Slovenia ends Czechia’s winning streak at #EuroVolleyU16W

On Wednesday, Slovenia pulled off one of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far in Pool II at the CEV U16 Volleyball European Championship 2025, defeating previously unbeaten Czechia 3-2 (25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 22-25, 15-13) in a dramatic five-set battle at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina. Greece, Montenegro, and Croatia all emerged victorious from their respective matches as the race for a spot in the semis of the tournament remains extremely close. Czechia leads the way in Pool II followed by Türkiye and Greece. 

Both teams entered this sixth day of action playing their sixth match of the group stage, with Czechia riding high on a perfect 5-0 record and Slovenia holding just one win from five games. But rankings and expectations were thrown out the window as Slovenia came out inspired and fearless.
The Slovenian side stunned Czechia early, playing with precision and aggression to edge out the first two sets 25-22 and 25-23, capitalising on uncharacteristic errors from the Czech squad.
Faced with their first real adversity of the tournament, Czechia fought back with determination, taking the third set 25-21 and the fourth 25-22 to force a decider. The momentum appeared to be shifting – but Slovenia had other plans.
In a tense and emotionally charged fifth set, Slovenia showed remarkable composure and seized their opportunity, clinching the set 15-13 to hand Czechia their first loss of the tournament and improve their own record to two wins and four losses.
With this result, Czechia drops to 5-1 but still remains at the top of Pool II. 

Montenegro delivered a stunning 3-2 victory over Türkiye (34-32, 12-25, 28-26, 23-25, 15-13) in one of the most dramatic matches of Pool II. 
In a match filled with momentum shifts, tension, and incredible resilience from both sides, it was Montenegro who prevailed in a nerve-wracking fifth set, earning their third win of the tournament and shaking up the standings with one round of group matches remaining.
Türkiye entered the match with a chance to overtake Czechia at the top of the table after their loss to Slovenia earlier in the day. However, despite moments of brilliance and a dominant second set, they were unable to close out the match in key moments - especially in a wild opening set that went to 34-32 in favour of Montenegro and a third-set battle that ended 28-26.
Türkiye responded well in the even-numbered sets, taking the second 25-12 and the fourth 25-23 to push the match to a decider. But in the fifth, Montenegro once again showed grit and composure, edging the set 15-13 to seal an unforgettable win.
With this result, Türkiye drops to four wins and two losses and misses the opportunity to move into pole position in Pool II. Their semifinal qualification now hinges on a must-win match against Kosovo on Thursday – and even with such a victory, their fate may depend on the outcome of the decisive Greece vs Hungary clash.
Montenegro, now 3-3, has placed itself on the edge of semi-final contention heading into the final day, in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to Pool II action in Prishtina.

Greece delivered one of their most complete performances of the tournament, defeating Hungary in straight sets (25-16, 30-28, 25-13) in a crucial Pool II showdown at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina.
With both teams entering the match carrying semi-final ambitions, the stakes were high - and it was Greece who rose to the occasion. Dominating from the outset, they took the opening set 25-16 with focused defense and smart distribution in attack, putting Hungary on the back foot early.
The second set proved pivotal. Hungary, fighting to stay in contention after a loss to Türkiye earlier in the tournament, pushed hard in a back-and-forth battle. But Greece held firm under pressure and closed out the marathon set 30-28, thus seizing full momentum and deflating Hungarian hopes.
In the third, Greece shifted into another gear. With confidence flowing, they overwhelmed Hungary with pace and precision, taking the set 25-13 and sealing a vital straight-sets win that keeps them firmly in the race for a top-four finish.
With this result, Greece improves to four wins and two losses, while Hungary drops to three wins and three losses.

Croatia kept their semifinal hopes alive with a dominant 3-0 victory over host nation Kosovo (25-15, 25-15, 25-9). 
Needing a win to stay in the semi-final conversation, Croatia approached the match with full focus and urgency. They took control early in the opening set, using strong service pressure and clean attacking to build a comfortable lead and close it out 25-15.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Kosovo struggling to contain Croatia’s tempo and consistency. Despite the support of the home crowd, Kosovo couldn’t shift the momentum, falling again 25-15.
In the third and final set, Croatia showcased their depth and intensity, racing to a 25-9 finish to complete the sweep in just over an hour.
With this result, Croatia improves to three wins and three losses, joining a crowded race for the semi-final spots in Pool II. Kosovo, still in search of their first win in their historic European Championship debut, will look to end their campaign on a positive note in the final round of matches. 

All eyes now turn to Thursday’s decisive matches, as the final standings of Pool II will determine which two teams will advance to the semis and medal matches in Tirana.