The inaugural day of the U20 Snow Volleyball European Championships 2025 in Karpacz has concluded. Twenty thrilling group-stage matches for both women`s and men`s teams took place on Friday. Ideal weather conditions ensured that both competitors and fans in Southern Poland thoroughly enjoyed the event.
Tournament Overview and Polish Presence
Following its debut in Georgia last year, #EuroSnowVolleyU20 is being held for the second time in history, marking its first appearance in Poland. Snow Volleyball, while a relatively new sport, has rapidly amassed a substantial following. This year`s championship features nine women`s and nine men`s teams, with an impressive seven of these teams representing the host nation, Poland.
Morning Session Highlights: Intense Battles
The morning session featured two thrilling contests. The men`s home team, Poland 2, engaged in an exceptionally intense battle against Italy. The Italian visitors began the match more strongly, adapting faster to the Karpacz conditions. The Polish squad needed time to find their rhythm, and although Italy secured the opening set 21-19, the subsequent two sets were also decided by the narrowest margins. Ultimately, the home team, consisting of Szymon Kobyliński, Alan Robak, Oliwier Pawlicki, and Jakub Zdrojewski, emerged victorious.
The second high-profile match saw the women`s teams Poland 1 and Poland 3 face off. Poland 1, representing SMS Spała – comprised of Wiktoria Leśniewicz, Zofia Preweda, Paulina Łabuz, and Zuzanna Rapczyńska – were considered the favorites. Yet, their opponents unexpectedly presented a formidable challenge. Emilia Żurawska consistently converted attacks, supported by strong defensive efforts from Wiktoria Surażyńska and Maria Pietrin. The third Polish team clinched the first set 11-9 and nearly secured a 2-0 victory in the second. Rapczyńska rescued the set with three exceptional serves. However, in the tie-break, Żurawska proved unstoppable once more, ultimately guiding Poland 3 to their inaugural win of the tournament.
Afternoon Session: Resurgence and Determined Efforts
Following a two-hour intermission, the afternoon session commenced. The Turkish team delivered a stellar performance, playing almost flawlessly against Poland 2. Damian Kostrzewa, coach of Poland 2, remarked:
“The conditions are challenging, but they are the same for everyone. Those with good movement, agility, coordination, and technique tend to perform better. Conversely, taller players might face difficulties. We made critical attacking errors in the first set and didn`t offer much resistance in the second. It`s regrettable, but we have another day ahead and will continue to fight.”
Damian Kostrzewa, Coach of Poland 2
Among the victors were the players of Poland 1, who defeated Moldova 2-0, having also previously bested Poland 4 without dropping a set. Tomasz Warych, Marcel Wanat, Michał Kucharski, and Wiktor Musiał unanimously stated:
“We felt fantastic, especially with such a crowd and in this weather. It was a lot of fun. This is an interesting variation, something new for us. What distinguishes Snow Volleyball from Beach Volleyball is primarily the increased difficulty of movement. It was evident that we struggled at times, but match by match, our team is improving in terms of communication,”
Poland 1 Team Members
emphasizing their goal to compete for medals in Karpacz.
Friday concluded with further wins for two other Polish teams, Poland 3 and Poland 4, who triumphed over Ukraine and Moldova, respectively.
Looking Ahead: Knockout Rounds and Finals
On Saturday, the group stage will recommence at 10:00 AM, with knockout rounds scheduled to begin at 4:20 PM. The finals are set for Sunday, March 9th, at 2:20 PM for the women`s competition and 3:00 PM for the men`s.
