Italy Concludes Pool Play Undefeated in Jiangmen

Italy made a strong statement on the final day of the preliminary round at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship held in Jiangmen Sports Center, completing their pool play campaign without a single loss. The reigning silver medalists from 2023 comfortably secured first place in Pool D. Alongside them, the United States, Iran, and Czechia also successfully topped their groups, earning their places in the highly anticipated Round of 16.

Italy`s Dominance on Court

Italy demonstrated their prowess once more by sweeping Argentina in a convincing 3-0 victory (25-16, 25-20, 25-17). Their consistent rhythm, built on precision and control, defined their performance throughout the match. This flawless record through the group stage not only showcased their exceptional form but also solidified their position as a formidable contender in the Jiangmen tournament.

Argentina, despite their best efforts, struggled to disrupt the Italian side. They relied heavily on their net defense and occasionally impressed with well-timed blocks and powerful attacks. Although they managed to challenge the Europeans at various points in the second and third sets, Italy`s deep squad and calm demeanor consistently allowed them to regain control. The South American team forced several extended rallies and pushed hard in the latter stages of sets but couldn`t convert these moments into sustained pressure or set wins.

Italy`s scoring was effectively distributed across their roster, employing a mix of powerful wing attacks and quick middle plays to keep Argentina`s defense guessing. Well-timed scoring bursts further tipped the balance in their favor, enabling them to confidently seal the sweep. This victory not only maintained their perfect record but also provided significant momentum as they head into the Round of 16, aiming to improve upon their 2023 silver medal performance.

Other Pool Leaders Secure Advancement

The United States also concluded their pool play undefeated, topping Pool A with a 3-0 win (25-11, 25-20, 25-23) against Morocco. After a dominant first set, they faced tougher competition in the subsequent two but maintained their composure to secure the sweep. Sebastiano Sani led the American attack with 12 points, supported by Riggs Guy`s 11 kills. For Morocco, Khatibi Zakaria scored 10 points, but his team lacked the overall depth to match the USA when it mattered most.

Defending champions Iran emerged victorious in Pool B after a 3-1 battle (25-18, 19-25, 25-17, 25-19) against Poland, a match between two previously unbeaten teams. Iran comfortably took the first set, faltered in the second, but then reasserted their dominance with strong net play in the following two sets. Both teams progressed to the Round of 16, but Iran`s win underscored their aspirations for back-to-back titles. Seyed Matin Hosseini Tolouti was their top scorer with 17 points, Pouya Ariakhah added 14, while Ariyan Mahmoudi Nejad and Armin Ghelichniazi each contributed 12. Bartlomiej Potrykus scored 12 for Poland, but Iran`s robust defense effectively neutralized additional support for him.

Czechia claimed first place in Pool C by overcoming Japan 3-1 (23-25, 25-19, 27-25, 25-22) in another hotly contested match between undefeated sides. The game was closely fought, but Czechia`s resilience, particularly in the pivotal third set, decisively shifted momentum in their favor. Tomas Brichta was outstanding with 27 points, complemented by Matej Pastrnak`s 18 and Vojtech Pitner`s 11. Japan`s strong trio of Kai Yamamoto, Shunta Ono, and Takuma Kawano collectively scored 53 points, but Czechia`s defensive prowess and calm execution in crucial late-set moments secured their win.

Round of 16 Qualifiers and Notable Matches

Türkiye also secured their spot in the Round of 16, sweeping Thailand 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-22). Yiğit Hamza Aslan and Yılmaz Üner each tallied 14 points, with Selim Yıldız adding 12 points and contributing five of Türkiye`s 13 blocks. Kittipong Sangsak led Thailand with 15 points, but the European team maintained their stronghold to win the match.

Egypt delivered a thrilling five-set victory against host nation China, winning 3-2 (25-18, 25-22, 26-28, 17-25, 15-13). This win propelled Egypt to second place in Pool A, pushing China to third. After squandering a two-set lead, Egypt rallied in the decisive tiebreak, with Hamza Awad scoring 20 points, supported by Mahmoud Abdelbaki, Ahmed Amer, and Youssef Elrassas. Li Hai led China with 28 points, and Li Duo added 20 in their losing effort.

Canada attempted to keep their Pool B hopes alive with a 3-0 sweep (25-21, 25-18, 25-18) over Puerto Rico, showcasing 39 kills, 11 blocks, and five aces. Daniil Hershtynovich scored 15 points, but their advancement hopes were dashed when Kazakhstan mounted a comeback to defeat Korea 3-1 (17-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22), securing third place. Vladislav Mastikhin scored 17 for Kazakhstan, while Klim Ryukhov, Artyom Olexenko, and Assylkhan Izbergenuly collectively added 39. Despite the loss, Korea still advanced in fourth place, with Park Wooyoung scoring 16 and Jang Eunseok 11, while Canada moved into the classification round.

Bulgaria triumphed over Brazil in another grueling five-set match, winning 3-2 (25-17, 25-16, 20-25, 12-25, 15-10) to clinch a Pool C victory. Aleksandar Kandev spearheaded the team with 18 points, Stilian Delibosov contributed 15, and Zhasmin Velichkov and Georgi Bachvarov added 13 and 12 respectively. Bryan Lucas Alves da Silva led Brazil with 22 points, and Thiago Vaccari Kavalkievicz scored 16, but crucial errors in the final set proved costly.

Cuba concluded Pool C with their third win, narrowly defeating Colombia 3-2 (25-17, 39-41, 25-21, 20-25, 15-10). Daniel Martinez was a dominant force in attack, scoring 39 points, including 34 kills, one block, and four aces. Maicol Isaac Ortiz Castañeda led Colombia with 24 points. This match featured one of the tournament`s longest sets, with Colombia remarkably winning the second frame 41-39 before Cuba regained their composure in the fifth set.

France secured second place in Pool D with a 3-0 victory (25-23, 25-21, 25-21) against Indonesia. Joévin Wa-Bala led the French side with 22 points. Dawuda scored 14 for Indonesia, who managed to keep each set competitive but ultimately failed to convert their opportunities.

Ukraine also confirmed their spot in the Round of 16 from Pool D by decisively beating Tunisia 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-20). Tonkonoh Maksym scored 12 points, with two other teammates adding 10 each, as the European team collectively delivered 46 kills, seven blocks, and six aces. Tunisia`s performance improved through the match, but they lacked a player reaching double-digit scores, with Mohamed Amine Jenzi and Rasem Ksouda both finishing with six points.