After 2014 - U19 European Championship - Women

The competition ended a bit different than as expected. First surprise was the failure of Poland's qualification to finals. Then, the silver medalist of this generation Italy's very bad performance, which might be understandable in the absence of their two best players, Malinov and Bonifacio. Turkey is the only team which remains the same ranking they had in youth ECh. They had won the match against Serbia at Balkan Championship 1 week ago but couldn't repeat that performance yesterday  However, Serbia improved their performance with rising star Boskoviç. Greece improved their ranking from 5th to 4th. They miss Stranzali a lot. if she was there, they might win over Slovenia. Slovenia is the one which made the biggest improvement (from 6th place to 2nd). Germany was the another team who couldn't reach to finals although they were 7th in youth ECh. Russia has increase their ranking from 8th to 7th whereas Bulgaria also made a big improvement by reaching 5th position although I was expecting from them to reach semis. Czech Republic and Belgium were also other teams which improve their ranking compared to their place in youth ECh.

All in all, I really like this 96-97 generation, there are plenty of interesting players which I am curious about their transition to senior level. To me, the most promising players in each position are;

Setters: Eva Mori, Arelya Karasoy, Ofelia Malinov, Irına Kemmsies, Paulina Badyga

Opposite: Tijana Boskoviç, Nika Markoviç, Pelin Aroğuz, Anthi Vasilantonaki, Karolina Goliat, Malwina Smarzek, Anna Nicoletti

Middle-blockers: Maja Aleksic, Ela Pintar, Hande Baladin, Eva Lakoma, Anastasia Barchuk, Sarah Cools, Sara Bonifacio, Juliet Lohuis, Kornelia Moskwa, Wiebke Silge

Offensive OHs: Bojana Milenkoviç, Lana Scuka, Mislina Kılıç, Olga Stranzali, Gergana Dimitrova, Michaela Mlejnkova, Angelina Sperskaite, Dominika Strumilo, Anastasia Guerra, Magdalena Damaske

Defensive OHs: Sara Lozo, Anita Sobocan, Ada Germen, Alexandra Psoma, Miroslava Paskova, Veronika Hradzirova, Tatiana Iurinskaia, Celine van Gestel, Sofia D'odorico, Helene Cazaute

Liberos: Milena Dimic, Maja Pahor, Zhana Todorova, Janieke Popma, Pola Nowakowska

2014 - U19 European Championship - Women

After third round, final pool composition for U19 European Championship has been determined:

Pool 1 in Tartu (EST): Serbia (4), Greece (5), The Netherlands (9), Czech Republic (10), Bulgaria (18 ), Estonia (31)
Pool 2 in Tampere (FIN): Italy (2), Turkey (3), Slovenia (6), Russia (8 ), Belgium (14), Finland (16)

The numbers refer to team's ranking in last youth ECh, which might be an indicator for their current strength. Biggest surprise is for sure the absence of Polish team who was the champion in youth ECH and 7th in youth WCh. Also Germany (7th), France (11th) and Montenegro (12th) are other absent teams from youth championship of this generation, which means we won't see talents like setter Kemmsies and MB Silge, OHs Cazaute and Fidon. Candidates for semis are Serbia and Bulgaria from Pool I and Italy with Turkey from from Pool II. If Greek team would play real roster with Stranzali and Psoma, they would most probably will be in semis. Slovenia with their talented setter Eva Mori and Opp Nika Mirkoviç, will be underdog of Pool 2.

2014 - U20 European Championship - Men

After third round, final pool composition for U20 European Championship has been determined:

Pool I (Nitra):  Russia (1), France (6), Italy (7), Bulgaria (10), Serbia (11), Slovakia (13)

Pool II (Brno): Poland (2), Belgium (3), Turkey (5), Slovenia (9), Romania (24),  Czech Republic (25)

The numbers refer to team's ranking in last youth ECh, which might be an indicator for their strength. Biggest surprise the absence of Finnish team who was 4th in youth ECH and 11th in youth WCh. Also number 8, Austria couldn't reach the finals due to unlucky group in second round with Poland and Italy. Candidates for semis are Russia with France from Pool I and Poland with Belgium from Pool II. Also Turkey has very talented player in this generation, they  might also reach to semis if they manage to beat Belgium team.

2013 - CEV European Volleyball Championship - Women

If we look at starting line-ups of top teams, they are old or let's say not young (more than 25) 

German team is old; Beier and Ssuschke are 30, Weiss is 29, Fürst is 28, Brinker and Kozuch are 27 so all starting players will be around 30 except Dürr.

Russia is not young; Morozova and Kryuchkova are 28, Pasynkova is 26, Kosheleva is 25, Goncharova is 24. Only Pankova and Shlyakhovaya (I will die one day by writing this name  ) can be considered young

Serbia is also old. Nikoliç is 31, Ognjenoviç and Cebiç are 29, Molnar and Krismanoviç are 28, Brakoçeviç is 25. Among their starters, only Rasiç is 23.

Croatia might be the oldest. Jerkov is 31, Topiç and Poljak are 30, Popoviç is 29, Milos is 27, Grbaç is 25. Only young player is Maleviç who is 23 years old.

Italy is not young; They might have oldest starter in this ECH, Costagrande is 33. Guiggi is 29, Arrighetti is 28, De Gennaro is 26, Sorokaite is 25. Only young players are Signorile (23) and Diouf who is just 20 years old.

Turkey is mediocre. Neslihan is 30, Gözde is 28, Seda is 27, Gizem is 26, Bahar is 25. Büşra and Naz are youngest-23 years old.

Among top 8 teams, only Belgium and Nederlands have really YOUNG starters.

Belgium; Diricks is 33, Leys is 24, Courtois and Aelbrecht are 23, Rousseaux is 22, Van Hecke is 21. And youngest Heyrman is 20 years old. In next ECH De Vyver ( 20 years old) will most probably replace Diricks, thus they will be the youngest.

Netherlands; Flier is 29; Steenbergen is 28; Grothues is 25; Stoltenborg, Bujs and De Kruijf are 22. Youngest one is Knip who is 21 years old. Sloetjes will replace Flier soon and they will be even younger. 

Out of top 8; Bulgaria and Czechs also have quite young starters.

Bulgaria; Filipova M. is 31, Filipova Ş. is 28.Vasileva is 23. Kitipova, Ruseva, Rabadzhieva and Nikolova are 22 years old. Todorova who is only 16 years old will be starter in next ECh in my opinion. Moreover even Mira Todorova (19 years old) might be starter in next ECh

Czech Republic: Monzoni is 29, Pastulova is 28, Havlickova and Jasova are 26, Vanzurova is 22, Vincourova is 21 and Kossanyiova is 20 years old. With addition of Mlejnkova who is only 17 years old, they will be younger.


P.S:I couldn't write about France roster since they don't have any solid starting-7, they have played almost with 12 players during tournament  Still except Souply and Fedele, they don't have a young roster neither. 

P.S.2: I just notice that were plenty of under 20 player in 14-players roster (bold ones were even starter in their teams  ): 

1997- Zhana Todorova
1996 - Michaela Milejnkova
1995 - Jessica Rivero / Anzhelika Barysevich/ Celeste Plak / Aslı Kalaç
1994 - KAKOLEWSKA Agnieszka / FEDELE Elisabeth / BOSETTI Caterina / GEERTIES Jennifer / IZQUIERDO Lisa / BAĞCI Dilara / RUYSSCHAERT Britt / CHIRICHELLA Cristina