The 19th edition of the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship got underway in Croatia and Serbia on Wednesday, with all 24 participating teams playing their opening pool matches. Three of the 12 matches played, including those of the two co-hosts, were resolved after five-set battles.

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Pool A

Canada began their campaign with a 3-1 (25-23, 14-25, 25-21, 25-18) win over Egypt in the opening Pool A match at the Gradski Vrt Hall in Osijek. Emerson Matthews emerged Canada’s top scorer with 13 points (8 spike kills, 3 kill blocks, 2 aces). Middle blocker Retaj Kammer also recorded a game-high 13 points (9, 1, 3) for the brave North Africans, who put up a strong fight.

Backed by a sizeable crowd, hosts Croatia rallied from a set down to edge out Germany by 3-2 (20-25, 25-23, 25-17, 22-25, 15-10) in their Pool A opener. Opposite Asja Zolota was the star of the show, posting a game-high 22 points (18, 0, 4) to inspire Croatia’s comeback. Germany’s captain Leana Grozer led her team from the front, the outside hitter registering an impressive 13 points (9, 3, 1) despite limping out injured in the tie-breaker.

Mexico got their World Championship campaign off to a flying start after defeating Thailand in straight sets, 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-20) on Wednesday to top of Pool A. Outside hitter Naomi Alejandra Cruz Toledo top-scored for Mexico with 14 points (11, 3, 0), while Thailand’s outside Supawadee Panwilai was the best performer among the girls in red with 9 points, all in spike kills.

Pool B

Argentina and Puerto Rico put up a rollercoaster five-set battle in the Pool B opening match in Vrnjacka Banja, with Argentina prevailing in the tie-breaker to celebrate a 3-2 (21-25, 25-11, 25-18, 17-25, 15-10) victory. Argentinean opposite Paula Tomasa contributed a match-high 19 points (16, 2, 1), while outside hitter Cherisse Binex Atilano led Puerto Rico with 15 points (13, 1, 1).

The pool’s second match of the day also produced a five-set drama. Chinese Taipei managed to disappoint the home fans in Vrnjacka Banja with a narrow 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 28-26, 21-25, 15-13) win over Serbia. Outside Chen Pin-Yu was the best scorer of the match as she put away 26 points (21, 2, 3) towards her team’s success. The home team was led by outside Anja Miovcic with 17 points (16, 0, 1).

With the help of 16 kill blocks, Brazil left the Dominican Republic little chance to fight back and mastered a 3-0 (25-14, 25-13, 25-20) victory in the day’s closing match in Vrnjacka Banja. Opposite Luize Da Silva Tavares authored six of those and added two aces to top the match charts with an impressive 19 points. With 8 points (7, 1, 0), her counterpart Julie Millaray Arias Alejo was the Dominican Republic’s best scorer of the game.

Pool C

Poland turned on class to stun European champions Bulgaria by 3-1 (25-22, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20) in their opening Pool C match in Osijek. The Poles were led by opposite Zofia Pinderska, who returned a game-high 20 points (13, 3, 4). Bulgaria replied through 15-year-old middle blocker Darina Naneva who registered 13 points (8, 1, 4).

After narrowly missing out on the title at the previous edition, Turkiye showed early intentions of going one better this year with a 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-15) sweep of their opening game against Peru. Middle blocker Begum Kacmaz led the 2023 silver medalists’ onslaught with a game-high 15 points (5, 7, 3). Outside hitter Camila Lorena Monge Combe shone for Peru with 13 points (12, 1, 0).

Defending champions USA survived a scare in the first set, before recovering to beat a determined Spain by 3-1 (22-25, 25-16, 25-12, 25-23) in their opening Pool C match on Wednesday. Middle Gabrielle Nichols contributed 14 points (9, 4, 1) towards USA’s comeback win, while outside Macaria Spears added another 14 (13, 0, 1) to guide them past the Spaniards. Outside hitter Ines Losada Gordaliza, Spain’s captain, emerged the top scorer with 17 points (14, 3, 0).

Pool D

Japan hammered out a speedy 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-14) shutout of Belgium in the Pool D opener at the Trstenik hall near Vrnjacka Banja. 16-year-old Japanese opposite Rion Chuganji led the way with 19 points (16, 1, 2). Her Belgian counterpart Mila Vlahovic was her team’s most prolific scorer with 9 points (6, 2, 1).

In a duel between two continental champions, China mastered a 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 26-15) sweep of their game against Tunisia. The winners’ outside hitter and captain Huang Yuexin led her squad with 12 points, all in attack, while Tunisia’s 16-year-old outside Eya Toumi topped the match charts with 13 points (12, 0, 1).

A merciless Italy started their World Championship campaign with an emphatic 3-0 (25-9, 25-17, 25-11) straight-setter against Chile. Their outside Ludovica Tosini delivered three aces and two kill blocks towards a match-high 16 points, while Chile’s 16-year-old outside and captain Aina Grimalt led her team with 7 points, all in swings.

2025 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship: schedule and results

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