Following three exhilarating days of intense competition, young athletes from Türkiye and Italy proudly claimed the top spots on the podium at the #EuroSnowVolleyU20 championships. Host nation Poland demonstrated strong performance by securing two silver medals, while Ukraine showcased its talent by earning bronze in both the men`s and women`s categories.
This event marked the second installment of the U20 Snow Volleyball European Championships. In the inaugural edition held last year in Bakuriani, Georgia, the Czech women`s team emerged victorious, with Poland taking silver and Türkiye bronze. In the men`s competition, Poland clinched gold, ahead of Czechia and Türkiye.
This year, Karpacz, a popular resort nestled in the scenic Karkonosze Mountains, had the honor of hosting the tournament. Spectators enjoyed thrilling evening sessions on Friday and Saturday at the Irena Szewińska Stadium, where they passionately cheered for Europe`s finest teams. The weather was absolutely perfect, featuring clear skies, abundant sunshine, and a pleasant temperature of 15 degrees Celsius.
Semifinal Battles and Bronze Medal Showdowns
In the women`s semifinals, Poland 1 impressively defeated Ukraine. Meanwhile, Poland 3 narrowly missed a surprise victory, as Türkiye staged a remarkable comeback to win in a tie-break, securing their place in the gold medal match. On the men`s side, both semifinal encounters concluded in two sets, with Poland 1 and Italy advancing to the final.
The bronze medal matches in both women`s and men`s divisions featured highly anticipated clashes between Poland and Ukraine. Poland 3 (comprising Emilia Żurawska, Maria Pietrin, and Wiktoria Surażyńska) was on the verge of a two-set win in the women`s bronze match, but Ukraine elevated their serving game to force a tie-break. After a hard-fought battle, the Ukrainian team ultimately triumphed with a score of 15-11. Despite missing out on a medal in Karpacz, the Polish players expressed their delight in competing on snow and noted their increasing confidence with each match. They enthusiastically stated their desire to participate in such a tournament again if the opportunity arises.
Shortly thereafter, Ukraine`s men`s team no. 1 (consisting of Nikita Pavliuk, Anton Tasenko, Artem Varvanin, and Serhii Varvanin) emulated their female counterparts` success by defeating Poland 4 (represented by Paweł Zatoń, Damian Dudek, Szymon Wolak, and Dominik Mućka) to secure their own bronze medal.
Gold Medal Finals and Historic Hosting
The women`s gold medal match extended for over 40 minutes. Although the Polish team won the first set, Türkiye steadily improved their serving and defense throughout the game, ultimately clinching the victory. The members of Poland 1 (Zuzanna Rapczyńska, Paulina Łabuz, Zofia Preweda, and Wiktoria Leśniewicz) reflected on their silver medal, acknowledging that while they would undoubtedly cherish it more in hindsight, they currently felt regret at being so close to achieving gold. They deeply valued the experience of competing at home in Karpacz, especially with the unwavering support of their loved ones cheering them on from the stands.
The Italian team (Laurin Zoeschg, Diego Leon Steger, Michael Stolzlechner, and Luis Mairhofer) delivered an outstanding performance in the men`s final, ultimately overcoming Poland 1, a team known for its rigorous training at SMS Spała. Despite experiencing an initial loss in Karpacz, the resilient Italian squad went on to win all their subsequent matches, culminating in a well-deserved gold medal. Marcel Wanat, Michał Kucharski, Tomasz Warych, and Wiktor Musiał from Poland 1 expressed their disappointment at not securing the gold but conveyed their happiness and gratitude for the chance to compete at such a prestigious event.
This tournament represented a significant and historic occasion for Karpacz, as it marked the very first time Poland had ever hosted an international Snow Volleyball event.
“It was a historic event for Karpacz. The conditions were fantastic, and we received positive feedback from all the players. We are incredibly proud to have hosted an international Snow Volleyball tournament for the first time in Poland, and we hope for many more in the future.”
Piotr Groszek, Competition Director and active player
Finley Blackwood