Sweden boys and Finland girls claims victory in NEVZA U19 Championships
Teams from seven NEVZA countries gathered in Rovaniemi, Finland for the second time in a row to play NEVZA U19 tournament. Finland´s girls defended their title from last year, while Sweden won last years winner Denmark in 5 set final. Denmark also got silver in girls and Sweden bronze in girls. Boys bronze went to Norway. All matches were streamed to ArVoTV.
On October 27th teams from Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland and England arrived to Rovaniemi, the arctic capital, for three days of competiton. Santasport was the center of the tournament, with accommodation and meals and main court being in there. Two other sports hall, Keltakangas and Ounasrinne were also used.
Girls’s: The Finnish Champions and the All Star Team
In the girls’ competition pool play, host Finland won their group while Norway finished second and Iceland was third. In the other pool Denmark won by winning all 3 matches. Sweden was second, Faroe Islands third, while England finished fourth. By winning the group Finland and Denmark got straight to the semifinals. England went to play places 5-7 against losers of the quarter finals. In the quarter finals Sweden won against Iceland and Norway beat Faroe Islands in very close match. In the end Iceland was fifth, Faroe Islands sixth and England seventh. In the semifinals, played on Sunday morning, we saw two tight games. Sweden won first set against Finland, but Finland gathered themselves together and won 3-1. In the other semifinal Norway forced Denmark to play full 5 sets. The last set ended 15-6 to Denmark. In the bronze medal match, Sweden won against Norway. In the final Finland won Denmark 3-0 and celebrated their second championship gold medal in a row.
Boy’s: The Swedish Champions and the All Star Team
In the boy’s competition pool play, Denmark and Sweden won their groups while others needed to play for spots in semifinals. Norway ended second in Pool A and Faroe Islands were third. Host nation Finland was second in Pool B and England was third. In the quarter finals, both Norway and Finland won thier own games 3-0 and advanced to the semifinals. Norway won against England and Finland won Faroe Islands. In the 5-6 places game Faroe Islands won England 3-1. In the semifinals Sweden won Norway 3-0 and Denmark won Finland 3-0, making final and bronze medal game teams clear. Both bronze medal game and final were tight games. Norway won Finland 3-2 to win bronze, leaving host nation out of podium. In the final, Sweden presented a comeback winning the game 3-2 after losing first two sets.
Games were streamed on ArVoTV with help from Magnus Gripenhammar, who handled Santasport’s streaming and Arctic Connect, local broadcast company, who provided the platform.
Medal matches and ranking, for all pole results see below.
Girls
Gold medal match: Finland – Denmark 3 – 0 (25–21, 25–21, 25–19)
Bronze medal match: Sweden – Norway 3 – 1 (25–19, 28–26, 23–25, 25–17)
Ranking
- Finland
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Norway
- Iceland
- Faroe Islands
- England
All Star Team Girls
Setter: Caroline Krogh, DEN
Opposite: Neea-Maria Joki, FIN
Outside hitters: Iida Pöllänen, FIN; Emilia Saxne, SWE
Middle blockers: Miia-Maria Mäkikyrö, FIN; Anna Arnholdsdóttir, FAR
Libero: Veera Help, FIN
Most valuable players: Mia Bradbury, ENG; Johanna Christiandóttir, FAR; Caroline Krogh, DEN; Emmy Gustavsson, SWE; Veera Help, FIN; Jona Arnarsdóttir, ISL; Julia Tønnoy, NOR
Boys
Gold medal match: Denmark – Sweden 2–3(25–22, 25–21, 26–28, 20–25, 15–17)
Bronze medal match: Finland – Norway 1 – 3 2–3(20–25, 16–25, 25–16, 25–19, 9–15)
5th/6th place match: Faroe Islands – England 3–1 (25–23, 25–18, 20–25, 25–14)
Ranking
- Sweden
- Denmark
- Norway
- Finland
- Faroe Islands
- England
All Star Team Boys
Setter: Isak Joelsson, SWE
Opposite:Simon Ulrenholt, DEN
Outside hitters: Sebastian Martinez, SWE; Marius Hansen, DEN
Middle blockers: Carl Larsson, SWE; Johannes Fagervold, NOR
Libero:Emil Olsen, NOR
Most Valuable Player: Nathan Hall, ENG; Mattias Isaksen, FAR; Simon Ulrenholt, DEN; Isak Joelsson, SWE; Aleksi Hänninen, FIN; Even Stray Aas, NOR;
A great thanks to the Finnish Volleyball Federation and Arctic Volleyball for an excellent organisation. The participants enjoyed the hospitality and look forward to return next year.
NEVZA U19 referees lined up
For further information and more pictures, visit the Facebook page.
Pool results
Girls
Pool A
Norway – Iceland 3 – 0 (25–22, 25–17, 25–23)
Iceland – Finland 0 – 3 (16–25, 19–25, 21–25)
Finland – Norway 3 – 1 (27–14, 25–12, 23–25, 25–18)
Pool B
Denmark – Faroe Islands 3 – 1 (23–25, 25–17, 25–18, 25–16)
Sweden – England 3 – 0 (25–15, 25–17, 25–9)
England – Faroe Islands 0 – 3 (15–25, 19–25, 23–25)
Sweden – Denmark 1 – 3 (15–25, 17–25, 28–26, 17–25)
Sweden – Faroe Islands 3 – 0 (25–11, 25–20, 25–12)
Denmark – England 3 – 0 (25–7, 25–20, 25–22)
Quarter finals
Iceland – Sweden 0 – 3 (15–25, 17–25, 20–25)
Norway – Faroe Island 3 – 1 (24–26, 25–11, 25–23, 25–20)
Rank 5-7
England – Iceland 2 – 3 (12–25, 16–25, 25–20, 26–24, 7–15)
England – Faroe Islands 0 –3 (15–25, 7–25, 20–25)
Iceland – Faroe Islands 3 – 1 (19–25, 25–18, 25–14, 27–25)
Semifinals
Finland – Sweden 3 – 1 (20–25, 25–22, 25–14, 25–21)
Denmark – Norway 3 – 2 (25–14, 25–22, 18–25, 22–25, 15–6)
Boys
Pool 1
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 2
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 U19 Championships
Volleyball U19 Championships in Rovaniemi, Finland
