Cyprus youth volleyball teams compete in European championship qualifiers

The Cyprus U20 men's and women's national volleyball teams are participating in European Championship qualifying tournaments held in Steinbrunn, Austria, and Maribor, Slovenia, respectively. The men's team, led by coach Loizos Loizou, faced Austria, Slovakia, and Israel in the group stage, finishing in fourth place. Despite showing competitive spirit and leading in several sets, the team struggled with unforced errors and missed opportunities, ultimately losing 3-0 to both Slovakia and Israel. They are now moving to the play-offs for positions 5-8, where they will face Hungary on September 26 to determine their progression to the next qualifying round in January 2027.

Simultaneously, the U20 women's team, under coach Stelios Masias, competed in Maribor for their historic first appearance in European qualifiers. Facing Austria, Slovenia, and Slovakia, the team remained competitive but failed to secure the necessary wins to progress, specifically missing a chance to advance as a group runner-up after a close match against Slovakia. Both squads utilized these tournaments to gain international experience, serving as a long-term development investment for the future of Cypriot volleyball.