2018 Men's European Volleyball League
# 2018 Men's European Volleyball League

The 2018 Men's European Volleyball League was the 15th edition of the annual Men's European Volleyball League, which featured men's national volleyball teams from twenty European countries. Unlike previous seasons, the tournament had two groups: the Golden League, featuring twelve teams, and the Silver League, featuring eight teams.

It also acted as the European qualifying competition for the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Men's Challenger Cup, securing two vacancies for the tournament that then served as the qualifying competition for the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League.

## Pools composition

### Golden League

| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C |
| - | - | - |
| Belgium | Slovenia | Finland |
| Estonia | Netherlands | Czech Republic |
| Slovakia | Turkey | Portugal |
| Sweden | Ukraine | Spain |

### Silver League

| Pool A | Pool B |
| - | - |
| Macedonia | Belarus |
| Latvia | Croatia |
| Austria | Hungary |
| Kosovo | Albania |

## League round

* All times are local.

### Golden League

* The Golden League Final Round hosts Czech Republic and the winners of each pool will qualify for the Golden League Final Round. If Czech Republic finishes first in Pool C, the best second team among all pools will qualify for the Golden League Final Round.

**Pool A**

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Estonia | 6 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 15 | 6 | 2.500 | 509 | 435 | 1.170 | Golden League Final round |
| 2 | Belgium | 6 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 1.444 | 501 | 487 | 1.029 | |
| 3 | Sweden | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 0.750 | 465 | 491 | 0.947 | |
| 4 | Slovakia | 6 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 0.375 | 465 | 527 | 0.882 | |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 19 May | 16:00 | Sweden | 1–3 | Belgium | 20–25 | 25–23 | 21–25 | 17–25 | | 83–98 | Report |
| 19 May | 18:00 | Slovakia | 1–3 | Estonia | 22–25 | 26–24 | 19–25 | 17–25 | | 84–99 | Report |
| 23 May | 18:00 | Slovakia | 3–1 | Sweden | 25–23 | 25–18 | 19–25 | 25–16 | | 94–82 | Report |
| 23 May | 20:00 | Estonia | 3–1 | Belgium | 25–16 | 25–20 | 27–29 | 25–17 | | 102–82 | Report |
| 26 May | 20:00 | Estonia | 3–1 | Sweden | 25–22 | 18–25 | 25–23 | 25–17 | | 93–87 | Report |
| 26 May | 20:30 | Belgium | 3–2 | Slovakia | 25–22 | 25–17 | 22–25 | 25–27 | 15–13 | 112–104 | Report |
| 30 May | 20:00 | Slovakia | 0–3 | Belgium | 23–25 | 18–25 | 17–25 | | | 58–75 | Report |
| 30 May | 20:00 | Sweden | 0–3 | Estonia | 17–25 | 17–25 | 20–25 | | | 54–75 | Report |
| 2 Jun | 19:00 | Sweden | 3–0 | Slovakia | 27–25 | 32–30 | 25–21 | | | 84–76 | Report |
| 3 Jun | 17:30 | Belgium | 3–0 | Estonia | 29–27 | 25–19 | 25–19 | | | 79–65 | Report |
| 6 Jun | 20:00 | Estonia | 3–0 | Slovakia | 25–14 | 25–15 | 25–20 | | | 75–49 | Report |
| 6 Jun | 20:30 | Belgium | 0–3 | Sweden | 22–25 | 15–25 | 18–25 | | | 55–75 | Report |

**Pool B**

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Turkey | 6 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 16 | 8 | 2.000 | 543 | 513 | 1.058 | Golden League Final round |
| 2 | Netherlands | 6 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 16 | 12 | 1.333 | 631 | 563 | 1.121 | |
| 3 | Ukraine | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 1.000 | 563 | 573 | 0.983 | |
| 4 | Slovenia | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 17 | 0.294 | 441 | 529 | 0.834 | Relegated position |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 20 May | 15:30 | Turkey | 3–0 | Ukraine | 25–23 | 25–23 | 25–20 | | | 75–66 | Report |
| 20 May | 15:00 | Netherlands | 3–1 | Slovenia | 25–12 | 24–26 | 25–15 | 25–22 | | 99–75 | Report |
| 23 May | 15:30 | Turkey | 3–2 | Netherlands | 25–23 | 21–25 | 25–20 | 20–25 | 15–12 | 106–105 | Report |
| 23 May | 18:00 | Ukraine | 3–0 | Slovenia | 25–23 | 25–23 | 25–18 | | | 75–64 | Report |
| 26 May | 17:00 | Netherlands | 2–3 | Ukraine | 25–15 | 20–25 | 25–20 | 24–26 | 13–15 | 107–101 | Report |
| 27 May | 20:00 | Slovenia | 0–3 | Turkey | 21–25 | 20–25 | 16–25 | | | 57–75 | Report |
| 30 May | 15:30 | Turkey | 3–0 | Slovenia | 25–22 | 25–15 | 25–19 | | | 75–56 | Report |
| 30 May | 20:00 | Ukraine | 2–3 | Netherlands | 25–22 | 17–25 | 20–25 | 25–23 | 10–15 | 97–110 | Report |
| 2 Jun | 17:00 | Netherlands | 3–2 | Turkey | 24–26 | 25–21 | 25–22 | 23–25 | 15–9 | 112–103 | Report |
| 3 Jun | 20:00 | Slovenia | 3–2 | Ukraine | 25–20 | 21–25 | 21–25 | 25–23 | 16–14 | 108–107 | Report |
| 6 Jun | 20:00 | Ukraine | 3–2 | Turkey | 31–29 | 23–25 | 23–25 | 25–19 | 15–11 | 117–109 | Report |
| 6 Jun | 20:00 | Slovenia | 1–3 | Netherlands | 19–25 | 23–25 | 25–23 | 14–25 | | 81–98 | Report |

**Pool C**

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Portugal | 6 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 1.364 | 586 | 572 | 1.024 | Golden League Final round |
| 2 | Finland | 6 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 1.167 | 580 | 574 | 1.010 | |
| 3 | Spain | 6 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 0.846 | 542 | 562 | 0.964 | |
| 4 | Czech Republic (H) | 6 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 0.714 | 548 | 548 | 1.000 | Golden League Final round |

* ↑ Qualified as hosts

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 19 May | 15:00 | Portugal | 3–1 | Spain | 25–18 | 25–20 | 22–25 | 25–22 | | 97–85 | Report |
| 19 May | 19:00 | Finland | 3–0 | Czech Republic | 25–20 | 25–20 | 27–25 | | | 77–65 | Report |
| 23 May | 20:00 | Czech Republic | 1–3 | Finland | 23–25 | 25–21 | 19–25 | 21–25 | | 88–96 | Report |
| 23 May | 20:45 | Spain | 3–0 | Portugal | 27–25 | 25–17 | 29–27 | | | 81–69 | Report |
| 26 May | 19:00 | Finland | 2–3 | Portugal | 25–17 | 15–25 | 19–25 | 25–21 | 13–15 | 97–103 | Report |
| 26 May | 19:00 | Czech Republic | 3–1 | Spain | 25–13 | 25–18 | 19–25 | 27–25 | | 96–81 | Report |
| 30 May | 18:00 | Czech Republic | 2–3 | Portugal | 25–19 | 25–19 | 27–29 | 21–25 | 13–15 | 111–107 | Report |
| 30 May | 19:30 | Finland | 3–2 | Spain | 25–23 | 22–25 | 25–20 | 21–25 | 15–11 | 108–104 | Report |
| 3 Jun | 18:00 | Spain | 1–3 | Czech Republic | 25–22 | 24–26 | 21–25 | 21–25 | | 91–98 | Report |
| 3 Jun | 17:00 | Portugal | 3–2 | Finland | 25–22 | 21–25 | 25–21 | 28–30 | 15–10 | 114–108 | Report |
| 6 Jun | 18:30 | Portugal | 3–1 | Czech Republic | 19–25 | 27–25 | 25–21 | 25–19 | | 96–90 | Report |
| 6 Jun | 20:45 | Spain | 3–1 | Finland | 31–29 | 25–22 | 19–25 | 25–18 | | 100–94 | Report |

### Silver League

* The Silver League Final Round hosts Macedonia, the winners of each pool and the best second team among all pools will qualify for the Silver League Final Round.

**Pool A**

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Latvia | 6 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 18 | 3 | 6.000 | 511 | 397 | 1.287 | Silver League Final round |
| 2 | Austria | 6 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 8 | 1.875 | 545 | 477 | 1.143 | |
| 3 | Macedonia (H) | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 0.615 | 475 | 481 | 0.988 | Silver League Final round |
| 4 | Kosovo | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 0.056 | 294 | 470 | 0.626 | |

* ↑ Qualified as hosts

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 19 May | 17:30 | Austria | 1–3 | Latvia | 21–25 | 25–21 | 17–25 | 22–25 | | 85–96 | Report |
| 20 May | 16:30 | Kosovo | 1–3 | Macedonia | 25–20 | 16–25 | 17–25 | 14–25 | | 72–95 | Report |
| 23 May | 17:30 | Kosovo | 0–3 | Austria | 18–25 | 12–25 | 17–25 | | | 47–75 | Report |
| 23 May | 19:30 | Latvia | 3–0 | Macedonia | 25–17 | 25–16 | 25–19 | | | 75–52 | Report |
| 26 May | 18:00 | Latvia | 3–0 | Kosovo | 25–12 | 25–8 | 25–14 | | | 75–34 | Report |
| 27 May | 20:30 | Macedonia | 1–3 | Austria | 18–25 | 25–22 | 20–25 | 31–33 | | 94–105 | Report |
| 30 May | 17:00 | Kosovo | 0–3 | Latvia | 21–25 | 9–25 | 20–25 | | | 50–75 | Report |
| 30 May | 20:15 | Austria | 3–1 | Macedonia | 25–20 | 23–25 | 26–24 | 25–20 | | 99–89 | Report |
| 2 Jun | 20:15 | Austria | 3–0 | Kosovo | 25–11 | 25–12 | 25–20 | | | 75–43 | Report |
| 3 Jun | 20:15 | Macedonia | 0–3 | Latvia | 26–28 | 27–29 | 17–25 | | | 70–82 | Report |
| 6 Jun | 19:30 | Latvia | 3–2 | Austria | 25–23 | 25–20 | 20–25 | 23–25 | 15–13 | 108–106 | Report |
| 6 Jun | 20:15 | Macedonia | 3–0 | Kosovo | 25–17 | 25–10 | 25–21 | | | 75–48 | Report |

**Pool B**

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | Pts | SW | SL | SR | SPW | SPL | SPR | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Belarus | 6 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 4.000 | 474 | 390 | 1.215 | Silver League Final round |
| 2 | Croatia | 6 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 16 | 6 | 2.667 | 513 | 423 | 1.213 | Silver League Final round |
| 3 | Albania | 6 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 0.438 | 478 | 544 | 0.879 | |
| 4 | Hungary | 6 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 0.235 | 397 | 505 | 0.786 | |
| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| 19 May | 20:00 | Croatia | 3–0 | Hungary | 25–12 | 25–16 | 25–14 | | | 75–42 | Report |
| 20 May | 18:00 | Belarus | 3–0 | Albania | 25–23 | 25–23 | 25–21 | | | 75–67 | Report |
| 23 May | 16:00 | Hungary | 1–3 | Albania | 25–22 | 21–25 | 21–25 | 23–25 | | 90–97 | Report |
| 23 May | 19:00 | Belarus | 1–3 | Croatia | 25–21 | 17–25 | 19–25 | 20–25 | | 81–96 | Report |
| 26 May | 17:00 | Croatia | 3–0 | Albania | 25–15 | 25–23 | 25–21 | | | 75–59 | Report |
| 26 May | 19:00 | Belarus | 3–0 | Hungary | 25–17 | 25–18 | 25–15 | | | 75–50 | Report |
| 30 May | 18:30 | Hungary | 0–3 | Croatia | 17–25 | 19–25 | 18–25 | | | 54–75 | Report |
| 30 May | 20:00 | Albania | 0–3 | Belarus | 17–25 | 22–25 | 14–25 | | | 53–75 | Report |
| 2 Jun | 19:00 | Albania | 2–3 | Hungary | 26–28 | 19–25 | 25–21 | 29–27 | 9–15 | 108–116 | Report |
| 2 Jun | 20:00 | Croatia | 1–3 | Belarus | 25–18 | 17–25 | 16–25 | 21–25 | | 79–93 | Report |
| 6 Jun | 16:00 | Hungary | 0–3 | Belarus | 16–25 | 12–25 | 17–25 | | | 45–75 | Report |
| 6 Jun | 20:00 | Albania | 2–3 | Croatia | 11–25 | 18–25 | 29–27 | 25–21 | 11–15 | 94–113 | Report |

## Final round

### Silver League

* Venue: Boris Trajkovski Sports Center, Skopje, Macedonia
* All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00).

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - |
| 15 June | 15 June |
| Belarus | 3 |
| Belarus | 3 | 16 June | 16 June |
| Latvia | 0 | 16 June | 16 June |
| Latvia | 0 | Belarus | 1 |
| 15 June | 15 June | | Belarus | 1 |
| 15 June | 15 June | Croatia | 3 |
| Croatia | 3 | Croatia | 3 |
| Macedonia | 2 | | |
| Macedonia | 2 | 3rd place match | 3rd place match |
| | | 16 June | 16 June |
| | | Latvia | 3 |
| | | Macedonia | 1 |

**Semifinals**

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 15 Jun | 17:00 | Belarus | 3–0 | Latvia | 25–18 | 25–22 | 25–15 | | | 75–55 | Report |
| 15 Jun | 20:00 | Croatia | 3–2 | Macedonia | 21–25 | 22–25 | 25–22 | 25–20 | 15–9 | 108–101 | Report |

**3rd place match**

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 16 Jun | 16:00 | Latvia | 3–1 | Macedonia | 25–20 | 25–16 | 23–25 | 28–26 | | 101–87 | Report |

**Final**

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 16 Jun | 19:00 | Belarus | 1–3 | Croatia | 16–25 | 25–20 | 24–26 | 23–25 | | 88–96 | Report |

### Golden League

* Venue: KV Arena, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic
* All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00).

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - |
| 13 June | 13 June |
| Estonia | 3 |
| Estonia | 3 | 14 June | 14 June |
| Portugal | 0 | 14 June | 14 June |
| Portugal | 0 | Estonia | 3 |
| 13 June | 13 June | | Estonia | 3 |
| 13 June | 13 June | Czech Republic | 0 |
| Turkey | 0 | Czech Republic | 0 |
| Czech Republic | 3 | | |
| Czech Republic | 3 | 3rd place match | 3rd place match |
| | | 14 June | 14 June |
| | | Portugal | 2 |
| | | Turkey | 3 |

**Semifinals**

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 13 Jun | 16:00 | Estonia | 3–0 | Portugal | 26–24 | 26–24 | 25–18 | | | 77–66 | Report |
| 13 Jun | 19:00 | Turkey | 0–3 | Czech Republic | 22–25 | 25–27 | 20–25 | | | 67–77 | Report |

**3rd place match**

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 14 Jun | 16:00 | Portugal | 2–3 | Turkey | 16–25 | 25–21 | 14–25 | 25–22 | 11–15 | 91–108 | Report |

**Final**

| Date | Time | | Score | | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Set 4 | Set 5 | Total | Report |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 14 Jun | 19:00 | Estonia | 3–0 | Czech Republic | 25–21 | 25–22 | 25–21 | | | 75–64 | Report |

## Final standing

| Rank | Team |
| - | - |
| | Estonia |
| | Czech Republic |
| | Turkey |
| 4 | Portugal |
| 5 | Netherlands |
| 6 | Belgium |
| 7 | Finland |
| 8 | Ukraine |
| 9 | Spain |
| 10 | Sweden |
| 11 | Slovakia |
| 12 | Slovenia |
| 13 | Croatia |
| 14 | Belarus |
| 15 | Latvia |
| 16 | Macedonia |
| 17 | Austria |
| 18 | Albania |
| 19 | Hungary |
| 20 | Kosovo |

* Qualified for the 2018 Challenger Cup
* Already qualified as hosts for the 2018 Challenger Cup
* 2018 European League champions
* Estonia 2nd title
* 14-man Roster for Golden League Final Round
* Robert Viiber, Kert Toobal, Renee Teppan, Karli Allik, Robert Täht, Silver Maar, Oliver Venno, Kristo Kollo, Rait Rikberg, Timo Tammemaa, Rauno Tamme, Andri Aganits, Mart Naaber, Markkus Keel
* Head coach
* Gheorghe Creţu

## Awards

* Most valuable player

    Renee Teppan
* Best setter

    Kert Toobal
* Best outside spikers

    Oliver Venno
    Donovan Džavoronok
* Best middle blockers

    Vahit Emre Savas
    Andri Aganits
* Best opposite spiker

    Michal Finger
* Best libero

    Milan Monik
