Day 1 of CEV U18 Beach Volleyball Qualifier in Portorož: Young Talents Shine in Pool Battles and Knockouts

The 2025 CEV U18 Beach Volleyball European Championships First-round Qualifier officially began today in the coastal town of Portorož, Slovenia, bringing together rising stars from across the Middle European region. The tournament features both women’s and men’s competitions and serves as a key stepping stone toward this year’s continental championship.

The opening day saw teams compete in the pool phase, followed by the always-tense Round of 12. Under the warm July sun, young athletes showcased impressive skill, athleticism, and teamwork across both categories.

In the women’s tournament, several duos stood out with commanding performances during the group stage, quickly asserting themselves as contenders. The Croatian pair Sos and Biuk made a strong impression in Pool B, while teams from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria, Israel, Cyprus, and Slovenia secured their spots in the knockout stage. The elimination round brought more intense battles, with the Czech pairs Duskova/Lajkebova and Kinterova/Sebova successfully advancing to the quarterfinals, joined by strong contenders such as Austria’s Hammarberg/Hofstetter and Hungary’s Matkovits/Honti-Majoros.

In the men’s tournament, the level of competition remained consistently high throughout the day. After a strong showing in the pool phase, several top-seeded teams confirmed their quality in the Round of 12. Austria secured two spots in the quarterfinals through the pairings of Gavan/Hohenauer and Katzbeck/Poinstingl, both demonstrating tactical precision and control. Host nation Slovenia also celebrated success with Predan/Bregar advancing after a convincing win, while Hungary’s Pongracz/Goudie edged past Israel’s top-seeded duo Gozlan/Hameiri in one of the day’s most thrilling matches.

With quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal matches scheduled for July 3, only the most consistent and mentally tough teams will remain in the running.

At stake is more than just a place on the podium. The top two national federations, one from the men’s side and one from the women’s, will secure direct qualification for the CEV U18 Beach Volleyball European Championships 2025.

With passion, pride, and a chance to represent their country at the highest level on the line, Day 2 promises thrilling action on the sands of Portorož.

Live results and updates are available here:
Women’s tournament
Men’s tournament