In what was probably the most interesting match of the second competition day at the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship in Croatia and Serbia, Belgium failed to continue their machine-like performance of the first set of their all-European clash with Italy in Pool D, as the southerners swept the next three sets to upset the runners-up of last year’s CEV U18 European Championship. Meanwhile, all three matches in Pool A in Osijek were also resolved in four-set duels.
FIVB Girls' U19 World Championship 2025
Italy come back from a set down to beat Belgium in U19 highlight
Pool A in Osijek offers three four-setters on day two of youth world championship
Published 09:14, 03 Jul 2025
Italy v Belgium
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Pool A
Germany were without their injured captain Leana Grozer, but it didn’t matter as they staged a spirited comeback to beat Egypt by 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 25-16, 25- 21) and celebrate their first win of the World Championship on Thursday. Towering outside hitter Leilani Slacanin ably stepped into Grozer’s shoes, delivering an impressive 15 points (13 spike kills, 0 kill blocks, 2 aces) to top the scoring charts. Her cross-court teammate Henriette Kranz added another 15 points (12, 0, 3) to seal the three points for Germany. Egypt’s outside hitter Gena Mohamed returned 13 points (12, 1, 0) for the North Africans, who are still looking for their first victory in Osijek.
Co-hosts Croatia made it two wins in a row after edging out Mexico by 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 25-22, 25-19) in their second Pool A match. Once again, opposite Asja Zolota proved a reliable outlet in attack, racking up a game-high 23 points (19, 2, 1) to guide Croatia to the convincing win. Outside hitter Naomi Alejandra Cruz Toledo tallied 15 points (13, 2, 0) for the Mexicans, who now stand on a 1-1 win-loss record.
Thailand had to dig deep to defeat Canada by 3-1 (22-25, 25-12, 25-17, 25-22) on Thursday and earn their first win at the World Championship. Captain and outside Supawadee Panwilai delivered a game-high 23 points (18, 1, 4) as Thailand overpowered the Canadians in attack (50 to 37 kills) to emerge victorious. Outside hitter Sofia Zabjek replied for Canada with 14 points (11, 2, 1).
Pool B
Chinese Taipei achieved the second competition day’s first win at the U19 Worlds, a speedy 3-0 (25-19, 25-19, 25-20) shutout of Argentina in Pool B action in Vrnjacka Banja, and improved to 2-0 and 5 points. Outside Chen Pin-Yu led the way with 13 points (12, 1, 0), while a 12-point tally (9, 2, 1) put outside and captain Julieta Arianne Ruelli on top of Argentina’s scorers chart. It was Argentina’s first loss of the tournament.
After losing to Chinese Taipei in the tie-breaker on opening day, co-hosts Serbia got on the winning track on Thursday and scored their first victory of the competition, 3-0 (25-13, 25-17, 25-20) over Dominican Republic, who remain winless in Vrnjacka Banja. With three aces, two kill blocks and seven successful swings to her name, Serbian outside Anja Miovcic topped the match charts on a 12-point total. Also firing three serving points, her counterpart Estel Santos Mateo led Dominican Republic with a total of 8 points.
Brazil remained impeccable in Vrnjacka Banja with another straight-set victory, this time a 3-0 (25-16, 25-17, 25-20) shutout of Puerto Rico. Middle blocker Lara Gabriele Rodrigues Almeida led the winners with a match-high 13 points (10, 1, 2), while outside Kalia Isabel Alvarado was Puerto Rico’s most prolific scorer with 11 points (10, 1, 0). The squad from the Caribbean is still winless in the tournament.
Pool C
Poland’s dream start to the World Championship continued unabated after a 3-0 (26-24, 25-18, 25-18) defeat of Turkiye at the Gradski Vrt Hall in Osijek on Thursday. After stunning European champions Bulgaria by 3-1 on Wednesday, the Poles staged yet another upset against 2023 silver medalists Turkiye with outside Liliana Wojcik emerging the destroyer-in-chief with a game-high 15 points (12, 2, 1). Turkiye replied through opposite Minel Nefin Ozen, who registered 9 points, all from attack. Turkiye have now suffered their first setback of the tournament.
Bulgaria brought their World Championship campaign back on course with a hard-fought 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-21) win over Spain. Opposite Nicol Okoro made her inclusion into the first team count, returning an impressive 17 points (12, 3, 2) for Bulgaria’s first win of the competition. Captain Ines Losada Gordaliza led the Spaniards from the front with an impressive 15 points, all from attack.
Defending champions USA picked from where they left off on Wednesday, dismissing Peru in straight sets, 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-18), to go joint top of Pool C with Poland on 6 points each. The Americans dominated Peru in blocking (14 to 5 in stuffs) and attack (44 to 25 in spike kills) with opposite Henley Anderson leading the way with 14 points (10, 4, 0). Outside hitter Waleska Toro Zoltanski top-scored for the Peruvians with 12 points (8, 2, 2).
Pool D
African champions Tunisia put up a spirited fight against Japan in Pool D’s opening match on Thursday at the Trstenik hall near Vrnjacka Banja and despite the ankle injury of their 16-year-old setter Mayssem Jeridi early into the second set, they continued to stay competitive on the court. However, the Japanese team proved stronger and managed to take the game in three sets, 3-0 (28-26, 25-19, 25-18), with a stunning 26-point match high (23, 2, 1) from 16-year-old opposite Rion Chuganji. Opposite and captain Sinda Ben Hamida authored five of Tunisia’s 13 kill blocks in the match and added 13 successful swings to lead the team with a total of 18 points. Japan are yet to lose a set and Tunisia are yet to win one after two competition days.
Asian champions China left Chile few chances to shine as they hammered out a merciless 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-15) sweep, their second of the tournament. Middle blocker Jin Jiabao produced a match-high 14 points (9, 2, 3), while 16-year-old outside and captain Aina Grimalt led Chile’s scoring effort with 13 points, all in swings.
Belgium were merciless in the first set of their game against Italy, but then the cours of the match took a turn and the southern European squad hammered out a fierce 3-1 (17-25, 25-12, 25-21, 25-14) comeback and secured their second win in Trstenik. The Italians were spearheaded by outside Caterina Peroni with 18 points (14, 3, 1), while 16-year-old middle blocker Flore Maes put away 12 points (11, 1, 0) to lead Belgium’s point-making effort.
