#EuroVolleyU18M starts with drama-filled matches

The #EuroVolleyU18M Final Round started on Tuesday in Porto San Giorgio and Cisterna di Latina with a series of hard-fought, high-quality matches. As many as four matches were contested at each of the two venues hosting the continental tournament featuring the rising stars of the game. 

Pool I in Porto San Giorgio 

In Porto San Giorgio, Poland started their campaign with a resounding 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-22) victory over underdogs Iceland in a match whose fate was never in doubt. On the contrary, the second match of the day featuring Finland and Türkiye was a very closely fought contest. Finland eventually had the upper hand 3-2 (16-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 18-16) in nearly two hours and thirty minutes of play after coming back from two sets down. In the penultimate match of the day, Slovenia took maximum three points with a 3-1 victory over Greece (17-25, 25-22, 25-19, 25-14). The final match was drama filled with hosts Italy edging Serbia 3-2 (15-25, 25-23, 25-14, 15-25, 15-9) in a rollercoaster of a game. 

Pool II in Cisterna di Latina 

Over in Cisterna di Latina, Romania defeated the Netherlands 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-15, 25-22), at the end of a largely balanced match (except for the third set) and decided by small details. The Dutch, despite a strong performance by Jayson Hansen and Joa Valkema, paid the price for their many errors, especially from the service line (18). Romania, led by Matei Josan and with excellent blocking, played better in crucial moments and deserved the victory.

Quality, talent, and physicality: characteristics shared by France and Bulgaria, who delivered a highly technical match played at a very fast pace. Matteo Mrozek’s 23 points were not enough for the defending champions to stop Zhivkov’s team. Bulgaria had four players in double figures and their great character made the difference too.

In one hour and thirty-four minutes, Belgium overcame Germany in the longest match of the first day: trailing 2-1, coach Wim De Boeck’s team found the necessary response to extend the match to a fifth set. The tie-break was a one-sided affair (15-8): Belgium quickly took the lead, closing it out without much of a fight. Belgian opposite hitter Evan Dubru was the top scorer.

In the final match of the day, Czechia defeated Spain in four sets (25-21, 25-21, 25-27, 25-20). Coach Jan Svoboda’s boys, playing solid Volleyball, won the first two sets, then allowed Spain to win the third and regain their confidence. At the decisive moment, the Czechs’ quality came to the fore even though the Spaniards did never give up.