Germany remain unbeaten on Day 3 in Šiauliai

The race for the top positions in Pool II of the CEV U18 Volleyball European Championship Women continued on Friday in Šiauliai, with the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Germany and Hungary all recording important victories to maintain their strong starts to the tournament. The home crowd once again created a fantastic atmosphere as Lithuania took to the court, while the other encounters delivered plenty of exciting rallies and determined performances from all eight teams.

Netherlands overcome resilient France in straight sets
The Netherlands claimed their second success with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-17) win over France, but the final score does not fully reflect the intensity of the opening stages of the match. France challenged the Dutch throughout a closely contested first set, with both teams exchanging points before the Netherlands found the consistency needed to edge ahead. Building on that momentum, the Dutch side took control of the second and third sets thanks to a solid all-round performance and reliable passing, which proved to be one of the key differences between the teams. Despite France falling in straight sets, Elena Sanchez delivered an excellent individual performance, finishing as the top scorer with 16 points.

Bulgaria tested by determined Greece
Tournament favourites Bulgaria were pushed harder than many expected as Greece produced a spirited display before eventually falling 3-1 (25-22, 15-25, 25-17, 25-17). After narrowly losing the opening set, Greece responded brilliantly to level the match with an impressive second-set performance, demonstrating resilience and fighting spirit against one of Europe’s strongest teams. However, Bulgaria regained control in the closing stages, with Bozhidara Ivanova once again leading from the front. The Bulgarian standout finished as both the best scorer and best attacker of the match with 17 points, continuing her excellent form at the championship. Although unable to complete the upset, Greece earned plenty of admiration for their determined performance and refusal to give up until the final whistle.

Lithuania put up fight against Germany 
Germany continued the daily action with a 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-20) victory over hosts Lithuania. The home side once again demonstrated why they deserve their place among Europe’s elite, competing with confidence and determination throughout the contest. Backed by another passionate crowd in Šiauliai, Lithuania pushed Germany hard, particularly in the opening and closing sets, earning warm applause from their supporters. Germany, however, showed their quality in the decisive moments. Johanna Röhner led the scoring with an impressive 18 points, while Sophia Thust anchored the German backcourt with an outstanding 56% perfect reception rate. The Lithuanian supporters once again played their part in creating a memorable atmosphere, cheering their team from the opening serve to the final point and making it another special day at the championship in Šiauliai.

Hungary finish the day with four-set victory over Finland
Hungary rounded off the day’s programme with a hard-fought 3-1 (25-18, 21-25, 25-19, 25-19) victory over Finland to claim another valuable win in Pool II. After taking the opening set, Hungary saw Finland respond strongly to level the match. The Finnish side showed great determination throughout the contest, but Hungary remained composed in the crucial moments of the third and fourth sets to secure the victory. Despite finishing on the losing side, Finland’s Neea Hautakangas produced a remarkable individual performance, topping the scoring charts with an outstanding 25 points. Hungary, meanwhile, built their success on a disciplined all-round display, highlighted by a solid performance in serve reception, with their best receiver – libero Luca Vértes – finishing the match with an impressive 38% perfect reception rate.