Volleyball

Volleyball powerhouses secured their spot in #EuroVolleyU22W Final Round

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Article Mon, Jul 7 2025

After completion of the qualifiers contested this past weekend, we now know the seven teams joining hosts the Netherlands for next year’s #EuroVolleyU22W, the third edition of the continental championship specifically designed for this age group. The event scheduled for July of 2026 in The Hague will feature eight teams, with the pool phase followed by the semis and subsequent medal matches. 

Poland were the only team not to concede a single set during last weekend's #EuroVolleyU22W qualifiers

The five pool winners – Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Türkiye, and Serbia – are joined by the two runners-up with the best result across all five pools – namely Spain and Portugal. Since the five qualifiers featured a diverse number of teams – from three to four – the results of the matches played with the teams finishing last in the groups of four were discarded in order to determine the best runners-up based on an equal number of fixtures. 

Italy, Ukraine, and Türkiye did only concede one set in their respective groups – whereas Serbia had to work a way harder in Pool E where they beat Croatia 3-2, Luxembourg 3-0 and hosts Bulgaria 3-1. Poland were the only pool winners not to concede a single set – even though they also benefitted from the withdrawal of Israel from the competition. Playing on home soil in Torrejon de Ardoz, Spain routed both Norway and Ireland in straight sets and took one set from Türkiye to emerge as the best runners-up across all pools – and Portugal achieved the same feat after taking one set as well from their matchup with Pool A winners Italy. 

Next year’s event in the Netherlands will crown the 2026 U22 women’s European champions. Italy boast a perfect record in the event having won gold in 2022 as well as in 2024. 

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