The CEV European Tour in Prato Nevoso, Italy, concluded on Sunday, March 31st, with a series of captivating matches and impressive victories. Italy`s women`s team, featuring Anna Dalmazzo, Sara Breidenbach, and Sofia Arcaini, staged a remarkable comeback to secure their championship title. In the men`s division, Poland, represented by Piotr Groszek, Michal Matyja, Karol Szczepanik, and Mikolaj Kaczmarek, clinched the top spot. The Italian women triumphed over Turkey with a 2-1 score in a fiercely contested final, while the Polish men secured a decisive 2-0 victory against France.
Men`s Tournament: Poland Dominates France in the Final
Easter Sunday kicked off with the men`s quarterfinals and women`s semi-finals. Among the most closely fought quarterfinal encounters was the match between Poland and Italy 10. After dropping the opening set 10-15, the tenacious Polish squad rallied to win the subsequent sets 19-17 and 15-13. Other notable quarterfinal results included Italy 2`s comfortable win over Uruguay, France`s victory against Switzerland, and an exciting all-Italian derby where Italy 1 overcame Italy 6.
However, the journey of Italian champions Berger, Burgmann, and Seeber was cut short in the semi-finals by the formidable Polish team. Shortly after, Italy 2 (Di Risio, Camozzi, and Geromin) were outplayed by a cohesive and strong French contingent. In the match for the bronze medal, Italy 1 secured third place by defeating Italy 2.
The gold medal final witnessed France initially taking a 9-6 lead in the first set. Nevertheless, Piotr Groszek led a powerful Polish resurgence, ultimately sealing the set 15-12. France again demonstrated a strong start in the second set, leading 7-4, but Poland orchestrated another impressive comeback, showcasing excellent team synergy and performance. A crucial error from the French side then gifted Poland the decisive point, securing their championship victory.
Women`s Tournament: Italy Fights Back to Clinch Victory
In the women`s semi-finals, the Italian champions Breidenbach, Arcaini, and Dalmazzo secured a relatively straightforward victory against Hungary 2, winning 15-8 and 15-9. Both Breidenbach and Dalmazzo contributed significantly with 9 points each in the first semi-final. The Turkish team comprising Yalcin, Celebi, Sencel, and Sahin earned their spot in the final by defeating the Czech Republic in straight sets. Despite a promising start from the Czech women, who led 6-3, Turkey`s individual talent and collective strength ultimately proved superior.
The final match saw Turkey begin with significant momentum, quickly establishing a 4-0 lead with Sencel`s impressive plays, which they later extended to 13-9. Breidenbach ignited Italy`s comeback with vital blockouts and aces, though Yalcin managed to secure the first set for Turkey with a 15-12 score. The second set`s narrative was dramatically altered by two powerful aces from Arcaini. Turkey, hampered by unforced errors even after making a substitution, struggled to maintain their advantage. Another `poisonous` serve from Sofia Dalmazzo (15-6) then equalized the match at 1-1. Having regained their rhythm and defensive solidity, with Dalmazzo appearing almost unbeatable, Italy surged ahead to claim the final victory in the decisive third set.
Finley Blackwood