Lithuania and Albania advance to #EuroLeagueW League Round

The women’s national teams of Lithuania and Albania have reached the League Round of the revamped CEV Volleyball European League after securing two wins from the three matches they contested this past weekend in Odense, Denmark. Lithuania edged Albania for the top spot in the final standings courtesy of the seven points they took from their matches – versus six for the Albanians. They progress to the main phase of the reshaped competition, which now counts as a direct pathway to qualify for the CEV EuroVolley 2028. 

The achievement is especially remarkable for Lithuania since they had not contested a ‘senior’ international competition for about a decade since the qualifiers for the CEV EuroVolley 2017. However, their progress had already been evident in multiple age-group events, where they historically reached the final stage a couple of times, which clearly indicated a steady improvement and the potential to leave their mark also when moving to the senior level of the game. Lithuania did not drop a single set in their matches with Denmark and Luxembourg before losing 2-3 to Albania on Sunday after failing to capitalise on a 2-1 advantage. However, this additional ranking point secured by claiming two sets did already cement their position at the top of the final standings. 

Albania had to be content with second place after losing 2-3 to hosts Denmark on Saturday – but their victory over Lithuania made sure they would progress to the main phase as well. They were powered by a massive haul of points scored by their star player Erblira Bici – who amassed as many as 103 across three matches for a mind-boggling average of 7.36 per set! 

Lithuania and Albania will now resume their campaign this coming weekend when they join the tournaments due to take place in Croatia and Finland, respectively. Lithuania will be playing Greece and hosts Croatia in Osijek – whereas Albania will take on Switzerland and Finland in Nokia.