The U16 Balkan Championship was held from June 19 to 23 in Pljevlja, organized by the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro with the support of the Ministry of Sports, the Municipality of Pljevlja, the Pljevlja Coal Mine, and the Pljevlja Health Center.
First place went to the Bulgarian national team, which achieved four wins out of four matches. The Turkish team secured second place, while Montenegro won third place and the bronze medal.
The trophy was presented to the captain of the Bulgarian team, the winners of the U16 Balkan Championship, by Nikola Kažić, President of the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro.
The gold medals were awarded to the Bulgarian team by Jovana Tošić, President of the Pljevlja Municipal Assembly, and Ivan Bošković, Secretary General of the Volleyball Federation of Montenegro (OSCG).
The plaque for second place was presented to the Turkish team by Jovana Tošić, while Darko Gazdić, Vice President of the Municipality of Pljevlja, and Ivan Ječmenica, Director of Men’s National Teams at OSCG, awarded the silver medals.
The plaque for third place was awarded to the Montenegrin team by Darko Gazdić as well, while the bronze medals were presented by Jadranko Lončar, Financial Director of the Pljevlja Coal Mine, and Milica Sekulić, Secretary of the Secretariat for Sports and Youth of the Municipality of Pljevlja.
The awards for the tournament’s best individuals were presented by Ksenija Božović, Director of Women’s National Teams at OSCG.
The MVP of the U16 Balkan Championship for girls was Yoana Nancheva from Bulgaria, while the best setter was Ela Demirag from Turkiye. The best opposite hitter was Çağla Çağlayander, and the best outside spiker was Seliş Türkyaşar, both from Turkiye. The title of best middle blocker went to Antonia Stanislavova from Bulgaria, while the best libero award was given to her teammate, Magdalena Bogdanova. The Fair Play Player Award went to Sara Striković from Montenegro.
On the final day of the competition, Bulgaria sealed first place with a 3:0 victory over North Macedonia, while Turkiye defeated Montenegro 3:1 to secure second place.
