German and Hungarian teams win title at the Budapest European Universities Volleyball Championship
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (men) and Hungarian University of Sports Science (TF) (women) were crowned as champions at the European Universities Volleyball Championship held in Budapest. The event concluded on Sunday with nearly full-house finals and a closing ceremony.
On Sunday, the last day of the competition, the Koltai Jenő Sports Centre, host to most matches of the championship, was almost unrecognizable.
Firstly, because instead of two courts separated by partitions, matches for positions 1–5 were held on a single court with the stands fully opened. Secondly, because the facility saw a record-breaking crowd, which, without exaggeration, could enjoy the final moments of the most significant event in European university volleyball in comfortable, European-standard conditions.
Not only fans, but also numerous distinguished guests closely tied to sports and volleyball attended the finals and closing ceremony in the arena. Among them was Tamás Märcz, Olympic champion in water polo player, Ambassador of the National Institute for Sport Development and Methodology, representing the State Secretariat for Sport of the Ministry of Defence.
Despite the ceremonies and celebrations, the spotlight on the tournament’s final day remained on the game – and the champions.
Women’s competition
The women’s final was a thrilling, high-quality showdown with an electric atmosphere, as hosts Hungarian University of Sports Science (TF) faced Yasar University from Turkey. Both teams entered the final undefeated, and for TF, this tournament already marked the best European University Championship performance in their history.
In the opening set, Yasar played with confidence and speed, at one point leading by nine points. Despite head coach Zoltán Jókay’s time-outs to rally the home side, the Turkish team never let go of the lead and secured the first set: 25:18.
The second set began similarly, with Yasar dominating thanks to their powerful attacks. However, they stalled mid-set, allowing TF to catch up to 13:13. From there, a tense back-and-forth ensued, with Aslan shining for Yasar and Kata Török for TF. The Hungarian side maintained focus and edged the set: 25:23.
The third set was also evenly matched. TF took an early lead, but Yasar soon took control. In the end, the Turkish side scored four points in a row to clinch the set: 25:20.
But the battle wasn’t over. Despite trailing early in the fourth set, TF once again found their rhythm, just as they had in Saturday’s semi-final. Thanks to inspired performances by Kata Török and Gréta Tatár, the home team won the set convincingly: 25:16.
That brought on the decisive fifth set, which delivered even more excitement. TF led by 3–4 points multiple times, but Yasar kept coming back. In the end, Kata Török’s exceptional play (she scored 29 points!) pushed TF to a dramatic 15:13 win—crowning them European champions.
The bronze medal match between University of Zagreb and Ovidius University was another epic. The teams traded sets—Zagreb took the first and third, Ovidius the second and fourth (the latter quite dominantly). In the decider, the Romanians led most of the way, though Zagreb caught up twice (10:10, 12:12). But Ovidius held strong and took the fifth set: 15:12, winning the match 3:2 and securing the bronze.
For 5th place, two Italian universities, Torino and Bologna, faced off. Bologna, the reigning 2023 European champions, controlled the match throughout. Torino only offered real resistance in the final set, but Bologna completed a clear 3:0 win.
The match for 7th place between Tartu and Cologne followed a similar pattern. The German team won the first two sets with ease, and although the third was tighter, Cologne's victory was never in doubt: 3:0.
For 9th place, Hungary’s Corvinus University took on Masaryk University. The Hungarians made the first and third sets competitive, but couldn’t keep up in the second. Ultimately, the Czech side won in straight sets: 3:0.
The 11th place match saw University of Rostock face the University of Cyprus. The Cypriot team only offered real resistance in the final set, and the Germans comfortably closed out the match: 3:0.
European Universities Volleyball Championship
Women
Final Standings and Results
Final
Hungarian University of Sports Science (Hungary) – Yasar University (Turkey) 3:2
(18:25, 25:23, 20:25, 25:16, 15:13)
3rd place
University of Zagreb (Croatia) – Ovidius University (Romania) 2:3 (25:20, 19:25, 25:19, 11:25, 12:15)
5th place
Turin Polytechnic (Italy) – University of Bologna (Italy) 0:3 (16:25, 15:25, 23:25)
7th place
University of Tartu (Estonia) – German Sport University Cologne (Germany) 0:3 (14:25, 19:25, 21:25)
9th place
Masaryk University (Czech Republic) – Corvinus University (Hungary) 3:0 (25:22, 25:14, 25:23)
11th place
University of Rostock (Germany) – University of Cyprus (Cyprus) 3:0 (25:11, 25:14, 25:20)
13th place (played the day before)
University of Bergen (Norway) – University of Minho (Portugal) 0:3 (16:25, 23:25, 22:25)
15th place (played the day before)
University of Wageningen (Netherlands) – Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Spain) 0:3(17:25, 17:25, 18:25)
Men’s competition
In the final, Karlsruhe and Fenerbahçe faced off for the gold medal. The two teams were eerily similar in terms of stats: both arrived at the final unbeaten, and each had dropped only a single set during the knockout phase.
The first set unfolded in this spirit: although the Germans pulled ahead quickly, the Turks responded just as fast, and the score was tied for the first time at 8:8. After that, the lead shifted back and forth between Karlsruhe and Fenerbahçe, but in the end, the Germans were more precise and won the first set 25:22.
The second set continued where the first ended: sometimes one team was ahead, sometimes the other, but this time the Turks held out better at the end and won the set 25:23.
The third set was also a tight battle; the teams were neck and neck until 16:16, but then Fenerbahçe pulled away from their opponents and surprisingly won the set with a strong margin, 25:19.
We witnessed a true golden match in the fourth set, which the German team started strongly. Thanks to this, the gap gradually widened: first they gained a 3-4 point lead, then 6-7 points, and at 22:12 Karlsruhe’s lead had grown to ten points. Brentel and Neumann excelled, and Karlsruhe took the set 26:15, leading to the decisive fifth set.
The Germans proved to be more persistent, and won the set 15:7, as well as the men's tournament.
The bronze medal match featured an all-German clash between Dresden and Rostock, the latter being the 2023 silver medallist. Dresden left no doubt about claiming third place. The first and third were one-sided, sealing the win for Dresden: Dresden – Rostock: 3:1. A standout performance came from Lukas Klapper, who scored 21 points for his team.
The match for fifth place between Valencia and West Bohemia ended in a convincing Spanish victory: Valencia – West Bohemia: 3:0. Despite the straight-sets result, the Czech side held the lead multiple times during the match, but the Spaniards consistently managed to come back and turn each set around—earning a fully deserved fifth place.
For seventh place, hosts Hungarian University of Sports Science (TF) faced Porto. The Portuguese side took the first set, but from there TF seized the moment and managed to come from behind to win the match: TF – Porto: 3:1. The final set was a nail-biter, with Benedek László Kun scoring 19 points and Bálint Balázs adding 18.
The battle for ninth place saw Tours take on Babeș-Bolyai University. The Romanians claimed the first two sets, while the French team responded by taking the third and fourth. In the decisive shortened fifth set, however, it was again Babeș-Bolyai which emerged victorious: Babeș-Bolyai – Tours: 3:2.
The match for eleventh place between Zagreb and Lisbon turned into a long and engaging contest. In the end, it was the Croatian team that celebrated: Zagreb – Lisbon: 3:1, though Lisbon fought admirably, especially in the last two sets.
The contest for thirteenth place between Luigj and Bergen was one of the most dramatic of the day. The Norwegians took the first two sets, but the Albanians fought back to level the match. The final shortened set was tightly contested, with Luigj edging out the win: Luigj – Bergen: 3:2.
European Universities Volleyball Championship, Budapest
Men
Final Standings and Results
Final
Fenerbahçe University (Turkey) – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany) 2:3 (22:25, 25:23, 25:19, 16:25, 7:15)
3rd place
University of Rostock (Germany) – Technical University of Dresden (Germany): 0:3 (25:11, 25:14, 25:20)
5th place
University of Valencia (Spain) – University of West Bohemia (Czech Republic): 3:0 (25:23, 25:22, 25:21)
7th place
University of Porto (Portugal) – Hungarian University of Sports Science (Hungary): 1:3 (25:21, 21:25, 16:25, 23:25)
9th place
University of Tours (France) – Babeș-Bolyai University (Romania): 2:3 (21:25, 20:25, 25:23, 25:22, 10:15)
11th place
University of Zagreb (Croatia) – NOVA University Lisbon (Portugal): 3:1 (25:21, 20:25, 27:25, 27:25)
13th place
Luigj Gurakuqi University (Albania) – University of Bergen (Norway): 3:2 (21:25, 22:25, 25:21, 25:18, 15:13)
The closing ceremony took place after the finals, during which medals, special awards, and commemorative tokens were handed out by several distinguished guests. Among them were Tamás Sterbenz, Rector of Hungarian University of Sports Science and Chair of the Organizing Committee, Lajos Mocsai, President of the Hungarian University Sports Federation, Zoltán Rakaczki, EUSA Executive Committee Member, Péter Juhász, Secretary General of Hungarian Universities Sports Federation, Lajos Németh, TFSE Presdident, Tamás Märcz, Olympic water polo champion, Ambassador of the National Institute for Sport Development and Methodology, representing the State Secretariat for Sport of the Ministry of Defence, Zsolt Ludvig, Organizing Committee Representative and Competition Manager, György Kovács, MEFS Deputy Secretary General, Gabriella Vatai, President of the Hungarian Volleyball Federation, Eszter Gulyás, EUSA Sport Coordinator and Pablo Martinez, EUSA Volleyball Technical Delegate.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, speeches were given by Tamás Sterbenz, Marta Fernandez, and Zoltán Rakaczki. They also thanked and acknowledged the tournament’s volunteers and their leader, Dr. Szilvia Perényi, and finally, the EUSA flag was ceremonially handed over to a representative of the Organizing Committee of the next European Universities Volleyball Championship to be held in Granada in 2027.
Final result of the 2025 European Universities Volleyball Championship
Men’s tournament
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany) (Head coach: Simon Angele)
- Fenerbache University (Turkey)
- Technical University of Dresden (Germany)
Women’s tournament
- Hungarian University of Sports Science (Hungary) (Head coach: Zoltán Jókay)
- Yasar University (Turkey)
- Ovidius University (Romania)
Fair Play Award
Technical University of Dresden (Germany)
Top Scorer
Men: Pablo Perez Lledo – University of Valencia (Spain)
Women: Andrea Koraca – University of Zagreb (Croatia)
MVP
Men: Jan-Philipp Krabel - University of Rostock (Germany)
Women: Kata Török – Hungarian University of Sports Science (Hungary)
Full match results and final standings:
https://results.eusa.eu/
Photo gallery:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/eusavolley2025/albums/