Year in Review: Age-category European Championships

2022 was certainly an incredible year for Italy. In addition to their men’s national team triumphing as world champions and their women’s team celebrating on top of the Volleyball Nations League podium, all six continental championships in the junior and youth categories, played this year, were won by the young Italian hopefuls. To add to a remarkable streak that started in 2021 with Italy’s seniors snatching the EuroVolley titles for both genders, the country’s representatives also won gold for both genders at the European Youth Olympic Festival 2022 in Slovakia.

The inaugural edition of the men’s CEV U22 Volleyball European Championship was held from July 12 through 17, 2022 in Tarnow, Poland. The national teams of Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Serbia and Turkiye topped their qualification pools in May to book their tickets to the Finals. Montenegro joined them as the best pool runner-up.

At the Finals in Poland, France won Pool I unbeaten. Hosts Poland finished second on a 2-1 win-loss record. Similarly, winners Italy and runners-up Turkiye advanced to the semifinals from Pool II. Two tightly fought five-set battles unfolded in the semis, with France outplaying Turkiye and Italy overcoming Poland. The Italians came back from a set down to master a 3-1 (24-26, 25-23, 25-22, 25-21) victory over France in the final and claim the historic title. Also in four sets, Poland edged Turkiye for the bronze. Italy’s setter Paolo Porro was honored as the Most Valuable Player of the U22 European Championship.

A new page in volleyball history was also written with the inaugural women’s CEV U21 European Championship, held in 2022. Hosts Italy were joined by Austria, Poland, Serbia and Turkiye as pool winners, and Denmark, Israel and Ukraine as the best three pool runners-up from the qualifiers held in May.

At the Final Round in Italy from July 12 through 17, the home team went through Pool I in Cerignola unbeaten in three matches. Pool II in Andria was won by Poland, also undefeated. In the crossed semifinals, Pool I runner-up Serbia shut out Poland, while Italy defeated Turkiye in a rollercoaster five-setter. Cerignola saw two more tie-breakers in the medal matches. To snatch the first ever U21 title, Italy produced a 3-2 (17-25, 25-17, 15-25, 25-19, 15-11) victory over Serbia as its outside hitter Emma Cagnin took the MVP award. Turkiye edged Poland to celebrate with bronze.

Italy also hosted the Final Round of the men’s U20 European Championship 2022 in Montesilvano and Vasto. Seven teams – Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and Slovakia – secured their participation as pool winners in the opening qualification round in April. The remaining four vacancies were filled through an additional round of qualifiers in June and July, with Finland, France, Greece and Slovenia booking the tickets.

The Finals started on September 17. Hosts Italy topped the final Pool I standings on a 4-1 win-loss record and 13 points, followed by Poland (on 4-1 and 11) into the semifinals. Belgium finished first in Pool II on 4-1 and 11, separated from pool runners-up Bulgaria on set ratio. In the semifinals in Montesilvano, Italy managed to come back from a set down against Bulgaria to win by 3-1, while Poland shut out Belgium. In the final on September 25, the hosts persevered through a five-set battle to claim the title after a 3-2 (25-19, 25-19, 24-26, 17-25, 15-6) victory over Poland. Bulgaria earned the bronze after beating Belgium in four sets. Italian opposite Alessandro Bovolenta was named MVP of the tournament.

Croatia, Greece, Italy, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkiye qualified for the women’s U19 European Championship 2022 Finals after winning the nine pools of the opening qualification round in April. In June and July, Finland and the Netherlands topped the additional qualification pools and also joined hosts North Macedonia from August 27 through September 4 in Skopje.

Italy (5-0) and Poland (4-1) progressed to the semifinals from Pool I. Serbia (5-0) and the Netherlands (4-1) did so from Pool II. The two southern European teams shut out their opponents in the crossed semis before putting up a five-set duel in the gold medal match. After an extended tie-breaker, the Italians grabbed a 3-2 (17-25, 27-25, 25-21, 15-25, 17-15) victory and the title. Their opposite Julia Ituma took the MVP nomination. In the bronze medal match, the Poles defeated the Dutch in four sets.

By winning the qualification tournaments in their respective zonal associations, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Poland and Slovenia were the first teams to join hosts Georgia as berth-holders for the men’s U18 European Championship in 2022. Czechia, Germany, Greece, Italy and Serbia won their pools in April’s continental qualifiers to advance. France also booked its spot as the best pool runner-up.

Georgian capital Tbilisi welcomed the Finals from July 9 through 17. On a 4-1 win-loss record each, France with 12 points and Serbia with 10 claimed the semifinal tickets from Pool I. Italy was the only unbeaten team in Pool II and advanced to the last four along with second-placed Bulgaria on 4-1. To advance to the final, France and Italy shut out Bulgaria and Serbia, respectively. The gold medal match was also a straight-set affair, with MVP-to-be, opposite Tommaso Barotto, leading the Italians to a 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-23) victory. The Balkan Lion Cubs took the bronze after a five-set win over Serbian neighbors.

Finland, Italy, Russia, Serbia and Slovenia won the zonal quota for the women’s U17 European Championship. Poland took Russia’s spot after the latter was disqualified. The continental qualification pools in April were won by Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands and Turkiye. Hungary also qualified as the best pool runner-up.

The cities of Hradec Kralove and Prostejov hosted the two pools at the Finals in Czechia. Serbia won all five of its matches in Pool I. Germany also advanced to the semifinals from that pool on a 3-2 win-loss record. Italy (12 points) and Turkiye (11) took the first two places in Pool II, on 4-1 each. Italy mastered a clean slate in their semifinal against Germany, while the Turkish team managed a five-set victory over the Serbians. In the final, Italy claimed a 3-1 (25-16, 23-25, 25-20, 25-22) win over Turkiye as their playmaker Safa Allaoui earned the MVP award. Germany beat Serbia in four sets for the bronze.