Volleyball teams from San Marino and Montenegro, both receiving support from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program, recently achieved medal success in their respective zonal championships. San Marino`s women`s team secured a silver medal at the Europe’s Small Countries Association (SCA) Women’s Volleyball Championship held in Dublin, finishing behind champions Scotland and ahead of hosts Ireland, who took bronze. Simultaneously, Montenegro`s U16 women`s team won bronze at the BVA U16 Women’s Volleyball Balkan Championship, which they hosted in Pljevlja. Bulgaria won gold at the event, with Turkiye earning silver.
SCA Women’s Volleyball Championship
The San Marino Volleyball Federation (Federazione Sammarinese Pallavolo) has benefited significantly from FIVB Volleyball Empowerment, receiving a total of USD 105,000 for coach support and an additional USD 51,500 for volleyball equipment. Coached by Italian head coach Cristiano Lucchi, the women`s national team participated in a five-team single round-robin championship in Dublin. They finished in second place with a strong 3-1 win-loss record, defeating Iceland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. Their sole loss was a straight-set 3-0 defeat (25-16, 25-19, 25-20) against the undefeated Scottish side in the championship decider.
Scotland dominated the tournament, winning all their matches and dropping only one set throughout. Hosts Ireland finished in third place with a 2-2 record, managing to take one set from Scotland. Iceland and Northern Ireland finished fourth and fifth respectively in the final standings.
SCA Championship Individual Awards (Super Seven):
- Federica Tura (San Marino)
- Emma Waldie (Scotland)
- Shona Fraser (Scotland)
- Alexis Crusey (Scotland)
- Fiona Rigby (Ireland)
- Carly Murray (Scotland)
- Inga Brynjulfsdottir (Iceland)
BVA U16 Women’s Volleyball Balkan Championship
The Volleyball Federation of Montenegro has also received substantial support from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment program, including USD 252,000 for national team coach support, USD 129,000 for equipment, and USD 6,000 for a coaches development knowledge transfer program. Serbian coach Jovo Cakovic provides expertise to their women`s national teams.
Montenegro hosted the five-team single round-robin 2025 BVA U16 Women’s Volleyball Balkan Championship in Pljevlja. They started the competition successfully with three-point victories against North Macedonia and Greece. However, they then faced losses to Bulgaria (straight sets) and Turkiye (in four sets). This resulted in them finishing third in the final standings with a 2-2 win-loss record and 6 points, securing the zonal bronze medal.
Turkiye finished as the silver medalists, also with a 2-2 record but accumulating 8 points. Bulgaria claimed the gold medal, finishing undefeated with a 4-0 record and 11 points. Their crucial 3-2 victory (25-14, 15-25, 25-22, 11-25, 15-9) over Turkiye secured them the title of Balkan champions.
Greece finished in fourth place with a 2-2 record and 5 points, while North Macedonia finished fifth, having lost all their matches (0-4 record and 0 points).
BVA U16 Championship Individual Awards:
- Most Valuable Player (MVP): Yoana Nancheva (Bulgaria)
- Best Middle Blocker: Antonia Stanislavova (Bulgaria)
- Best Libero: Magdalena Bogdanova (Bulgaria)
- Best Setter: Ela Demirag (Turkiye)
- Best Opposite: Cagla Caglayander (Turkiye)
- Best Outside Hitter: Selis Turkyasar (Turkiye)
- Fair Play Award: Sara Strikovic (Montenegro)
Finley Blackwood