Europe takes Women's U23 Worlds by storm

Ljubljana, Slovenia, September 17, 2017 - Turkey must surely be ecstatic at claiming gold at the 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship here on Sunday evening after defeating Slovenia in the final at Arena Stozice. After all this is only their second gold at national teams level in a world competition, following their Girls' U18 success in 2011.

But then runners-up Slovenia should also be very happy at the silver medal - once they manage to put behind them the ephemeral disappointment of losing in the final. What they did this week in Ljubljana is certainly one of the great achievements in Slovenian sport - and Alessandro Chiappini and his players will join the country's men's basketball national team on Monday for an event put together by the authorities in Ljubljana to celebrate what is probably the best week ever in Slovenian sport.


Slovenia with their silver medal at the 2017 FIVB Women's U23 World Championship in Ljubljana.

The hosts' efforts even attracted the attention of the country's President, Borut Pahor, who mingled with the flag-waving fans in the stands of Arena Stozice during the final.

And Bulgaria, too, who came away with bronze after outclassing the Dominican Republic in the third place playoff, are elated at bringing back to Sofia the country's first ever female volleyball World Championship medal.


Bulgaria celebrate a long overdue medal at the 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship in Ljubljana.

Furthermore, the sport has gained a brand new generation of stars, as reflected in the Dream Team of the tournament, led by Turkey's outside hitter Hande Baladin as MVP.


Hande Baladin in action at the 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship in Ljubljana.

This included the Dominican Republic's 16-year-old Madeline Guillen, who received her award in crutches, after her game-changing left knee injury in the semifinal against Turkey.



All matches in Ljubljana were played under a new scoring system currently being tested: a best-of-seven, 15-point set format.



Rewatch both medal matches, available on demand on the FIVB YouTube Channel.





Summary Statistics - 2017 FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship

Highest Scorer by Day
30 – Aya Elshamy of Egypt v Dominican Republic on 10 September
22 – Aya Elshamy of Egypt v China on 11 September
22 – Madeline Guillen of Dominican Republic on 12 September
22 – Daniela Bulaich of Argentina v Dominican Republic on 12 September
24 – Sol Piccolo of Argentina v Egypt on 14 September
32 – Thanacha Sooksod of Thailand v Dominican Republic on 15 September
22 – Hande Baladin of Turkey v Dominican Republic on 16 September
18 – Gaila Gonzalez of Dominican Republic v Bulgaria on 17 September

Top Scoring Performances
32 – Thanacha Sooksod of Thailand v Dominican Republic on 15 September
30 – Aya Elshamy of Egypt v Dominican Republic on 10 September
24 – Gaila Lopez of Dominican Republic v Egypt on 10 September
24 – Sol Piccolo of Argentina v Egypt on 14 September
23 – Heidy Casanova of Cuba v Brazil on 15 September
22 – Aya Elshamy of Egypt v China on 11 September
22 – Madeline Guillen of Dominican Republic on 12 September
22 – Daniela Bulaich of Argentina v Dominican Republic on 12 September
22 – Hande Baladin of Turkey v Dominican Republic on 16 September

Top Individual Blocking Performances
8 – Mayany Souza of Brazil v Japan on 12 September
6 – Sasa Planinsec of Slovenia v Dominican Republic on 11 September
6 – Beyza Arici of Turkey v Japan on 14 September
6 – Asli Kalac of Turkey v Japan on 14 September
6 – Jineiry Martinez of Dominican Republic v Thailand on 15 September
6 – Mayany Souza of Brazil v Thailand on 16 September
5 – Mayany Souza of Brazil v Turkey on 11 September
5 – Gaila Gonzalez of Dominican Republic v Thailand on 15 September
5 – Beyza Arici of Turkey v Dominican Republic on 16 September
5 – Angelica Hinojosa of Dominican Republic v Turkey on 16 September
5 – Sasa Planinsec of Slovenia v Bulgaria on 16 September

Top Team Blocking Performances
19 – Turkey v Japan on 14 September
18 – Brazil v Japan on 12 September
18 – Dominican Republic v Thailand on 15 September
18 – Turkey v Dominican Republic on 16 September
16 – Argentina v Dominican Republic on 12 September
14 – Cuba v Bulgaria on 12 September

Top Individual Serving Performances
5 – Aya Ahmed of Egypt v China on 11 September
5 – Aya Ahmed of Egypt v Argentina on 14 September
5 – Irene Verasio of Argentina v China on 15 September
4 – Wipawee Srithong of Thailand v Argentina on 11 September
4 – Madeline Guillen of Dominican Republic v Argentina on 12 September
4 – Mariana Moriondo of Argentina v Dominican Republic on 12 September
4 – Eva Mori of Slovenia v China on 12 September
4 – Martina Guastavino of Argentina v China on 15 September
4 – Silvana Chausheva of Bulgaria v Turkey on 15 September
4 – Iza Mlakar of Slovenia v Egypt on 15 September
4 – Beyza Arici of Turkey v Dominican Republic on 16 September
4 – Anita Sobocan of Slovenia v Bulgaria on 16 September
4 – Mirela Shahpazova of Bulgaria v Dominican Republic on 17 September

Top Team Serving Performances
12 – Dominican Republic v Argentina on 12 September
11 – Thailand v Argentina on 11 September
11 – Argentina v China on 15 September
10 – Slovenia v Argentina on 10 September
10 – Slovenia v China on 12 September
10 – Egypt v Argentina on 14 September

Highest Scoring Sets
23-21 Argentina v Dominican Republic (1st set) on 12 September
21-19 Thailand v Dominican Republic (7th set) on 15 September
22-20 Argentina v Dominican Republic (6th set) on 12 September
19-17 Dominican Republic v Egypt (6th set) on 10 September
19-17 Slovenia v Dominican Republic (4th set) on 11 September
19-17 China v Thailand (6th set) on 17 September

Highest Scoring Matches
222 – Dominican Republic v Argentina 4-3 (21-23, 12-15, 15-12, 17-15, 16-14, 20-22, 15-5) on 12 September
197 – Thailand v Dominican Republic 4-3 (9-15, 12-15 15-12, 11-15, 15-12, 15-11, 21-19) on 15 September
188 – Turkey v Dominican Republic 4-3 (11-15, 16-14, 11-15, 13-15, 15-7, 16-14, 15-8) on 16 September
186 – Argentina v Egypt 4-3 (15-10, 15- 16-14, 14-16, 13-15, 115, 15-11) on 14 September
175 – Bulgaria v Cuba 4-3 (10-15, 12-15, 11-15, 15-10, 15-10, 15-11, 15-6) on 12 September
167 – China v Argentina 4-2 (11-15, 13-15, 15-8, 15-11, 18-16, 16-14) on 15 September
166 – Dominican Republic v Egypt 4-2 (12-15, 15-6, 15-8, 15-12, 15-17, 19-17) on 10 September
163 – Bulgaria v Japan 4-2 (15-13, 13-1, 11-15, 15-13, 15-12, 15-11) on 10 September

Quick links - Volleyball:
FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017
FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017 - Schedule
FIVB Volleyball Women's U23 World Championship 2017 - Teams
FIVB.com - Volleyball
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