Latvia poised to contest #EuroVolleyU18M qualifier on home soil
News
The Latvian holiday resort of Sigulda is among the cities due to play host to a #EuroVolleyU18M 2nd Round qualifier this week, while the U17 women’s national team of the Baltic country travels to Croatia to fight for a spot in the Final Round of their age-group championship as well.
As for the U18 men’s team, Latvia will be competing against opponents from Greece and Estonia. Belarus were due to contest the pool as well – but they will not as their teams are currently not eligible to compete internationally following a decision taken by the FIVB and CEV Boards of Administration.
Team Latvia had a training camp right before the competition under the leadership of head coach Marcis Obrumanis. Three of the national team members – Gustavs Auzins, Matiss Salkovskis and Karlis Jaundzeikars – will have the opportunity to play in their home town. It is the very first time in history that an international Volleyball competition takes place in Sigulda – a resort rather known for hosting major bobsleigh, skeleton and luge competitions.
Marcis Obrumanis, the head coach of the team, has defined his side’s goals:
“Of course, you have to fight for a place in the final round of the championship, and winning the pool is the first and the best option. This would also be the safest way to achieve our goal, otherwise there’s a lot of calculations needed to determine the runners-up with the best result across all pools. I would like to reach the final stage with the right boost of confidence.”
“The Belarusians we played last year in the zonal qualifier would have probably been the favourites in this tournament. But without them, I think the fight for a spot in the finals will be a bit easier. We have already played against Estonia, and we have watched videos of the Greek team from their matches in January. In addition to that, the competition schedule will allow us to see how the Greeks play with the Estonians on Friday,” Obrumanis adds.
The winners of the pool will secure their participation in the #EuroVolleyU18M Final Round due to take place in Tbilisi, Georgia in mid-July.