Silver medal for England's Soczewka and Morgan at the Commonwealth Youth Games 2023

Team England’s Peter Soczewka and Rob Morgan were forced to settle for silver medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games 2023 after they were beaten 21-16, 21 by Canada in the men’s final.

The pair had hoped to help their country retain the title in this event following on from Bello brothers Javier and Joaquin, who won the title in 2017. 

But it was not to been for Richmond Beach Volley’s Soczewka and Exeter Storm’s Morgan as they were edged out by the same team who had beaten them in a three-set thriller in each side’s first group game of the tournament – Oliver Toomes and Andon Kiriakou.  

England had carried high hopes into the match of overturning that previously loss given it had been by the narrowest of margins, but the Canadians got off to a flying start and carried that momentum all the way through the first set. 

Although Soczewka and Morgan fought tooth and nail, they were unable to make inroads into Toomes and Kiriakou’s early lead, with the Canadians showing with they had stayed unbeaten throughout the competition to close out a 21-16 first set win. 

Although England won the first point of the second set, Toomes and Kiriakou came storming back to win the next four and eventually stretch their lead to 12-5. 

Soczewka and Morgan were not finished and clawed the score back to 12-9, only the North Americans’ next run was decisive and allowed them to break clear. 

And having played an excellent, error-free game, Canada finished off the second set 21-14 to claim the title of champions and gold medal winners. 

While the English duo were left to ponder what might have been, they can reflect on a superb tournament where they defeated both Australia and New Zealand and grew in confidence as the tournament wore on. 

Volleyball England would like to congratulate both Peter and Rob on winning their silver medals – a tremendous achievement!