Latvian teams reign supreme at zonal age group Beach Volleyball championships on home soil

The 2022 edition of the Eastern European Volleyball Zonal Association (EEVZA) U18 and U16 Beach Volleyball Championships took place this past weekend at the O-Sands in Riga, with participation of teams from four countries and with hosts Latvia claiming the most medals with two gold, one silver and three bronzes.

This year’s U20 European vice-champions Liva Ebere/Deniela Konstantinova beat their compatriots Amanda Regute and Kitija Martini Adamsone in the women’s U18 final (2-0; 21-18, 21-11). In the bronze medal match, Renate Kate Kruklite/Eva Brokane lost 1-2 (21-19, 13-21, 10-15) to Ukraine’s Viktoriia Nitsenko and Dariia Sheremetieva, thus failing to secure a Latvian podium sweep.

In the men’s U18 competition, Latvia’s Bruno Bulgacs and Markuss Maculevics beat Oskars Kilks/Ernests Gūtmanis 2-1 (15-21, 21-17, 16-14) to win bronze for Latvia. In the grand finale, Ukrainians Yevhenii Boiko and Maksym Svyrydov defeated Estonians Tristan Täht/Mati Juus 2-0 (21-11, 21-14).  

In the U16 women’s event, Alise Aleksane/Aurelija Kotane defeated Monika Mamaja and Emilija Macukane 2-0 (21-19, 21-12) in an all-Latvian bronze medal game. Sofiia Shchutska/Kateryna Biliak of Ukraine beat Estonians Marta Mia Ploomipuu and Hannemai Hanimagi 2-0 (21-13, 22-20) to triumph with the gold medals.

Ralfs Andrejevs and Valters Kirsons of Latvia emerged victorious from the U16 men’s tournament after edging Daniil Verhogljad and Artur Tšhuhhnekov of Estonia in the gold medal match (21-17, 21-18), thus avenging their loss in the group stage of the competition. In the bronze medal match, Patriks Orups/Martins Pope of Latvia beat Estonia’s Patrick Saimre and Carl Kreek 2-0 (21-11, 21-19).

For many of the participating teams, the competition in Riga was an ideal opportunity to finalise their preparations for the upcoming #EuroBeachVolleyU18 due to start next week in Loutraki, Greece.

The Secretary General of the Latvian Volleyball Federation, Mr Arnis Tunte, awarded the medallists.