Sweden stops a Finnish quadruple in NEVZA Youth Championships
Finland was going for a quadruple when the NEVZA U17/U19 for the first time ever was played in combination with the 1st round of the EuroVolley U18/U20 qualification tournament. The U17/U18 qualifier was played in Ikast, DEN, one week before seven teams of each gender met in Rovaniemi, FIN, to battle in the NEVZA U19/U20 qualifier. Finland won both genders’ tournaments in Ikast, had won the men’s in Rovaniemi and the U19 women’s final against Sweden was the last match to win for the quadruple. But the Swedes wanted differently.
Women: The Swedish Champions and the All Star Team
In the women’s pool play, Finland won pool A. Norway managed to take the second place, but Iceland fought hard and took one set and lost tight in the fourth. In pool B Sweden and Denmark won their first matches and met in the pool final. A match dominated by the Swedish team and a clear 3-0 victory. The semifinals showed two different faces. Finland had a rather easy win against Denmark while Sweden was in big trouble after loosing the two first sets against Norway. After a remarkable comeback, Sweden finally won in the decisive set. Maybe this battle was the winning concept. In the final, it also went to a decisive set. At this point, Sweden was very strong, taking over completely with a 15-6 win. With the victory, Sweden qualified for U20 EuroVolley in 2024, for the first time since 1984.
Men: The Finnish Champions and the All Star Team
The Finnish men dominated their tournament, going through the tournament with straight 3-0 wins. Their opponent in the final, Norway, came from a tough battle in the semifinal against Sweden.Unlike Sweden’s women, Norway couldn’t take advantage of that experience. Finland never gave them a chance, winning rather easily in straight sets. Finland’s men qualified directly for the 2024 U20 EuroVolley championship. In the bronze match, Denmark took an early command and even if Sweden won the second set, there was no discussion about the outcome of the match. Denmark now join Norway to the 2nd round of the EuroVolley qualifier.
All the matches were streamed on Finnish Solidsport, but also available in Denmark, Faroe Islands, Norway and Sweden. Producer Magnus Gripenhammar, Volleykanalen.
Medal matches and ranking, for all pole results see below. The organizer honoured both All Star Team of the tournament and Most Valuable Player, MVP, of each team.
Women
Gold medal match: Finland – Sweden 2 – 3 (25-20, 21-25, 25-20, 23-25, 6-15)
Bronze medal match: Denmark – Norway 2 – 3 (25-17, 26-24, 22-25, 13-25, 11-15)
5th-7th place matches:
England – Faroe Islands 3 -2 (25-14, 25-18, 18-25, 20-25, 16-14)
Iceland – Faroe Islands 3 -1 (25-15, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21)
England – Iceland 1 -3 (21-25, 21-25, 25-22, 26-28)
Ranking U19 Women
- Sweden
- Finland
- Norway
- Denmark
- Iceland
- England
- Faroe Islands
All Star Team Women
Setter: Liina Räty, Finland
Opposite: Martha Edlund, Sweden
Outside hitter: Emilia Saxne, Sweden
Outside hitter: Iina-Reetta Kaikkonen, Finland
Middle blocker: Ella Peltomaa, Finland
Middle blocker: Hanna Kastarinen, Finland
Libero: Elsi Karjanlahti, Finland
Most valuable player: Veera Help, Finland
Teams’ MVP Women
Faroe Islands: #6 Nicola Toftegaard
England: #13 Daisy Boardman
Iceland: #6 Helena Einarsdóttir
Denmark: #13 Veronica Kjær Sørensen
Norway: #3 Lilli Tuften Aksnes-Øystese
Finland: #2 Iina-Reeta Kaikkonen
Sweden: #11 Martha Edlund
Gold medal match: Finland – Norway 3 – 0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-18)
Bronze medal match: Denmark – Sweden 3 – 1 (25-23, 20-25, 25-16, 25-19)
5th-7th place matches:
Ranking
- Finland
- Norway
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Faroe Islands
- England
- Iceland
All Star Team Men
Setter: Ville Kuukasjärvi, Finland
Opposite: William Groffier, Finland
Outside hitter: Even Stray Aas, Norway
Outside hitter: Nooa Marttila, Finland
Middle blocker: Aaro Paananen, Finland
Middle blocker: Måns Eriksson, Sweden
Libero: Emil Severin Olsen, Norway
Teams’ MVP Men
Iceland: #5. Tómas Davidsson
England: #20 Jacob Lloyd-Williams
Faroe Islands: #7 Vuk Ilić
Sweden: #8 Måns Eriksson
Denmark: #17 Kristoffer Bisgaard
Norway: #11 Even Stray Aas
Finland: #1 Oskari Sarajärvi
Referees during 2023 NEVZA U19 Championships had to work hard.
A great thanks to the Finnish Volleyball Federation for an excellent organisation, led by Jukka. Next year the tournament moves to Faroe Islands.
Photos courtesy of Tapani Kuoksa.
For further information and more pictures, visit the Facebook page.
Pool results
Women
Pool A
Finland – Iceland 3 – 0 (25-9, 25-9, 25-6))
Finland – Norway 3 – 0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-21)
Norway – Iceland 3 – 1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-22, 25-23)
Pool B
Denmark – England 3 – 0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-11)
Sweden – Faroe Islands 3 – 0 (25-7, 25-12, 25-11)
Denmark – Sweden 0 – 3 (19-25, 14-25, 14-25)
England – Faroe Islands 3 – 2 (28-26, 19-25, 25-15, 18-25, 15-11)
Quarter finals
Norway – England 3 – 0 (25-15, 25-7, 25-15)
Denmark – Iceland 3 – 1 (25-18, 18-25, 25-20, 25-17)
Semifinals
Finland – Denmark 3 – 0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-19)
Sweden – Norway 3 – 2 (24-26, 11-25, 25-16, 25-19, 15-12)
Men
Pool A
Sweden – Faroe Islands 3 – 0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-20)
Finland – Faroe Islands 3 – 0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-13)
Finland – Sweden 3 – 0 (25-15, 25-18, 26-24)
Pool B
Denmark – Iceland 3 – 0 (25-9, 25-17, 25-11)
Norway – England 0 – 0 ( )
Denmark – Norway 2 – 3 (25-18, 21-25, 17-25, 26-24, 10-15)
Iceland – England 3 – 2 (20-25, 27-25, 28-26, 21-25, 15-13)
Quarter finals
Sweden – Iceland 3 – 0 (25-21, 25-10, 25-13)
Denmark – Faroe Islands 3 – 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-14)
Semifinals
Finland – Denmark 3 – 0 (25-16, 25-15, 25-10)
Norway – Sweden 3 – 2 (23-25, 21-25, 25-15, 25-22, 15-8)
Click here for presentation of the 2023 NEVZA U17/U19 Championships, with U18/U20 1st round qualification.
Information, schedules and results for the EuroVolley U20 are published on CEV homepage, see links below:
NEVZA U19/EuroVolley U20 1st round Boys; 2024 EuroVolley U20M
NEVZA U19/EuroVolley U20 1st round Girls; 2024 EuroVolley U20W
