The #EuroVolleyU16W competition commenced with strong performances from several teams in Prishtina and Tirana. In Pool II, held at the Palace of Youth and Sports in Prishtina – marking the first time Kosovo has hosted a European Championship Final Round – Hungary, Türkiye, Czechia, and Montenegro each achieved convincing 3-0 victories in their initial matches. Meanwhile, in Pool I in Tirana, Italy and Spain recorded straight-set wins against Lithuania and Albania, respectively. Poland overcame France 3-1, while Bulgaria needed a tiebreak set to defeat Ukraine.
The Czech players celebrate after their win over Croatia.
Hungary vs. Slovenia (3-0)
Hungary began their CEV U16 Volleyball European Championship 2025 journey in Pool II with an impressive straight-sets win over Slovenia. The Hungarian side maintained control throughout the match, displaying composure and tactical discipline to secure a 3-0 victory with set scores of 25-16, 25-22, and 25-23. Slovenia showed improvement as the match progressed but couldn`t shift the momentum. Hungary`s success was built on aggressive serving, effective blocking, and consistent reception, highlighting their strong ambitions in the group.
Türkiye vs. Greece (3-0)
Türkiye also delivered a commanding opening performance, sweeping aside Greece 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-21). The Turkish squad quickly established dominance with powerful serves and precise attacks, making it difficult for Greece to find their rhythm, especially in the first set (25-13). Greece offered more resistance in the following sets, but Türkiye`s solid defence and fast-paced offense kept them in control, securing the win in straight sets. Türkiye showcased significant depth and team cohesion in this strong start.
Setter Nadja Pekovic in action for Team Montenegro during their match against hosts Kosovo.
Czechia vs. Croatia (3-0)
Czechia started their Pool II campaign with a 3-0 victory over Croatia (27-25, 25-23, 25-13). The match began as a tight contest, with the first two sets featuring back-and-forth action before Czechia narrowly clinched both (27-25, 25-23) by demonstrating resilience in crucial moments. In the third set, Czechia escalated their performance with aggressive serving and a rapid offensive pace, dominating the set 25-13 to seal the straight-sets win and join other early winners in Prishtina.
Montenegro vs. Kosovo (3-0)
Montenegro secured a decisive 3-0 victory over host nation Kosovo (25-15, 25-12, 25-6) to open their Pool II journey. Montenegro controlled the match from the start with high-pressure serving and disciplined net play. They built early leads in each set, capitalizing on errors and maintaining a high tempo to secure comfortable wins (25-15, 25-12). The third set saw Montenegro display remarkable consistency, finishing with a commanding 25-6 scoreline. Despite the loss, Team Kosovo gained valuable experience playing at home, while Montenegro made a strong statement with their dominant performance.
Gideon Holt