Last weekend, the 16th traditional New Year’s tournament for boys and girls of pioneer and cadet age was held in Novi Sad.
Young hopefuls from the country and the region spent three days testing their mettle, socializing, and competing for prestigious medals.
As usual, Red Star teams do not return from tournaments empty-handed, and this time was no different.
Four teams, young pioneers, pioneers, young cadets and cadets, left via Novi Sad, and three returned with medals.
The Pioneers started the tournament brilliantly, the Serbian champions defeated Železničar 2-0 in the first round, and continued their rhythm with Kozar from Gradiška, which they defeated with the same score of 2-0.
In the third round, they played against Borac from Čačak and won again with a score of 2-1, while in the fourth round, they defeated the NS Tim team with a score of 2-0, and in the fifth round, unfortunately, they suffered their first defeat against the Majdanpek team with a score of 1-2.
Our girls finished the group stage at the top of Group D and as first place advanced to the quarterfinals, where the Crno Bela 011 team awaited us.
They started the match brilliantly and won the first set, but after a great fight, Crno Bela 011 managed to turn things around and advance to the semifinals with a score of 2-1, eliminating the Serbian champions from further medal contention.
The Pioneers also had a convincing start and roared through the group without dropping a set.
They defeated the teams from Novi Sad, Proleter from Zrenjanin and Vrbas 2-0 in succession, and as the first-place team in the group, they played against Vojvodina in the quarterfinals, which they also convincingly defeated 2-0 in sets.
The Serbian champions played in the semifinals with Železničar from Belgrade, who unfortunately managed to defeat our boys with a score of 2-1 in sets and advanced to the finals.
Crvena Zvezda faced Crnjanski from Belgrade in the third place match, where our boys quickly ended the match in their favor and won third place and the bronze medal.
The cadets started in a similar manner, undefeated, with convincing play they took first place in the group with 2-0 victories over Letnjikovac Volley from Šabac and Academy Stars from Belgrade and advanced to the quarterfinal group.
They continued without defeat and without a lost set, in the quarterfinal group they defeated DIF Academy, SPAS and Crno bele 011 and convincingly advanced to the semifinals.
The invincible cadets did not plan to lose a set even in the semifinals and defeated the Lavice 07 team from Novi Sad with a score of 2-0 and advanced to the finals, where the Crno Bela 011 team awaited them.
Unfortunately, the first defeat was in the final, Black and White 011 were better with a score of 2-1, but still a great result for our girls and a silver medal.
To break the monotony, the cadets started with a defeat. In the first round, Vojvodina was better by 2-0, but in the second round, our boys defeated Crnjanski by 2-0, while in the third match they were better than Laki Star 2-1 in sets.
Our boys continued their victories and by the end of the group stage, they convincingly defeated the teams of Kulpin, Mornar and Obilić, without losing a set, and advanced to the semifinals, where a duel with the team Asa from Belgrade awaited them.
An uncertain and exciting duel in the semi-final and a 2-1 victory for Red Star Belgrade, setting up a clash with Vojvodina for the gold medal.
Unfortunately, the home team was better again and after 2-1 in sets, our boys won silver.
Great success for our younger teams, they are waiting for the winter break and then the unfolding in the leagues and the fight for awards where the pioneers and pioneers defend their state titles from last season.
