TIRANA, Albania – Bulgaria emerged as the winners of the U18 Women’s Balkan Championship 2026, capturing the gold medal after a series of impressive performances in Tirana. The tournament, held at the Farka Volley Hall, brought together four national teams – Albania, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Türkiye – for three days of competition.
The Bulgarian team displayed consistency, determination, and outstanding teamwork throughout the championship, ultimately securing first place and the Balkan title.
Following the conclusion of the tournament, an official medal and awards ceremony was held to celebrate the achievements of both teams and individual players.
Serbia received the bronze medals, presented by Ornela Belba, Board Member of the Albanian Volleyball Federation (AVF), and Milos Jovanovic, BVA Supervisor.
The silver medals were awarded to Türkiye by Ervis Dosti, General Secretary of the Albanian Volleyball Federation, and Barish Ceyhun Erciyes, Ambassador of Türkiye in Albania.
Gold medals were presented to the Bulgarian team by Ervis Dosti, General Secretary of the Albanian Volleyball Federation, and Ornela Belba, Board Member of AVF.
The championship trophy was then awarded to the captain of Bulgaria, as winners of the U18 Women’s Balkan Championship 2026, by Dashamir Brari, Vice President of the Albanian Volleyball Federation.
Individual Awards
Several players were recognized for their outstanding performances throughout the tournament:
MVP - Edna Todorova
Best setter - Ivayla Rikova
Best outside spiker - Hiranur Baygara
Best opposite - Bozhidara Ivanova
Best Middle Blocker - Anja Pilipović
Best libero - Duru Zeren
Fair Play award - Team Albania
- Fair Play Award – team Albania (received by the team captain), presented by Ornela Belba, Board Member of the Albanian Volleyball Federation.
- Best Libero – Duru Zeren (#3, Türkiye), presented by Barish Ceyhun Erciyes, Ambassador of Türkiye in Albania.
- Best Middle Blocker – Anja Pilipovic (#13, Serbia), presented by Milos Jovanovic, Supervisor of the Balkan Volleyball Association.
- Best Opposite – Bozhidara Ivanova (#17, Bulgaria), presented by Dashamir Brari, Vice President of the Albanian Volleyball Federation.
- Best Outside Spiker – Hiranur Baygara (#6, Türkiye), presented by Ervis Dosti, General Secretary of the Albanian Volleyball Federation.
- Best Setter – Ivayla Rikova (#16, Bulgaria), presented by Ornela Belba, Board Member of the Albanian Volleyball Federation.
- Most Valuable Player (MVP) – Edna Todorova (#9, Bulgaria), presented by Ervis Dosti, General Secretary of the Albanian Volleyball Federation.
Bulgaria’s dominance was further reflected in the individual honors, with three Bulgarian players receiving major awards, including MVP Edna Todorova, Best Setter Ivayla Rikova, and Best Opposite Bozhidara Ivanova.
The championship concluded with celebrations for the newly crowned Balkan champions, as Bulgaria lifted the trophy and added another prestigious title to the nation’s volleyball history. The event also showcased the exceptional talent emerging across the Balkan region and provided valuable international experience for the next generation of women’s volleyball stars.
All photos and match results can be found here:
