Denmark edge hosts Latvia at #EuroVolleyU22W qualifier after game of twists and turns

On Friday, Team Latvia lost 2-3 (22-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-16, 8-15) to Denmark their first match of the #EuroVolleyU22W qualifier taking place at the Daugavpils Olympic Centre.

The first set was closely contested, with neither team gaining more than a two-point advantage until the final rallies. However, the Danes secured the last three points after attacks by Nikita Maria Egemark Clausen to win 25-22.

At the beginning of the second set, the home team took a 5:2 lead after an unsuccessful attack by Alma Tabermann Uhrenholt, but the Danes responded with three straight points and tied the score at 5:5 following a block by Clausen. After 12:12, the Danish team pulled ahead and, capitalising on Latvia’s poor reception and Anete Čelnova’s attack into the net, the visitors won the set 25-22.

In the third set, although the first point was scored by Marta Gintere with a quick middle attack, the Danes earned the next two points and took an 8:5 lead after an attack by Mille Bassøe. Latvia only regained the lead after a 4:0 run, which included an unreturnable serve by Rūta Putene that made it 16:14. Denmark couldn’t recover, and Latvia took the set 25-21 after a successful attack by Gintere.

The home team continued the momentum in the fourth set with two service aces from Anna Cepurīte, thus gaining a 3:0 lead. Following an error by Uhrenholt in attack, Latvia increased their lead to 15:8 and eventually won the set 25-16 with another Gintere spike.

In the final set, Denmark scored the first two points and maintained control, securing a decisive 15-8 victory after an attack by Bassøe.

Latvia’s top scorer was Karmena Struka with 13 points, including two from serves and two from blocks. Rūta Putene added 11 points, while Katrīna Struka, Anna Cepurīte (including four service aces), and Marta Gintere each contributed nine points.

For the Danish team, Veronika Kjaer Sørensen and Mille Bassøe both scored 15 points. Nikita Clausen tallied 14 points, five of them from blocks, while Marie Sonne Kristensen scored 12 points, a third of them coming from blocks.

“I knew Kristīne Leskinoviča from the Latvian team - we had played together at club level. Latvia has a good, physically strong team. It was a great match from both sides, and I’m really happy we managed to win the final set. We kept our energy until the end and played our game,” said Danish player Nikita Maria Egemark Clausen. “I can’t even say what exactly made us better. We’re friends as a team, even off the court. We talk to each other and know what it takes to get the best out of our game. We have to keep doing that in tomorrow’s match.”

“The Danish team started the match more aggressively and confidently, while our girls were more cautious and maybe a bit too nervous. I’m proud of the team for continuing to fight and tying it at 2-2. Still, in the fifth set, Denmark proved they came here to fight for a place in the final tournament. Today, the team that was more aggressive and confident won. We definitely can play better, and we had limited information about the opponents beforehand. Denmark, whose game was shaped by two key players, surprised us. Sunday’s match against Ukraine will be decisive,” said Latvian U22 head coach Atvars Ozoliņš, for whom this was his official debut as a women’s national team coach. “It’s hard to say whether it’s easier to coach - sometimes I wished I could be on the court myself - but it’s an interesting process. I’m happy to be part of it, helping the girls while learning a lot myself from Inguna [Minusa] and Daniele [Capriotti].”

On Saturday, Denmark will face Ukraine, and on Sunday, Latvia will play against the Ukrainians too. 

The group winners from all five qualification groups and the two best second-placed teams will advance to the final round, joining the hosts. Players born on or after January 1, 2005, will compete in the final tournament in The Hague, Netherlands, from July 7 to 12, 2026.