The first-round qualifier for the 2017 FIVB Volleyball Men’s U21 World Championship has began.
The sites of each pool were hosted in different countries. The day was full of sweeps, and a rematch of the Final Round of the U20 European Championship France and Bulgaria that went five, in favor of Bulgaria.
Pool A
- Germany def. Estonia 3-0 – 25-23, 25-17, 25-13
- Carl-von-Weinberg Halle
- Frankfurt/Main, Germany
The German squad defeated Estonia in a three set sweep in the first round of the tournament.
Egor Bogachev put down 11 kills and three aces for Germany, while Tobias Krick added 10 kills and seven blocks.
For Estonia, Markus Uuskari and Dmitri Korotkov each put down 11 kills in the loss.
Pool B
- Belgium def. Croatia 3-0 – 25-15, 25-20, 25-20
- Gradska Dvorana
- Kastel Stari, Croatia
Belgium cruised to three set sweep over Croatia in the first round of the tournament.
Gil Hofmans put down a match-best 16 kills. Thomas Pardon put down three blocks in the match.
For Croatia, Petar Dirlic contributed a team-best 14 kills, while Dominik Brcic added three blocks.
- Latvia def. Turkey 3-0 – 25-20, 25-22, 25-22
- Gradska Dvorana
- Kastel Stari, Croatia
Latvia rolled to a three set victory over Turkey in the first round.
For Latvia, Pavels Jemeljanovs put down a match-best 15 kills and three aces.
Abdullah Cam put down 11 kills and two blocks for Turkey, Barbaros Atadere had three aces.
Pool C
- Serbia def. The Netherlands 3-0 – 25-12, 25-22, 25-19
- Centro Cultrual de Viana do Castelo
- Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Serbia ran through The Netherlands in a three set sweep in the first round.
David Mehic led Serbia with 12 kills and three aces, while Miran Kujunszic added 11 kills.
For the Netherlands, Ivar De Waard put down 11 kills.
- Portugal def. Austria 3-1 – 25-19, 25-21, 23-25, 25-13
- Centro Cultrual de Viana do Castelo
- Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Portugal takes four sets to take down Austria in the first round qualifier.
Portugal’s Bruno Cunha put down a match-best 16 kills and four blocks, while Lourenco Martins added 15 kills and seven aces.
For Austria, Edin Ibrahimovic hammered down 15 kills and four blocks.
Pool D
- Bulgaria def. France 3-2 – 25-21, 20-25, 24-26, 25-19, 15-12
- Hristo Botev sports hall
- Sophia Bulgaria
In a match that took nearly two hours to complete, Bulgaria emerged as the five set match victors.
Leading Bulgaria was Plamen Shekerdzhiev put down a match-best 17 kills and two aces and 20 total points. Iliyan Prespov also contributed 13 kills. Aleks Grozdanov added six blocks defensively, while Gordan Lyutskanov blocked five balls.
For France, Joachim Panou put down 16 kills, while teammate Remi Bassereau added another 13 kills.
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