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.