EEVZA #EuroVolleyU18M qualifier in Daugavpils to feature six teams

The EEVZA first-round qualifier for next year’s #EuroVolleyU18M will run from 20 to 23 November at the Daugavpils Sports School, where national teams from Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine will compete for a place in the final round scheduled for the summer of 2026 and for medals in the Eastern European Volleyball Zonal Association (EEVZA) Age-Group Championship.

The Latvian U18 men’s national team, coached by Raimonds Liniņš, will face Poland and Georgia in Pool A, while Pool B features Azerbaijan, Estonia, and Ukraine.

“During the preparation phase we evaluated around 32 to 36 players. The first seven-day training camp was held in Daugavpils at the end of July, and the second one took place in mid-August in Murjāņi, where we consistently worked with a group of 16 players. In September we gathered for a three-day camp, then travelled to a tournament in Gdansk, Poland. In October we had another three-day training camp and a joint camp with the Norwegian team, including three friendly matches. Since 16 November, we have been in Daugavpils,” says Liniņš. “Unlike the 2007 generation, which mainly consisted of MSĢ players, the boys born in 2009 come from all over Latvia. That’s why a broader preparation process was necessary. A big thank-you to the players’ parents – we were only able to travel to Gdansk thanks to their significant support. We are trying to showcase our players to clubs abroad because this team has many talented youngsters.”

On 16 and 18 November, the team played two friendly matches in Daugavpils against their Ukrainian counterparts (3-1 and 0-4), with most sets being very closely contested.

“Ukraine is a team at our level. In the first match, our players executed the game plan well, playing more aggressively, intelligently and confidently. Yesterday, the confidence and technical execution were slightly weaker, although we could have won both the second and third sets. These were very valuable matches ahead of the EEVZA Championship. It was crucial to observe the players shortly before the tournament and to test various tactical options, while the match result itself was not the priority. We will work today on the details we identified in those games,” Liniņš adds.

“We understand that it will be very difficult to trouble the Polish team, but we will fight. I would be satisfied with second place and taking a set or two from Poland,” says the coach. Speaking about the first match against Georgia, he explains that little is known about the team so far, and they will be analysed during training sessions and before the match.

Representing Latvia in Daugavpils will be Kristers Navenickis, Ernests Pastars, Renārs Lasmanis, Artis Andrejevs, Kristers Elksnis, Ernests Grudinskis, Aksels Marks Džeriņš, Olivers Pope, Tomass Silavs, Mārtiņš Skudra, Pēteris Auniņš, Emīls Rudzītis, Niks Ameļkovičs and Nikita Livča.

Coach Liniņš is supported by assistant coach Aivis Kokins, statistician Rainers Ermalis, physiotherapist Evisa Rudmieze, and team manager Andris Nuķis. The squad consists of players born in 2009 or later.

The winners will not only claim the EEVZA title but also secure a spot in the final round of the U18 European Championship.

The second round of qualification will take place in the spring of 2026, whereas the Final Round is scheduled for early July. 

All matches of the EEVZA qualifier in Daugavpils will be streamed live on the YouTube channel Volejbols Latvija.

The Latvian U18 women’s national team will not participate in the EEVZA qualifier held simultaneously in Telavi, Georgia, as they have already secured a place in the Final Round as co-hosts of next year’s #EuroVolleyU18W together with Lithuania. The championship will take place from 1 to 12 July 2026.

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