Cēsis, Latvia – The Eastern European Volleyball Zonal Association (EEVZA) U18 Beach Volleyball Championships commenced in Cēsis, marking the crucial first round of zonal qualification for the upcoming #EuroBeachVolleyU18. After the inaugural day of competition, a select group of eleven teams showcased perfect form, concluding their initial matches with two victories and zero losses. This performance sets a strong tone for their campaigns as they navigate the path towards European Championship berths.
Men`s Tournament: Seven Pairs Remain Perfect
In the men`s bracket, seven teams successfully navigated their opening fixtures without conceding a defeat. The top-seeded Latvian duo, Tomass Silavs and Bruno Liepiņš, lived up to expectations in Pool A, securing two wins. Pool B saw double success stories: Estonia`s Armin Kender and Patrik Parijõgi (seeded #2) also claimed two victories, including one via walkover, a perhaps less glamorous way to win, but a win nonetheless. They were joined in their undefeated status in Pool B by Poland`s Igor Gliszczyński and Alan Robak (#7).
Moving to Pool C, both Azerbaijan`s Ibrahim Mammadov and Muhammad Aslanli (#3) and Ukraine`s Yehor Skrypnychenko and Andrii Lunkan (#6) finished the day with perfect records. The dominance extended to Pool D, where Lithuania`s Tomas Poplavskij and Danielius Sumeika (#4) likewise earned two comprehensive victories.
Women`s Tournament: Four Teams Show Early Strength
The women`s competition also saw strong starts, with four teams maintaining an undefeated status. The top-seeded home team from Latvia, Monika Mamaja and Alise Aleksāne, impressed in Pool A, winning both of their matches. Their path included a straight-sets win over Azerbaijan and a more hard-fought three-set victory against Estonia`s Marta-Mia Ploomipuu and Hannemai Hanimägi (#2), demonstrating resilience with set scores of 25-27, 21-13, and a decisive 15-4.
Lithuania`s Meja Gurciutė and Beatrice Michalkevičiūtė (#6) also concluded the day unbeaten, notably handing the only loss to another Latvian pair, Denēva Šauberga and Marija Dārta Jaundžeikare. Ukraine`s Kateryna Nitsenko and Viktoriia Kachyoni rounded out the group of undefeated women`s teams, also notching two wins.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Elimination
The second day of competition in Cēsis promises escalating intensity. It will feature the conclusion of the group stage matches, determining the final standings within each pool. Following this, the tournament will transition into the elimination rounds, with the first two playoff stages scheduled.
According to the structure, the winners of each group will earn a direct qualification path, advancing straight to the quarterfinals. Teams finishing second and third in their respective pools will face off in the first round of the playoffs, adding an extra layer of pressure and a second chance for redemption.
Teams representing Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine are all competing with a clear objective: securing a spot in the final round of the U18 European Beach Volleyball Championships. The stakes are significant, as only the top two teams in each gender category from this Cēsis qualifier will punch their ticket to the European event, set to take place from September 11 to 15 in Corigliano Rossano, Italy.
Adding to the beach volleyball action in Cēsis, the venue is also preparing to host the EEVZA U16 Championships immediately following the U18 event, scheduled for July 3-4, featuring a robust field of 16 teams per gender. The focus, however, remains firmly on the U18 battle currently underway, where every set and every match brings these young athletes closer to a coveted European Championship appearance.
