2017 CEV U18 BVEC: on the way to play-off

The men's group stage of the European Championship is over in Kazan.

Pool A

The Holland pair Aerts/de Groot finishes first after consequently winning all the three games. Nikolay Chukhnenkov and Aleksei Arkhipov finish second and also advance to the Round of 24.

Chukhnenkov/Arkhipov - Goldstein/Hadar: 2-0 (21:10, 21:7)

Aerts/de Groot - Nedergaard/Dahl: 2-0 (21:14, 21:11)

Chukhnenkov/Arkhipov - Aerts/de Groot: 0-2 (19:21, 15:21)

Goldstein/Hadar - Nedergaard/Dahl: 0-2 (12:21, 19:21)

" We lacked consistency, we could do better. We are topping the European standings and playing on the home ground, so we should have played more confidently. You start it all over again in the play-off, so what we should do now is get some rest and learn our lessons. It doesn't matter if you finish first in the group stage. The goal is to win the competition. Which is feasible, there is no invincible teams here,: shared their thoughts the Russian players.

Pool B

However, the Russian pair Shustrov/Gusev did manage to finish first and make it straight to the Round of 16. The beat the French Nicole/Tournier, who were seeded the second.

Tournier/Nicole - Åhman/Andersson: 2-0 (21:17, 21:14)

Klavins/Jansons - Shustrov/Gusev: 0-2 (15:21, 12:21)

Tournier/Nicole - Klavins/Jansons: 2-0 (22:20, 21:18)

Åhman/Andersson - Shustrov/Gusev: 0-2 (11:21, 20:22)

Pool C

The pair Shekunov/Ermotik also won all 3 games. Their beat the Germans Lorentz/Schneider who were seeded third and made it straight to the Round of 16.

Lorentz/Schneider - Peeters/Van de Velde: 2-0 (21:14, 21:15)

Poznanski/Kruk - Shekunov/Ermotik: 1-2 (18:21, 21:18, 12:15)

Lorentz/Schneider - Poznanski/Kruk: 2-0 (21:11, 21:12)

Peeters/Van de Velde - Shekunov/Ermotik: 0-2 (6:21, 10:21)

Pool D

The players from Belarus show a very confident performance on the group stage. The players from Estonia Meius and Tammearu M. finished second.

DavyskibaPérez Barredo/Piris - Davyskiba/Ratutski: 0-2 (13:21, 16:21)

Meius/Tammearu M. - Savvides/Siapanis: 2-0 (21:14, 21:13)

Pérez Barredo/Piris - Meius/Tammearu M.: 0-2 (15:21, 10:21)

Davyskiba/Ratutski - Savvides/Siapanis: 2-1 (26:28, 21:9, 15:9)

"It is a pleasure to play in Russia. You can feel the support of the fraternal people and country. I'd like to thank Kazan for this hospitality! I am sure we wouldn't make it without the spactator and their support. I hope we won't let them down in the play-off," told the athletes from Belarus.

Pool E

The Bellos won three times in a row and show a very confident play. The pair Mazuras/Makaras from Lithuania, which was seeded 5th, didn't make it to the play-off.

Mazuras/Makaras - Ringøen/Brekke: 1-2 (8:21, 22:20, 11:15)

Bello, J./Bello, F. - Pedrosa/H. Campos: 2-0 (21:19, 22:20)

Mazuras/Makaras - Bello, J./Bello, F.: 0-2 (13:21, 19:21)

Ringøen/Brekke - Pedrosa/H. Campos: 2-1 (16:21, 21:19, 16:14)

"To say the truth, our rivalrs weren't so strong as not each of them had enough of experience. The fail of the Lithuanians was unexpected though: the guys played well at the other tournaments, but finished last here. Our task was not to commit mistakes and serve well. We played well under the net. Continue we the same way in the play off, we can hunt for medals. We'd like it so much to come home not empty-handed," said the British.

Pool F

It was one of the toughest groups of the men's tournament, with 3 teams gaining 5 points. The Hungarian team finished first thanks to a bigger number of the victorious sets.

Bottolo/Di Silvestre - Vukmirovic/Vujovic: 2-0 (21:9, 21:16)

Sedlak/Manas - Hajós/Stréli: 2-1 (21:23, 26:24, 15:10)

Bottolo/Di Silvestre - Sedlak/Manas: 2-0 (21:19, 26:24)

Vukmirovic/Vujovic - Hajós/Stréli: 0-2 (15:21, 16:21)

"We've heard of Kazan as a big and beautiful thrilling city which holds the sporting events on the highest level. Kazan lived up to its name. It really is a special place, though we didn't have much time to contemplate its attractions. The tournament goes first. The group stage is over, the next step is the play-off. We have some time to prepare ourselves and sharpen our game to get ready for the decisive step," noted the pair Hajós/Stréli.

Pool G

The pair from Switzerland Broch/Gysin took the first place in the group stage with not a single failed set. 

Broch/Gysin - Keskinen/Rahko: 2-0 (21:10, 21:14)

Reiter T./Leitner L. - Csiszar/Popa: 2-0 (21:14, 21:11)

Broch/Gysin - Reiter T./Leitner L.: 2-0 (21:19, 23:21)

Keskinen/Rahko - Csiszar/Popa: 2-0 (21:16, 23:21)

"Kazan is a great place to play volleyball! The level of the competitions and organisation is very high. We had a good luck with the weather as well, though it did worsen a bit by the evening. I hope tomorrow it will be sunny again," said Broch and Gysin.

Pool H

The pair from Slovenia Udrih/Mozic surprised everyone by defeating the Turkish and Ukrainian teams and taking first place in the group stage.

Matviev/Pavliuk - Udrih/Mozic: 0-2 (21:23, 18:21)

Ozdemir/Cebeci - Stipanovic/Delic: 2-0 (21:12, 21:8)

Matviev/Pavliuk - Ozdemir/Cebeci: 0-2 (16:21, 12:21)

Udrih/Mozic - Stipanovic/Delic: 2-0 (21:9, 21:7)

The winners of the group stage advance straightly to the Round of 16. 

The Round of 16 will feature:

Chukhnenkov/Arkhipov (RUS) - Pedrosa/H. Campos (POR)

Nedergaard/Dahl (DEN) - Lorentz/Schneider (GER)

Åhman/Andersson (SWE) - Ringøen/Brekke (NOR)

Tournier/Nicole (FRA) - Matviev/Pavliuk (UKR)

Poznanski/Kruk (POL) - Ozdemir/Cebeci (TUR)

Meius/Tammearu M. (EST) - Keskinen/Rahko (FIN)

Savvides/Siapanis (CYP) - Sedlak/Manas (CZE)

Bottolo/Di Silvestre (ITA) - Reiter T./Leitner L. (AUS)