Youth continental and senior zonal champions emerge in Europe, Asia and NORCECA

The men’s national team of Suriname, the women’s national team of Jamaica and both national teams of Trinidad and Tobago, all on the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment coach support list, were among the medallists on last week’s podiums of the CAZOVA Caribbean Volleyball Championships in Paramaribo. Meanwhile, Italy’s U17 men’s national team and Iran’s U16 men’s national team triumphed as continental champions in their respective age categories.

CEV U17 Men's Volleyball European Championship

The CEV U17 Men's Volleyball European Championship took place over a 12-day period in the Montenegrin capital Podgorica with the participation of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Türkiye.

Italy topped the final standings in Pool II unbeaten in all seven matches before mastering a 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-19) sweep of their semifinal against Pool I runners-up Belgium. Bulgaria did even better in Pool I, dropping only a set in the seven matches to top the table. They also won their semifinal in straight sets, 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-21) against Pool II runners-up Spain, to set up a gold medal match (pictured in the main photo; credits: cev.eu) between two undefeated opponents. The Italians managed a 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 20-25, 25-20) victory over the Bulgarians in Sunday’s final to celebrate as continental champions. Spain earned the bronze after a 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-13, 25-14) comeback against Belgium in the third-place game.

All results and standings

Italy U17 celebrate as European champions (Photo credits: cev.eu)

Asian Men's U16 Volleyball Championship

Australia, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and hosts Uzbekistan were the 12 teams who took part in the Asian Men's U16 Volleyball Championship that started on 22 July and finished last Saturday in Tashkent.

Iran went through the entire tournament undefeated to claim the title after a 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 25-16, 25-22) victory over Uzbekistan in the gold medal match. Before that, in the semifinals, Iran came back from two sets down to squeeze out a 3-2 (21-25, 14-25, 25-22, 25-17, 15-13) win over Chinese Taipei, while the home team (Uzbekistan) defeated Pakistan in four sets, 3-1 (25-23, 25-21, 17-25, 25-23). The bronze medals went to Chinese Taipei after a 3-1 (25-13, 18-25, 25-23, 25-22) success against Pakistan in the third-place game.

Iranian outside hitter Mohammadraouf Khoshhaldashiboroun was honoured with two individual awards, for Most Valuable Player (MVP) and for a spot on the tournament’s Dream Team, which also consisted of setter Shohruhxon Halimov (Uzbekistan), opposite Huang Pin-Yen (Chinese Taipei), outside Ogabek Haydarov (Uzbekistan), middle blockers Taha Mohseni Bababdani (Iran) and Liou Guan-Peng (Chinese Taipei), and libero Masoud Eimery (Iran).

All results and standings

CAZOVA Caribbean Volleyball Championships

Suriname hosted the 18th edition of the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) Caribbean Volleyball Championships from 21 to 31 July.

In addition to the hosts, Bahamas, Barbados, Curacao, Jamaica, Martinique and Trinidad and Tobago took part in the men’s tournament. After losing to Barbados, Suriname advanced to the elimination rounds as Pool A runners-up. After five-set wins over Jamaica in the quarterfinals and over Trinidad and Tobago in the semifinals, the home team faced Barbados in the gold medal match and took revenge in yet another five-set thriller, 3-2 (19-25, 25-21, 29-27, 23-25, 17-15). Suriname’s men’s national team have so far been allocated CHF 45,000 of Volleyball Empowerment coach support.

“The winning formula was that my team played with their heart,” Suriname’s Cuban head coach Carlos Orta commented. “They knew the fifth set would be ours. Most of the teams were tired, but Barbados showed up today and gave us a very hard time. I am very happy with the victory and very proud. Now I will give the group seven days of rest before training again.”

Suriname’s men celebrate as Caribbean champions (Photo credits: norceca.net)

Trinidad and Tobago took the bronze after a 3-1 (25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18) victory over the Bahamas in the third-place game. Last year, they benefitted from six months of coach support for both their national teams, amounting to CHF 36,000.

In the role of defending titleholders, the women’s national team of Trinidad and Tobago reached the final of the Caribbean Championship, where they met Jamaica, another team supported through Volleyball Empowerment. The gold medal game featured a five-set battle, in which the Jamaicans emerged with a 3-2 (25-21, 13-25, 23-25, 25-19, 15-13) victory. Barbados came back from two sets down in the bronze medal match against Suriname to produce yet another five-set saga and win by 3-2 (19-25, 23-25, 27-25, 25-23, 15-12) to join the podium. The Bahamas was the fifth team to compete in the women’s tournament.

Ecstatic Jamaicans rejoice their victory (Photo credits: norceca.net)

Suriname’s opposite Zefanio Breinburg was named MVP and on the Dream Team of the men’s tournament. Setter Donald Kameron (Trinidad and Tobago), outside hitters Kyle Wilson (Bahamas) and Ryck Webb (Jamaica), middle blockers Mark Blake (Jamaica) and Raygid Isenia (Bahamas), and libero Anferney Schmeltz (Suriname) also made the Dream Team. Wilson also received the Best Scorer award. Webb was recognised as the Best Server. Schmeltz was honoured as the Best Digger, while Keven Sporkslede of Suriname took the prize for Best Receiver.

Jamaican outside hitter Mychael Vernon was selected as the MVP of the women’s competition and was joined by setter Keshan Livingston (Jamaica), opposite Sashalee Thomas (Jamaica), outside Ketura Margaret (Suriname), middle blockers Tennelle Chapman-Goodluck (Suriname) and Anesia Edwards (Jamaica), and libero Cheyenne Chin Choy (Trinidad and Tobago) on the Dream Team. Vernon also received the Best Receiver award. Krystle Esdelle of Trinidad and Tobago was the Best Scorer of the tournament, Janelle Curtis of Bahamas was the Best Server, while Cheyenne Chin Choy claimed a second award for Best Digger.