Ten matches, two halls, one good day at NEVZA U20 European qualifiers

When the last ball hit the floor at Santasport on Friday, the local organisers had behind exactly what they had hoped for from the opening day of the NEVZA U20 and European Championships zonal qualifiers: people in the stands, benches on their feet and five countries that gave nothing away for free.

For hosts Finland the day went great. Both home teams played two matches and did not drop a single set. The boys opened against England 3-0 and closed the evening against Sweden with the same scoreline. The girls beat England 3-0 and Denmark in straight sets too. Going into Saturday both Finnish teams lead the standings, and a place in Sunday’s final is in their own hands.

The most interesting match of the boys’ opening day was played at nine in the morning: Norway beat Denmark 3-1, and it stayed the only match of the day that went beyond three sets. Sweden took care of Denmark 3-0 in the afternoon, and Norway kept its pace by beating England 3-0. Denmark and England go into Saturday without a win, but neither of them played like a team that has given up.

On the girls’ side, Denmark beat Sweden 3-0 and Norway handled England 3-0. The day’s closing match, Norway vs Sweden, ended in a 3-1 win for the Norwegians. 

Behind the results is the part that matters most to the organisers. The players have been happy. Every team cheers for its own so loudly you hear it on the other side of the hall, and the stands have been filled with parents, club people and passers-by who came to watch one set and stayed to the end. This weekend Rovaniemi looks like the sports city it is.

On Saturday the round robin continues with the second round, every team plays two more matches. Sunday is medal day: third and fourth in the standings play for bronze, first and second for gold and a spot in the European Championship Final Round.

Many thanks go out to everyone making this event happen. To the volunteers who have been at the halls before the first serve and after the last point. To the referees, the players and the spectators. And to partners Santasport and the City of Rovaniemi, who give this celebration of Volleyball a setting everyone is proud of.

Click here for further information on the boys’ competition. 

Click here for further information on the girls’ competition.

Click here for more pictures.