Cyprus national U20 volleyball teams finalize preparations for European Championship qualifiers

The Cyprus national U20 men's and women's volleyball teams have finalized their preparations for the upcoming 2027 European Championship qualifiers. The men's squad, coached by Loizos Loizou, will compete in an eight-team tournament in Austria from September 23 to 27, aiming for a top-five finish to advance to the second qualification phase. The final team consists of 14 players, including setters Andreas Karaiskos, Michalis Kalafatis, and Orestis Pastellas.

Simultaneously, the national U20 women's team, under coach Stelios Masias, is set to participate in its first-ever European Championship qualification round in Maribor, Slovenia, held from September 23 to 27. The 14-player roster includes captain Vasiliki Laspou and middle blockers Nefeli Chrysostomou, Anastasia Kopiltsova, and Elpida Papasofokli. While the men's team concluded their warm-ups with matches against Omonia, the women's squad played their final friendly against Olympiada Neapoleos.

The delegation for the women's team is scheduled to depart on the morning of September 22. This event marks a significant milestone for the women's program, as it is their first participation in the tournament under its current format, following the U19 team's previous appearance in 2018.