Aviano's Jaycee Spence spikes the ball at the net while Vicenza's Alexandra Nelson goes up for a block during a Division II semifinal at the DODEA European volleyball championships on Oct. 27, 2023, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Saints will get a chance to defend their title

Aviano stays perfect in Division II tournament by downing Vicenza in semifinals and will meet Black Forest Academy in Saturday championship game.

Brussels Brigand Patricia Rullan, right, shares an joyous embrace with teammate Nora Gibbons celebrating their win against the Sigonella Jaguars at the DODEA Division III European volleyball championship on Oct. 27, 2023, in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

Brussels picks itself up to rally into finals

Brigands overcome two-set deficit against Sigonella to get another shot at unbeaten and heavy favorite Ansbach in Saturday’s Division III championship.

DODEA-Europe volleyball - Day 3

From left, Alconbury Dragons Lana Reyes, Sofia Politis, and Evie Cummings form a front row block, preparing to defend against a serve during the DODEA Division III European volleyball championship on Oct. 27, 2023, in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The block is a common defensive posture during a serve or when expecting a spike from the opposing team.

DODEA-Europe volleyball - Day 2

Wiesbaden's Rylee Ashcraft hits the ball at the net while Stuttgart's Sara Houghton tries to block during pool-play action of the DODEA European volleyball championships on Oct. 26, 2023, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Big schools event is a toss-up after opening day

Ramstein, Wiesbaden, Kaiserslautern, Student and Vilseck all have their moments on first day of Division I championships.

Naples' Emma Heavey sets the ball during the Wildcats' match with Vicenza during pool-play action of the DODEA European volleyball championships on Oct. 26, 2023, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

It’s not always pretty, but Wildcats keep winning

Division III semifinals halfway set after Sigonella and AFNORTH clinch spots on opening day.

Black Forest Academy's Barney Sivonen, a senior from Jyvaskyla, Finland, tried to push the ball over the net on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, but a Vilseck block sent it back for a point in the DODEA-Europe boys volleyball championships.

Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes

DODEA-Europe volleyball - Day 1

Stuttgart’s Itzak Sandoval tries to get past Vilseck’s Justin Barnes in the DODEA-Europe Division I football championship game at Kaiserslautern, Germany, Oct. 29, 2022. Stuttgart took the title with a 51-12 win.

Stuttgart, Vilseck meet for title yet again

The season didn’t start out promising for either team, but they’ve since rallied to meet in Division I title game for the third straight season.

Sentinel quarterback Casey Supinger throws a pass during a game on Sept. 29, 2023, at Spangdahlem High School in Spangdahlem, Germany.

Can anyone stop Spangdahlem’s run at perfection?

AFNORTH gets second crack at unbeaten Sentinels in Saturday’s Division II title game.

Aviano junior Xavier Fox tips the ball over the net and past a Rota block in a match against the Admirals on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. The two teams are the top seeds in Pool A in the DODEA-Europe Boys Volleyball Championships that begin Thursday in Vicenza, Italy. Lakenheath and Black Forest Academy are the top seeds in the other pool.

BFA spikers will try to defend boys title

Boys event in Vicenza expands to record 12 schools with almost half the entries arguably contenders for the title.

Aviano's Addison Krajicek skies well above the net to spike the ball Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, while Rota's Pamela Munoz defends. The Admirals won in five sets.

Kent Harris/Stars and Stripes

Picking favorites isn’t always that easy

That’s especially true in Division II girls volleyball this season as several teams appear equally capable of bringing home title, while there are clearer favorites in D-I and D-III.

Tournament schedules, seeding

Bahrain's Carson Owens stands ready just behind the net, anticipating the ball's trajectory, as Stuttgart's Zachary Call hits at the DODEA European tennis championships at T2 Sports Health Club in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Oct. 21, 2023.

Kaiserslautern, Ramstein each get a pair of triumphs

In singles, Ramstein’s Tristan Chandler and Kaiserslautern’s Stella Schmitz retain championships as does Raider duo of Abby Hover and Alisa Dietzel in girls doubles. Ramstein twins Eric and Sean Kim take boys doubles.

Wiesbaden junior Luke Jones collapses in the arms of his jubilant coach Stephanie Escalante after breaking the course record with a time of 16 minutes, 8.57 at the boys DODEA-Europe cross country championship race Oct. 21, 2023, in Baumholder, Germany.

Record-breaking Jones, Mills cruise to big wins

Junior from Wiesbaden sets new course record in taking his second straight crown, while Lakenheath sophomore moves up a place from last year to finish atop podium.

Stuttgart's Jace Holmes runs along the sideline during the Panthers' Division I semifinal against the Royals on Oct. 21, 2023, at Ramstein High School on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Chasing is Royal defender Matthew Rutlege.

Stuttgart upends Ramstein to get shot at keeping title

Panthers started off season 1-2 - including loss to Royals - but have won four straight and will host Vilseck next weekend for shot at third straight Division I championship.

Naples running back Robert Oliver carries the ball for the Wildcats. Oliver ultimately scored two touchdowns, carrying 26 times for 77 yards, to help Naples clinch the DODEA European Division II title, 21-14 against Aviano on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.

Naples outlasts Aviano to win third straight championship

Wildcats’ Robert Oliver scores in overtime and Wildcats keep Saints from goal line to capture another D-II title.

Europe Scoreboard: Oct. 21, 2023

Sigonella's Charlize Caro serves during a girls singles semifinal match against Vicenza's Delia Gordon during the DODEA European tennis championships on Oct. 20, 2023, at T2 Sports Health Club in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Martin survives epic semi to get shot at two-time defending champ

No. 2 seed from Kaiserslautern has an even tougher test Saturday when he faces Ramstein’s Tristan Chandler. Sigonella’s Charlize Caro also has daunting challenge in defending champ Stella Schmitz of Kaiserslautern.

Naples' Aleczandria Rodriguez hits the ball at the net during a pool-play doubles match between her and teammate Andrea Mayounga and SHAPE's Chiara D'Arrigo and Maria Torrente during the DODEA European tennis championships on Oct. 20, 2023, at T2 Sports Health Club in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Vicenza guaranteed a spot in girls doubles finals

Two Cougars teams will face each other in Saturday semifinals, while Bahrain’s sixth-seeded boys team also advances.