The Faroe Islands came back from two sets down to beat Luxembourg 3-2 on the final day of competition at the 2018 men’s U20 Small Countries Association Championship, but since the young ‘Red Lions’ from the Grand Duchy needed only a point from the match to win the gold, their mission was completed after the first two sets. Luxembourg claimed these rather easily against the nervously looking Faroese team and thus secured the top honours from the competition held in Tórshavn.
After storming to a 25-12 win in the opening set, Luxembourg also led by a great margin for most of the second set, but with a late rally the Faroese players levelled the score at 19-all. However, they soon had to see Luxembourg break away again, with the visitors sealing a 25-20 win and at the same time securing the gold medal, as a point from the match was enough for that.
However, honours were still a stake, and the Faroese team won the next two sets 25-22 and 25-18 to set up a grand finale. The home team looked set for victory as they were leading 8-2 at the side switch and 11-6, but Luxembourg made a great comeback to level the score at 12-all. Despite this, the Faroe Islands managed to hold their nerves to win the tiebreak 15-13 and the match 3-2 to secure second place in the final standing.
Earlier on Sunday, Iceland got off the mark with a comprehensive victory over Scotland to secure the bronze medals while Scotland had to settle for fourth place. After 16-all in the first set, Iceland went away and never looked back, winning the set 25-17 and taking the next two sets with even clearer margins, 25-16 and 25-14.
Final standing
1. Luxembourg
2. Faroe Islands
3. Iceland
4. Scotland
Individual Awards
Best Setter: Simao Novais (LUX)
Best Opposite: Eric Weber (LUX)
Best Middle Blocker: Atli Fannar Petursson (ISL)
Best Outside Spiker: Davið Hentze (FAR)
Best Libero: Samuel Novais (LUX)
Best local Player: Dávið Hentze (FAR)
Most Valuable Player: Samuel Novais (LUX)
The referees and Technical Delegate received a gift for their good work during the tournament held in the Faroe Islands.
Picture from left, referees and Technical Delegate: Carole Hepp (LUX), Peter Morell (Technical Delegate, DEN), Grant McIntyre (SCO), Jón Ólafur Valdimarsson (ISL), Michael Andersen (DEN), and Magnus Tausen, President of the Faroese Volleyball Association in Faroese National dress.
All matches are available on demand on the official website of the Faroese Volleyball Association, www.fbf.fo.
Small Countries Association 