Czechia, Türkiye join Italy and Poland in #EuroVolleyU16W semis

On Thursday, Czechia booked their place in the semi-finals of the CEV U16 Volleyball European Championship 2025 with a solid 3-0 win over Hungary (25-16, 25-23, 25-23) in their final Pool II match played at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina. Later in the evening, Türkiye followed suit thanks to their 3-0 victory over hosts Kosovo. Czechia will play Pool I runners-up Poland in the semis, whereas Türkiye will take on Italy, the only side with a perfect record of seven wins in the group stage of the continental championship. 

Coming into the match with one loss and in need of a win to guarantee a top-two finish, Czechia delivered under pressure. They started strong, taking the opening set 25-16 with clean execution and tactical discipline.
Hungary, knowing that a win would keep their own slim semi-final hopes alive, fought hard in the second and third sets. Both frames were closely contested, with long rallies and strong serving on both sides, but Czechia showed greater composure in key moments - closing out the second and third sets 25-23 to seal the straight-sets victory.
With this win, Czechia finishes the group stage with an impressive 6-1 record, securing one of the top spots in Pool II and advancing to the semi-finals. Hungary ends their campaign with a 3-4 record, just outside qualification range after several competitive performances.

Türkiye sealed their place in the semi-finals as well with a commanding 3-0 victory over host nation Kosovo (25-14, 25-14, 25-13) in their final Pool II match. 
Needing a win to secure a top-two finish, Türkiye approached the match with focus and urgency. They established control early in the first set with effective serving and dominant net play, taking it 25-14.
Kosovo, competing in their first-ever European Championship, continued to show fighting spirit in front of their home crowd, but Türkiye’s superior depth and tactical execution proved too much. The second and third sets followed a similar pattern, with Türkiye maintaining consistency and closing both frames 25-14 and 25-13.
With this result, Türkiye finishes Pool II with a 5-2 record, thereby securing second place behind Czechia and advancing to the semi-finals. 
Kosovo, despite finishing without a win, gained valuable experience throughout the competition and earned praise for their commitment and growth.

As Pool II concludes in Prishtina, Czechia and Türkiye move forward to the knockout stage, scheduled in Tirana, where they will face the top two teams from Pool I – Italy and Poland – in the quest for the European U16 title.

Slovenia wrapped up their Pool II campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Montenegro (25-22, 15-25, 15-25, 29-27, 16-14), in a thrilling five-set battle at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina.
Slovenia opened strong, taking the first set 25-22 with sharp attacking and solid defence. Montenegro, however, stormed back in the second and third sets with dominant performances, winning both 25-15 to seize control of the match.
With their back against the wall, Slovenia mounted a stunning comeback in the fourth set, saving multiple match points and edging a marathon finish 29-27 to force a decisive fifth. The tie-break was just as tight, with Slovenia holding their nerve to claim a 16-14 win and secure their third victory of the tournament.
With this result, both Slovenia and Montenegro conclude group play with three wins and four losses, finishing outside the top two places required to qualify for the semi-finals.

Croatia delivered a strong and confident performance in their final Pool II match defeating Greece 3-1 (25-10, 18-25, 25-10, 25-14) at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina.
Croatia came out firing, dominating the opening set 25-10 with high serving pressure and excellent net control. Greece responded well in the second, adjusting their reception and building momentum to take it 25-18 and level the match.
But that would be Greece’s last breakthrough. Croatia responded emphatically in the third set with another 25-10 rout, displaying superior organisation and intensity on both ends of the court. The fourth set followed a similar pattern, as Croatia controlled the rhythm and closed out the match 25-14.
With this result, Croatia finishes Pool II with a 4-3 record – the same as Greece, thereby completing their campaign in third and fourth place, respectively.