Ankara, Turkey, July 30, 2014 – Turkey became
the new Balkan champions when they defeated the defending champions Bulgaria in
straight sets (25-22, 25-15, 25-20) at the BVA Pre-Youth Boys’ Volleyball
Championship on the final match of the six-team Round Robin tournament held in
the Turkish capital.
The Turkish side went through their five
games unbeaten and topped the final standings with a perfect record of 15
points. Bulgaria, suffered their first and only defeat on final competition
day, finished with 10 points to settle for the silver medal. Romania claimed
bronze, also with 10 points, but had three victories and two losses in the
course of the competition.
Serbia took fourth place with seven points,
Bosnia and Herzegovina ended in fifth place, and Moldova in last place.
The pre-youth categories for boys and girls were introduced in
2012 by the Balkan Volleyball Association. In the 2014
edition, the Balkan Volleyball Association changed eligibility of the
participants for the boys and girls divisions. In the boys’ division, players
must be born on or after January 1, 1999; while in the girls division, players
must be born on or after January 1, 2000, to be eligible to compete.