The Turkish U18 women's volleyball team triumphed as champions of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF), which took place in Skopje, North Macedonia. The exciting final against Italy ended with a 3:1 (15:25, 25:19, 25:17, 26:24) victory for the young "Sultanate," securing the team its third title in its history at this prestigious event.
Turkey with a comeback and a title
After a clear loss in the first set, Turkey demonstrated character and tactical maturity, completely turning the tide of the final. Under the guidance of their staff, the Turks increased the pace and pressed with excellent attacking play and stable defense. The second and third sets were closed out with 25:19 and 25:17, and in the fourth set, the drama was complete – Italy did not give up, but ultimately Turkey triumphed with 26:24.
Italy – strong path to the final, but silver after a loss
The Italians, led by Roberta Maioli, played a strong tournament, recording four consecutive victories – three in the group stage and one in the semi-final. In the group stage, they successively defeated North Macedonia, Turkey, and Slovenia. In the semi-final, they overcame Poland with a 3:1 score. The final started very promisingly with an excellent first set, but the lack of consistency in reception and secondary balls in defense proved decisive.
Italy's path to the final:
| Stage | Opponent | Result | Sets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group A | North Macedonia | 3-0 | 25-11, 25-14, 25-11 |
| Group A | Turkey | 3-1 | 25-18, 25-17, 14-25, 25-16 |
| Group A | Slovenia | 3-0 | 25-15, 26-24, 25-11 |
| Semi-final | Poland | 3-1 | 21-25, 25-19, 25-14, 25-20 |
| Final | Turkey | 1-3 | 25-14, 19-25, 17-25, 24-26 |
The Italian women demonstrated excellent form until the final match, losing only two games in four matches. The victory over Turkey in the group seemed like a good sign, but the second match between the two teams showed that Turkey had learned its lessons. The Italian block weakened at important moments, and fewer balls were saved in defense compared to the semifinal against Poland.
🏐 Tournament Groups
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Italy | Hungary |
| Turkey | Poland |
| Slovenia | Croatia |
| North Macedonia | Germany |
Group A was definitely stronger, as both finalists – Italy and Turkey – were in it. This further enhances the value of the Turkish team's success, as they had to overcome the same opponent after losing the direct encounter in the group, including in a match with huge stakes.
🏅 EYOF 2025 Standings – Girls U18
Turkey – gold medal
Italy – silver medal
Poland – bronze medal
Germany
5-8. Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, North Macedonia
Turkey deservedly lifted the trophy in Skopje after a comeback and solid team play. Italy can be satisfied with their performance despite the loss - the "Azzurrine" demonstrated squad depth and potential for the future. EYOF 2025 showed that the young generation of women's European volleyball is in excellent form.
