03/09/2020 10:18
Twelve teams braced to fight for #EuroVolleyU17W crown in Montenegro
CEV U17 Volleyball European Championship 2020
Luxembourg, September 3, 2020. Twelve teams will contest the Final Round of this year’s #EuroVolleyU17W from October 1 to 9, 2020 in Podgorica, Montenegro, after the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro (OSCG) confirmed their readiness and ability to deliver the tournament in compliance with strict hygiene and health protocols and to host all delegations. The relevant Drawing of Lots took place on Thursday morning in Luxembourg, with the 12 teams divided into two pools of six each.
Since the CEV had to cancel the second round of qualifications due to the coronavirus crisis, six teams have joined hosts Montenegro and the winners of the 1st round zonal qualifiers held in late 2019 / early 2020 to complete the field for the tournament. Despite securing their spot through winning the NEVZA qualifying event, Finland have withdrawn from the competition. As per decision of the CEV Board of Administration, the next best team from the relevant European Ranking – Poland – has taken their spot.
Serbia, Russia, Italy and Slovakia qualified through the BVA, EEVZA, WEVZA and MEVZA qualification tournaments, respectively; the remaining teams – Belarus, Germany, Slovenia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Poland – have done so through the latest European Ranking for U17 women’s national teams.
The pool composition for the group stage of the competition reads as follows:
The detailed match programme will follow in due course.
The top two teams from each pool will play the semis and medal matches, with the no. 3 and 4 continuing their journey in the classification matches 5-8. Moreover, the top six from the final standing will secure their participation in the next edition of the FIVB U18 Girls’ World Championship due to take place in 2021.
This is only the second European Championship Final Round to take place in Montenegro since the country’s independence in 2006. Back in 2013, Montenegro co-hosted together with Serbia the final stage of the U18 Women’s European Championship. Two years ago, with the event held in Bulgaria, Russia (pictured above) claimed the gold medal, while Italy and Turkey completed the podium.
Turkey are among the heavy favourites for the competition, since last year they triumphed at the U16 continental championship held in Italy and Croatia.
The event in Montenegro is the fourth CEV age-group Volleyball competition delivered in coronavirus times, after this past month Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia hosted the U19 women’s event. Later this month, Italy and Czech Republic will be playing host to the U18 and U20 men’s championships, respectively.
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