In a thrilling set of quarterfinals at the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship in Sofia, Italy, Chinese Taipei, Argentina, and Spain all secured their spots in the semifinals through dramatic tie-breaker matches.
Italy edged past Iran with a 3-2 victory, overcoming a 23-20 deficit in the fourth set. Manuel Zlatanov led the Italians with 25 points, including two crucial blocks.
Chinese Taipei survived a nail-biter against Brazil, winning 3-2 with Huang Pin-Yen scoring 31 points, while Brazil’s Theo Schrank amassed 32 points.
Argentina’s match against Egypt also went the distance, with the South Americans clinching a 3-2 win thanks to key contributions from Henry Sinner and Tomas Omarini, who each scored 18 points.
Spain completed the semifinal lineup by defeating Belgium 3-2. Rafael Tugores shone with 30 points, guiding Spain through a challenging match.
The semifinals will see Italy face Chinese Taipei and Argentina go up against Spain. The bronze and gold medal matches are set for Saturday, promising more high-stakes action.
