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U17 Men’s Balkan Championship set to kick off in Tirana

by Admin 02/08/2026

written by Admin

The 2026 Balkan Championship for Youth U17 (Men) is set to kick off in Tirana, Albania, running from August 4th to 8th.

The tournament will be hosted and organized by the Volleyball Federation of Albania (FSHV). Matches will take place at the “Farka Volley Hall” in Tirana.

Six national teams will take part in the championship, divided into two pools:

Pool A: Albania, Serbia, Romania
Pool B: Bulgaria, Turkiye, Kosovo

The competition will be played according to the Berger system within the pools (August 4–6), followed by the placement rounds — semifinals for positions 1–4 (August 7), and the final ranking matches, including the final for Chmapionship title, the match for bronze medal, and the match for 5th–6th place (August 8).

Players born on or after January 1st, 2010 are eligible to participate in this event.

Match schedule and standings:

U17 Men Balkan Championship 2026

02/08/2026 0 comments

Mostar gearing up for U20 Women’s Balkan Volleyball Championship

by Admin 01/08/2026

written by Admin

Preparations for this year’s U20 Women’s Balkan Volleyball Championship are in full swing in Mostar, where the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national team continues to train ahead of the tournament, which will be held from August 19 to 23. The team trains twice a day, while excellent team spirit, unity and motivation continue to define the preparation period for one of the Balkan region’s most important youth events.

The players and coaching staff received a visit by Anita Glibić, President of the Volleyball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who emphasised that hosting the championship is one of the Federation’s most significant projects for the development of Volleyball in the country.

Mostar at the heart of European Volleyball

“Welcoming eight national teams to Mostar and Bosnia and Herzegovina is a major promotion of both our country and our sport. I am especially pleased that Mostar is hosting this event because I believe it will bring new energy, strengthen confidence in Volleyball and mark the beginning of a new chapter for our sport,” said Glibić.

She stressed that organising a championship of this level requires meeting high European standards and expressed confidence that Bosnia and Herzegovina will once again demonstrate its ability to successfully host major international sporting events. “We want to present Mostar as a city of sport, culture and tourism while showcasing the beauty of our country to all visitors. I am confident that we will prove ourselves to be outstanding hosts,” she added.

Preparations in full swing

National coach Ilijana Dugandžić expressed satisfaction with the team’s commitment and the progress achieved so far. “Twenty-seven players are currently taking part in the training camp, showing great dedication and professionalism. In the coming days we will enter the final phase of our preparations. This project is extremely important for Mostar, Herzegovina and Bosnia and Herzegovina as a whole. Our goal is not only to achieve a good result but also to inspire more young girls to take up Volleyball and help restore the sport to the position it deserves,” said Dugandžić.

Coach Saša Slijepčević highlighted that, for the first time, the national team has sufficient time to prepare properly for an international competition. “We are following a clearly defined training programme with two practice sessions each day. Having more than three weeks of preparation is a major advantage compared to previous years. The players have adapted exceptionally well, and I believe we will be fully prepared when the championship begins,” he said.

The U20 Balkan Volleyball Championship will bring together the national teams of Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Türkiye. The tournament will also serve as the first qualification round for the 2027 European Championship in this age category, while the organisers believe it will further confirm Mostar’s and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ability to host major international Volleyball events.

01/08/2026 0 comments

Bosnia & Herzegovina U2OW

U20W Balkan Volleyball Championship preparations begin in Mostar

by Admin 27/07/2026

written by Admin

MOSTAR, July 27, 2026 – The Bosnia and Herzegovina Women’s U20 National Volleyball team has gathered in Mostar, where it has officially begun preparations for the U20 Balkan Volleyball Championship, which will take place in the city on the Neretva river from August 19 to 23, 2026.

The championship is one of the most important youth volleyball competitions in the region and also serves as the first qualification round for the 2027 European Championship. A total of nine national teams, members of the Balkan Volleyball Association (BVA), will compete, with eligibility limited to players born in 2008 or later.

Mostar to host a prestigious international competition

The Bosnia and Herzegovina U20 national team will spend nearly a month in Mostar preparing for the championship under the guidance of head coach Saša Slijepčević from Gacko and assistant coach Ilijana Dugandžić from Čapljina, ensuring the team is fully prepared for the opening matches.

This sporting event carries special significance, as Mostar will host an international volleyball tournament of this level for the very first time, making it the first competition of its kind ever staged in the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hosting the championship marks an important step forward in the development of volleyball and further confirms that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the capacity to successfully organize major international sporting events.

The first step towards the 2027 European championship

“We are proud that Bosnia and Herzegovina will welcome the region’s most talented young volleyball players. Excellent training conditions have been provided in Mostar, and I believe this championship will give a significant boost to the development of volleyball while providing additional motivation for our young athletes,” said Anita Glibić, president of the Volleyball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The championship is organized by the Volleyball Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the University Volleyball club Mostar serves as the technical organizer.

The U20 Balkan Volleyball Championship will provide Bosnia and Herzegovina with an excellent opportunity to showcase its ability to host major international sporting events, while also giving the country’s young volleyball players the chance to take their first step towards qualification for the 2027 European Championship in front of a home crowd.

27/07/2026 0 comments

Main U17W

Türkiye Crowned U17 Women’s Balkan Champions, Montenegro Claims Historic Silver

by Admin 25/07/2026

written by Admin

FERIZAJ, Kosovo – Türkiye captured the gold medal at the U17 Women’s Balkan Championship 2026, successfully defending their unbeaten record to finish at the top of the standings after five days of exciting volleyball in Ferizaj, Kosovo. Montenegro secured an outstanding silver medal, while Bulgaria completed the podium by claiming bronze.

Hosted by the Volleyball Federation of Kosovo under the auspices of the Balkan Volleyball Association (BVA), the championship gathered six national teams – Albania, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro and Türkiye – competing in a single round-robin format at the Palestra “Bill Clinton” from 21 to 25 July.

Türkiye demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the tournament, producing commanding performances to remain undefeated and deservedly lift the Balkan trophy. Montenegro enjoyed a memorable campaign, earning the silver medal after a series of impressive victories, while Bulgaria finished in third place to take home the bronze medal.

Trophy to captain of Türkiye was awarded by Bahri Gjinovci, president of Kosova Volleyball Federation.

Following the conclusion of the championship, the best individual performers of the tournament were honoured during the closing ceremony:

Fair Play Award – Njola Babuni (Kosovo)
Presented by: Valon Nikqi – Secretary General, Kosova Volleyball Federation

🏅Best Libero – Magdalena Bogdanova (Bulgaria)
Presented by: Valon Xhafaj – Vice President, Kosova Volleyball Federation

🏅Best Middle Blocker – Nejla Guzonjic (Türkiye)
Presented by: Arbër Bytyqi – Director of Urbanism, Municipality of Ferizaj

🏅Best Outside Spiker – Elena Jovanovic (Montenegro)
Presented by: Nikola Kazić – President, Montenegro Volleyball Federation

🏅Best Opposite – Cagla Caglayandere (Türkiye)
Presented by: Nikola Kazić – President, Montenegro Volleyball Federation

🏅Best Setter – Nadja Pekovic (Montenegro)
Presented by: Filip Despotovski – BVA Supervisor

🌟Most Valuable Player (MVP) – Selis Ecrin Turkyasar (Türkiye)
Presented by: Bahri Gjinovci – President, Kosova Volleyball Federation

The individual awards reflected the high level of competition throughout the championship, with Türkiye, Montenegro and Bulgaria all represented among the tournament’s standout performers.

The U17 Women’s Balkan Championship once again highlighted the growing quality of volleyball across the region, providing young talents with valuable international experience and confirming the bright future of Balkan volleyball.