Five Europeans who stood out at the U18 World Championship
Editorial
European volleyball gave yet another display of its dominance last week in Durango, Mexico, when Russia defeated Italy 3-0 to take the title in the first time teams from a same continent met in the final.
Europe was also the only continent to have three semifinalists as Serbia finished fourth and had more teams in the top ten than any other region of the planet with Romania, Turkey and Poland finishing sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.
The tournament was also marked by outstanding individual performances of young European players, indicating a bright future for the continent in years to come, and here are five of those who stood out:
Natalia Suvorova (Russia)
Awarded as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, the 1.91m-tall middle blocker was instrumental to the Russian triumph. Suvorova’s scoring power is truly impressive as she ended the tournament ranked sixth among all scorers with 112 points and produced more than her Russian teammates in five of the team’s seven matches, including the final. She also led the tournaments in blocks (33) and hitting efficiency (66.97%) on her way to end a prolific summer, in which she also earned bronze at the U20 World Championship.
Julia Ituma (Italy)
A member of the Italian team that took gold at the U20 World Championship in July, the outside hitter was just one win short of making history and becoming the first play to win gold medals in the two age groups in the same season. An extremely physical player, Ituma used her 1.91m-tall body and her eye-catching athleticism to lead Italy’s scoring efforts in the tournament. She was the tournament’s top scorer with 139 points and tied for the most aces at 16, earning a spot in the Dream Team. Due to her Nigerian heritage and style of play, Ituma is frequently compared to 2021 EuroVolley MVP Paola Egonu and she seems to have the same star potential of her compatriot.
Hena Kurtagić (Serbia)
Serbia was just one victory away from standing at the podium and the towering 1.92m-tall middle blocker was a big part of it. A member of the team that took silver in the U20 World Championship two months earlier, Kurtagić embraced her role as a protagonist with the Serbian team and responded in great fashion, ending the tournament as its best blocker with 24 points scored at the net. Her reliable presence at the net took her to the tournament’s Dream Team.
Viktoriia Kobzar (Russia)
The younger sister of Olympic medalist Igor is following in her big brother’s footsteps as she excelled as Russia’s setter and captain in the tournament. Very calm and focused, Viktoriia ran a very efficient offensive system, keeping all her hitters involved and producing at a high level. She also proved to have the profile of a leader, coming up big in the deciding moments. Also a bronze medalist at the U20 World Championship earlier in the summer, she found her way to the tournament’s Dream Team before lifting the trophy.
Ege Melisa Bukmen (Turkey)
Turkey could conceivably have advanced further and contended for medals if it wasn’t for a series of injuries that hammered the team’s plans but Ege Melisa Bukmen was a top performer for the Turkish during the entire tournament. The 1.84m-tall outside hitter, who plays for Turkish giants Vakifbank, was a key piece in the team’s playing system and ended the tournament ranked fifth in points (113) and third in aces (13).