U19 Men claim Bronze at the NEVZA U19 Championships with women finishing fifth

The England U19 Boys showed impressive grit, coming away with a hard-earned bronze medal after defeating the Faroe Islands, the tournament hosts, 3-1 in the medal match. This victory was particularly sweet as it not only secured a podium finish but also avenged their previous group-stage loss to the hosts.

The group stage opened with a tough match against Denmark, ending in a 0-3 loss with set scores of 17-25, 23-25, and 17-25. The team then played a highly competitive match against the Faroe Islands, missing out 3-1 25-11, 23-25, 25-22, and 25-23. 

The final group match against Sweden ended 0-3 (25-13, 25-18, 25-14) with Sweden going on to claim gold.

The group matches may not have produced the desired results, but the boys regrouped with renewed energy. They delivered a standout performance against Iceland in a closely contested match, winning 3-1 (27-25, 24-26, 23-25, and 23-2)5, demonstrating their growing synergy and adaptability on the court. 

The bronze medal match against the Faroese showcased their progress and determination. They clinched the win 3-1 and the medal.

The U19 England Girls team also demonstrated resilience, claiming a 5th-place finish after a demanding weekend of play. The team was placed in Group A, where they encountered skilled teams from Iceland and Sweden. Despite early setbacks, the girls played with passion and unity, gaining valuable experience in the process.

In the group stage, England battled hard against Iceland, taking one set before eventually falling to a score line of 1-3 (26-24, 25-19, 22-25, and 25-21). 

In their following match against Sweden finished 3-0 to the Scandinavian side, with set scores of 25-23, 25-11, and 25-14. 

In the quarterfinals, England faced a strong Norway team. Despite losing 3-0 (25-20, 26-24, 25-17), the girls put up a fierce fight, particularly in a second set that came down to the wire at 26-24. 

The experience proved invaluable as they took to the court one final time in the 5th-place match against the Faroe Islands. Here, the English girls showed their desire to succeed, winning a thrilling five-set match 3-2 with scores of 25-17, 25-23, 21-25, 15-25, and 15-8, securing a hard-earned victory and underscoring their growth over the course of the tournament.

Essex Rebel’s Lilla Whittaker was nominated for the “Dream Team” as a middle blocker for the whole tournament alongside six other players from the tournament.