Volleyball

Czechia survive five-set drama to remain unbeaten at #EuroVolleyU16W

News

Article Mon, Jul 7 2025

Czechia is the only team with a perfect record of four wins in as many matches in Pool II of #EuroVolleyU16W – which is being contested in Kosovo’s capital city, Prishtina. The fourth competition day was filled with drama with as many as three tiebreakers, with Czechia, Türkiye, and Montenegro emerging victorious from their respective fixtures with Greece, Hungary, and Croatia. In Pool I in Tirana, Italy boast the same impeccable record as Czechia following their 3-1 victory in the day’s ‘big match’ with Poland. 

Jubilant scenes after Czechia's dramatic victory over Greece

After a scheduled rest day on Saturday, Pool II action at the CEV U16 Volleyball European Championship 2025 returned in spectacular fashion on Sunday, as Montenegro outlasted Croatia in a dramatic five-set battle (24-26, 27-25, 25-21, 23-25, 15-12) at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina.
Both teams entered the match with momentum – Croatia riding high on a two-match winning streak following dominant performances against Slovenia and Hungary, while Montenegro was eager to bounce back from back-to-back defeats to Hungary and Greece after a strong start against Kosovo.
The opening set was a nail-biter, with Croatia narrowly pulling ahead 26-24, but Montenegro responded with grit and energy, winning the second set 27-25 and then turning the match in their favour with a 25-21 third set display powered by effective blocking and smart offense.
Croatia, showing the same resilience that earned them wins earlier in the tournament, forced a fifth set with a tight 25-23 win in the fourth. But in the decider, Montenegro remained composed under pressure, executing crucial points down the stretch to take the set 15-12 and secure their second win in Pool II.
With this result, Montenegro improves to two wins and two losses, with Croatia sharing the same record after seeing their winning streak snapped in a high-quality encounter.

Czechia extended their unbeaten run in Pool II with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Greece (30-28, 17-25, 25-21, 13-25, 15-13) in one of the most balanced and intense matches of the tournament so far. 
The first set did set the tone for the match – an extended battle full of high-level rallies, with Czechia narrowly prevailing 30-28. Greece, however, responded with force in the second, dominating with energy and control to level the match at 1-1 with a convincing 25-17 win.
In the third set, Czechia regained their rhythm, executing smart plays and showing great composure under pressure to take it 25-21. But just as they seemed to gain momentum, Greece bounced back again – this time in truly emphatic fashion – crushing the fourth set 25-13 to force a fifth.
The final set delivered more drama, as both teams pushed hard for the win. In the end, Czechia held their nerve, closing the decider 15-13 to claim their fourth straight victory in Pool II, thus remaining unbeaten and firmly atop the group standings.
Greece, now with two wins and two losses, once again demonstrated their quality and fighting spirit – taking yet another top team to the edge, just as they had done earlier in the tournament.

Türkiye were the winners of another five-setter on Sunday in Prishtina

In the third five-set match of the day, Türkiye held off a determined Hungarian comeback to secure a crucial 3-2 victory (25-17, 25-12, 17-25, 19-25, 15-11). 
Türkiye started the match with authority, dominating the first two sets with powerful serving, tight defence, and excellent offensive transitions. Hungary, coming off a disappointing straight-sets loss to Croatia, struggled to find rhythm early, falling behind 0-2 after dropping the sets 17-25 and 12-25.
However, the Hungarian team regrouped impressively in the third, showing flashes of the form that earned them wins earlier in the tournament against Slovenia and Montenegro. With improved energy and tactical precision, Hungary claimed the next two sets 25-17 and 25-19, thereby forcing a tie-break in what became the third five-set clash of the day.
In the decider, Türkiye regained control with focused execution and a determined mindset, pulling away late in the set to win 15-11 and take the match – thus securing their third victory in Pool II.
With this result, Türkiye now stands at three wins and one loss, keeping their semifinal hopes more than alive. Hungary drops to two wins and two losses, making their path to the next round more complicated but still possible depending on the next rounds of matches. 

Late in the evening, Slovenia earned their first win in Pool II with a 3-0 victory over host nation Kosovo (25-17, 25-8, 25-19) in the final match of Day 4 at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina.
After three consecutive losses to Hungary, Croatia, and Türkiye, the Slovenian team finally found its footing, delivering a composed and focused performance. They opened the match with a solid first set, capitalising on unforced errors from Kosovo to take it 25-17.
The second set was one-sided, with Slovenia dominating from the service line and controlling the tempo throughout. They cruised to a 25-8 win, their most convincing set of the tournament so far.
Kosovo showed more resistance in the third set, backed by the home crowd, and kept the score tight for much of the frame. However, Slovenia maintained their composure in key moments and closed the set 25-19 to seal their first win of the competition.
While Slovenia moves to one win and three losses, Kosovo remains winless after four matches. Despite the setbacks, the home side continues to gain valuable experience on the continental stage.

With three rounds of group play remaining, Pool II is set for a dramatic finish in Prishtina as teams battle for the two spots in the semi-finals.

#Volleyball