Defending champions USA will take on Poland while Türkiye will face Bulgaria in Saturday’s 2025 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship semifinals in Osijek, Croatia. The four teams won their quarterfinal matches at the Gradski Vrt Hall in Osijek on Friday to proceed into the last four as the race for the World Championship title gathers pace. The playoff battles will continue at all levels of the bracket to determine the final standings from first to 24th place.
FIVB Girls' U19 World Championship 2025
U19 Worlds semifinals determined
Poland v USA and Türkiye v Bulgaria in Saturday’s duels for final spots
Published 10:01, 11 Jul 2025
Semifinals
Türkiye v Bulgaria
USA v Poland
5 - 8 Semifinals
China v Brazil
Japan v Italy
9 - 12 Semifinals
Croatia v Mexico
Chinese Taipei v Argentina
13 - 16 Semifinals
Serbia v Belgium
Thailand v Germany
17 - 18 Final
Canada v Spain
19 - 20 Final
Puerto Rico v Chile
21 - 22 Final
Peru v Egypt
23 - 24 Final
Tunisia v Dominican Republic
- Watch the FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U19 World Championship on VBTV
Quarterfinals
Türkiye became the first team to book a slot in the semifinals after beating China by 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-19, 25-09) in the opening quarterfinal match at the Gradski Vrt Hall in Osijek on Friday. China’s unforced errors (23 to 16) proved to be their major undoing as this contest was ultimately determined by fine margins. The 2023 silver medalists Türkiye also had a better return in attack (57 to 45 spike kills) and block (11 to 5 stuff blocks) to qualify for Saturday’s semifinals.
Outside hitter Ceren Hasdemir led Türkiye with a game-high 18 points, made of 17 spike kills and 1 block kill, while opposite Aylin Uysalcan (11, 0, 4) and middle blocker Ezel Balık (6, 7, 2) each added 15 points. Middle blocker Zhongnan Guo (10, 1, 1) and outside hitter Yexuan Cao (9, 1, 1) were the best performers for the Asian champions with 12 points apiece.
“I’m so proud of my team because we have performed well against a good opponent. China played well especially in the middle where they are so fast. We had prepared for that and reacted well to finish the job in the third and fourth set. We faced some tough teams like USA and Bulgaria in the group and that has really helped improve the mental aspect of the team. We want to finish in the medal bracket now that we are in the semifinals,” said Türkiye middle blocker Begum Kacmaz, who also reached double digits with 12 points (8, 3, 1).
China vs. Türkiye - Match Highlights
Poland added Japan to their growing list of casualties at the World Championship after handing them a 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 27-25) rout in the second quarterfinal match. The Europeans were particularly superior in blocking (19 to 7) as they cruised past the Asians to remain unbeaten in seven matches they have played so far.
Middle blockers Maja Koput and Maria Kaczmarzyk were astounding in defence, contributing 7 and 4 stuff blocks respectively to Poland’s victory. The former recorded 3 spike kills to reach double digits with 10 points. Opposite Alicja Koprowska also added 4 points to the block party and another 9 spike kills to emerge as Poland’s most prolific scorer. She was supported by outside hitter Liliana Wojcik who tallied 12 points, all from attack. Japan’s outside hitter Yuzuki Baba topped the game’s scoring charts with 17 points (16, 1, 1).
“We knew Japan would play a very fast game so we worked on blocking in training. I’m happy that it worked and also the girls showed character in the third set to finish the job. I think that we are unstoppable, the key to success is the environment we have created in this team. We don’t have big names, it’s a collective effort from everyone,” said Poland coach Marcin Orlik.
Japan vs. Poland - Match Highlights
Bulgaria condemned Brazil to their first loss at the World Championship which effectively knocked the South Americans out of contention for the title. Brazil had reached the quarterfinals unbeaten but found the going tough against Bulgaria who overpowered them in attack (50 to 33) and serving (8 to 1) to emerge 3-1 (25-15, 21-25, 25-18, 25-20) winners.
Star outside hitter Kalina Veneva was Bulgaria’s hero with a game-high 23 points (20, 2, 1). She was supported by middle blockers Denitsa Angelova and Darina Naneva who registered 15 (8, 4, 3) and 13 points (10, 3, 0) respectively.
“I’m very happy with how my players responded after losing the second set. It’s one quality of this team, that they will always fight when faced with difficult situations. Once again, Kalina showed that she is an important player in this team and that’s why her teammates trust her a lot. I’m also happy with Alexandra Kitipova, we brought her as a replacement for our opposite Nicol Okoro who is injured and she did well,” said Bulgaria coach Atanas Petrov.
Bulgaria vs. Brazil - Match Highlights
Like Brazil, Italy also tasted their first defeat of the tournament, a 3-2 (29-31, 25-23, 25-21, 28-30, 08-15) loss at the hands of defending champions USA in a thrilling five-set encounter that lived up to the billing. The 2023 bronze medalists Italy committed more unforced errors (29 to 25) that proved costly in the end. USA also outdid the Europeans in attack (70 to 65) and serving (8 to 4) to keep their title defence alive.
The 18-year-old outside hitter Macaria Spears led USA’s onslaught with 24 points (21, 2, 1) while her cross court partner Suliane Davis (15, 2, 2) and middle blocker Jordan Taylor (12, 7, 0) each returned 19 points. Opposite Henley Anderson aslo reached double digits with 17 points (12, 2, 3). Outside hitters Stella Caruso (18, 0, 1) and Caterina Peroni (16, 1, 1) replied for the Italians with 19 and 18 points respectively.
“We knew it was going to be a dogfight because Italy are a great team but we had practised for this moment. We knew how to fight when it came to that. Every team is going to come hard at us because we are the defending champions and we are ready for it,” said Spears.
USA vs. Italy - Match Highlights
9 - 16 Quarterfinals
Chinese Taipei snatched the first spot in the 9th place playoff semifinals after a 3-1 (27-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-19) victory over Thailand in Friday’s opening match in Vrnjacka Banja. Thailand will move on to Saturday’s 13th place playoff semifinals. Chinese Taipei’s 16-year-old opposite Xu Zhen-Xuan topped the match charts with 28 points (24, 3, 1), the most any player has scored in a single match so far at the World Championship. Outside Wisaruta Sengna was Thailand’s most prolific scorer with 15 points (12, 2, 1).
After they won the epic first set of the match between the two co-hosts of the championship, there was no stopping Croatia on the way to a 3-0 (31-29, 25-20, 25-12) victory over Serbia in Vrnjacka Banja. 16-year-old opposite Asja Zolota helped Croatia stay on track in the race for the 9th place with a match-high 15 points (14, 1, 0). Her counterpart Marija Babalj put away 10 points (8, 2, 0) for Serbia, who will continue in the playoffs for the 13th place.
Mexico mounted a huge comeback from two sets down to celebrate a 3-2 (21-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 15-10) victory over Belgium and set up a meeting with Croatia in Saturday’s 9th place playoff semifinals. Their opposite Aylin Andrea Ravell was the team’s best scorer with 18 points (16, 2, 0) to her name. while her Belgian counterpart Mila Vlahovic topped the match charts with 22 points (18, 1, 3).
Argentina advanced to a 9th place playoff semifinal playoff against Chinese Taipei on Saturday after a 3-1 (25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 25-11) victory over Germany in the last match at the Trstenik hall near Vrnjacka Banja on Friday. Serving 13 aces against four from their European rivals, made the big difference for Argentina in the match. 14-year-old Sofia Emilia Baldo was the South Americans’ heroine in this game, as she led the team with 26 points (19, 3, 4). The Germans were spearheaded by 16-year-old middle Franziska Heil with 14 points (10, 4, 0).
17 - 20 Semifinals
Canada registered a hard-fought 3-1 (25-21, 15-25, 25-23, 25-14) win over Puerto Rico in the 17th place playoff semifinals at the Gradski Vrt Hall in Osijek on Friday. Outside hitters Emerson Matthews (14, 2, 0) Sofia Zabjek (12, 1, 3) were the joint top scorers for Canada with a game-high 16 points while opposite Pamela Zoe Agosto Serrano replied for Puerto Rico with 13 points (10, 2, 1).
In the other semifinal also played in Osijek, Spain swept aside Chile in straight sets (25-17, 25-10, 25-20) to book Canada in the 17th place playoff final set for Saturday. Outside hitter Aina Ginesta Romera starred for Spain with a game-high 19 points (17, 0, 2) while Chile’s usual hero, captain Aina Grimalt Karmelic led the South Americans with 6 points (4, 0, 2), same as middle blocker Susana Bulnes Ibañez (5, 1, 0).
Puerto Rico and Chile will now face off in the 19th place playoff final on Saturday.
21 - 24 Semifinals
Peru booked their spot in Saturday’s 21st place playoff final while Tunisia will play in the classification match for 23rd. In Friday’s opening game at the Trstenik hall near Vrnjacka Banja, Peru put together a 3-1 (25-13, 25-23, 18-25, 25-23) win over the North African team. Outside hitter Waleska Toro led the South Americans with 18 points (15, 1, 2). Tunisia’s opposite and captain Sinda Ben Hamida put away a match-high 26 points (23, 2, 1) and this was the second time she scored as many points, after doing so against Chile in the pool stage of the tournament.
Egypt earned the right to challenge Peru in Saturday’s duel for the 21st place with a 3-1 (20-25, 25-10, 25-23, 25-15) comeback against Dominican Republic. The squad from the Caribbean will take on Tunisia for the 23rd place in the final standings. While middle and captain Mariam Ebrahim impressed with 6 of Egypt’s 14 kill blocks in the match, her cross-court teammate Karma Roukayak produced a team-high 17 points (16, 1, 0). Dominican Republic’s 15-year-old opposite Rayni Merab Mondesi led her team with a match-high 19 points (16, 0, 3).