Denmark defend Boy’s title, Sweden back claiming Gold and Silver in 2022 NEVZA U17 Championships
England and Sweden joined the four nations of last year when the 2022 NEVZA U17 Championship was staged in Ikast, Denmark. The boys and girls didn’t make their supporters disappointed, it was a high level on every match and some surprising results. Denmark’s boys defended their title, while the Swedish girls took over the throne from Iceland. Sweden (gold and silver), Denmark (one gold), Norway (silver, bronze) and Iceland (one bronze) shared the podium. All matches in the tournament were streamed by the NEVZA Streaming and Homepage Development group. In parallel with the tournamet was also the CEV DataVolley workshop, with participants from 15 countries around Europe.
On October 16th, the girls and boys from Denmark, England, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Norway and Sweden gathered at the ISI sport centre for three days of competition. With all the facilities for food and lodging, a short walk to training and competition halls, and the special Danish “hygge” (conviviality), it gives the players and leaders best possible conditions.
Girls’s: The Swedish Champions and the All Star Team
In the girls’ competition pool play, host Denmark was unlucky to see strong teams from Sweden and Norway. Norway won both their game and advanced directly to semifinal the following day. In the other pool, England back again after the pandemic, won with after a thight game against the Faroe Island. Iceland lost straight set against England but came back with a victory against Faroe Island. Quarter finals were played between the second and third teams of the pools. Both teams ending second, Sweden and Iceland won their matches. Sweden and Norway showed their capacity in their respective semifinal, with 3-0 victories leading to the final. Norway stood up well, but Sweden was a stronger team and won the trophy in their comeback to the NEVZA U17 Championships.
Boy’s: The Danish Champions and the All Star Team
The Danish boys were more succesful in the pool play and they only lost one set, with Sweden second before Iceland. In the other pool, Norway was even more dominant, winning before Faroe Islands and England. Sweden and Faroe Islands won their quarter finals. Sweden was succesful in their semifinal against Norway and made it to the final. Faroe Island had a tougher opponent, defending host Denmark. Faroe Islands lost won one set but Denmark showed a stability and strong attacks leading to a clear victory.The final between Denmark and Sweden became a nail biter, with two very strong teams that didn’t give away anything for free. After loosing 25-27 in the first set, Denmark came back strong and won the next, 25-10 and the third with 25-18. At that point it looked like everything should be over soon. But Sweden came back, shocking the Danes with a 25-19 win and the match to a tie. It was a spectacular fifth set, where Denmark came back after a strong start from Sweden. Unfortunately for the match and specially for the player, Axel Enlund in Sweden sprained his thumb at 13-12. After the break, Denmark came out stronger and took the decisive balls for a new triumph.
All the matches were streamed on nevza.org and YouTube. For the finals, the spectator figures raised to over 500 in the arena and 800 behind the screens.
Medal matches and ranking, for all pole results see below.
Girls
Gold medal match: Sweden – Norway 3 – 0 (25-22, 27-25, 25-16)
Bronze medal match: England– Iceland 0 – 3 (11-25, 17-25, 22-25)
5th/6th place match: Denmark – Faroe Islands 2 -3 (23-25, 33-31, 18-25, 26-24, 12-15)
Ranking
- Sweden
- Norway
- Iceland
- England
- Faroe Islands
- Denmark
All Star Team Girls
Setter: Tóta Búadóttir, FAR
Opposite: Selma Tryggestad Hodnes, NOR
Outside hitters: Lejla Sara Hadziredzepovic, ISL and Emilia Saxne, SWE
Middle blockers: Marie Sonne Kristensen, DEN and Selma Vassdal, NOR
Libero: Helena Einarsdóttir, ISL
Most Valuable Player: Lejla Sara Hadziredzepovic, ISL
Boys
Gold medal match: Denmark – Sweden 3 – 2 (25-27, 25-10, , 25-18, 19-25, 16-14)
Bronze medal match: Faroe Islands – Norway 1 – 3 (, ,23-25 , 27-25, 19-25)
5th/6th place match: England – Iceland 3 – 0 (25- 21, 26-24, 25-19)
Ranking
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Norway
- Faroe Islands
- England
- Iceland
All Star Team Boys
Setter: Anton Spile Hansen, DEN
Opposite: Alex Enlund, SWE
Outside hitters: Andreas Sejer Kofod Brinck, DEN and Elmer Andersson, SWE
Middle blockers: Henrik Kaldheim, NOR and Tóki Í Haraldstovu, FAR
Libero: Ted Zethson, SWE
Most Valuable Player: Andreas Sejer Kofod Brinck, DEN
A great thanks to the Danish Volleyball Federation for an excellent organisation, led by the Sebastian Mikelsons and Henrik Petersen. All participants look forward to come back next year.
Referees during NEVZA U17 Championships had to work hard.
NEVZA Small-scale Streaming and homepage development in action. Hans Simonsen, FAR, Magnus Gripenhammar, SWE, Hanna Arve-Talvitie, FIN, Lennart Neovius, NEVZA
CEV DataVolley workshop with participants from 15 European countries.
For further information and more pictures, visit the Facebook page.
Pool results
Girls
Pool A
Iceland – England 0 – 3 (23-25, 13-25, 28-30)
Faroe Islands – England 2 – 3 (23-25, 19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 11-15)
Iceland – Faroe Islands 3 – 0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-20)
Pool B
Denmark – Sweden 2 – 3 (22-25, 21-25, 25-18, 26-24, 5-15)
Norway – Sweden 3 – 1 (25-20, 25-21, 25-27, 25-23)
Denmark – Norway 0 – 3 (18-25, 22-25, 13-25)
Quarter finals
Iceland – Denmark 3 – 2 (25-22, 27-25, 23-25, 25-27, 15-10)
Sweden – Faroe Islands 3 – 0 (25-17, 25-11, 25-15)
Semifinals
England – Sweden 0 – 3 (17-25, 7-25, 19-25)
Norway – Iceland 3 – 1 (25-12, 22-25, 25-17, 25-23)
Boys
Pool C
Denmark – Sweden 3 – 2 (21-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-23, 15-7)
Iceland – Sweden 0 – 3 (11-25, 6-25, 24-26)
Denmark – Iceland 3 – 0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-8)
Pool D
Norway – England 3 – 0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-9)
Faroe Islands – England 3 – 0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19)
Norway – Faroe Islands 3 – 0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-19)
Quarter finals
Sweden – England 3 – 0 (25-10, 25-18, 25-16)
Faroe Islands – Iceland 3 – 0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-16)
Semifinals
Denmark – Faroe Islands 3 – 1 (25-10, 25-19, 24-26, 25-19)
Norway – Sweden 0 – 3 (23-25, 20-25, 22-25)
Earlier posts 2022 NEVZA U17 Championships
Volleyball U17 Championships in Ikast, Denmark
Volleyball U17 Championships 2022, day 1
Volleyball U17 Championships 2022, day 2
