back in style on Day 3 of Pool II action defeating Slovenia in straight sets (25-18, 26-24, 25-16) at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina. After an intense five-set loss to Czechia in one of the most thrilling matches of the tournament so far, Türkiye responded with composure and control. From the outset, they looked focused and well-prepared, determined to get back on the winning track. Slovenia, still searching for their first win after previous defeats to Hungary and Croatia, delivered a more competitive performance in the second set, where they pushed their opponents to the limit. However, the Turkish side showed their quality in clutch moments, edging the set 26-24 after taking the opener 25-18. In the third set, Türkiye reasserted their dominance with aggressive serving and tight defence, closing out the match 25-16 to secure their second victory in Pool II.
With this result, Türkiye strengthens their position in the standings while Slovenia will look to regroup after a third consecutive loss.

Czechia continued their dominant run in Pool II with a convincing 3-0 victory over host nation Kosovo (25-11, 25-12, 25-16) in the final match of Day 3 at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina.
Coming off two impressive wins – an opening sweep against Croatia and a dramatic five-set comeback over Türkiye – Czechia once again displayed their technical excellence and team cohesion. From the first whistle, they controlled the tempo, using strong serving and clinical finishing to overwhelm the young Kosovo side.
Kosovo, still searching for their first set win in the tournament, showed improvement compared to their earlier performances, particularly in the third set where they challenged Czechia with more aggressive play and better defence. However, the experience and precision of the Czech team prevailed, as they calmly closed out the match in straight sets.
With this result, Czechia remains unbeaten with three wins in three matches and continues to look like one of the top contenders in Pool II. For Kosovo, the match offered another valuable learning experience as they continue their debut appearance on the continental stage.

All teams will have a rest day on Saturday before returning to action on Sunday, as the Pool II standings begin to tighten and every match takes on added significance in the fight for a spot in the semi-finals.

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