Latvia pushes hard against tournament favourites Switzerland to win the first Leg of the Silver League Women Final 2025
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The Latvian women’s national volleyball team defeated tournament favorites Switzerland, in a thrilling first leg of the European Silver League final held in Riga. Latvia’s starting lineup included Marta Kamēlija Levinska, Elvita Dolotova, Paula Nikola Ņečiporuka, Anna Rīta, Anija Jurdža, Karmena Struka, and liberos Kristīne Kramēna and Megija Grundmane.
After a close start (6:6), the home team, cheered on by enthusiastic fans, gained a slight lead. Two aces by Rīta and a successful attack by Ņečiporuka extended the lead to 16:12, prompting Switzerland’s head coach Pavlo Sanchez to call a timeout. A second Swiss timeout came after Latvia led 21:15, following a strong attack from Jurdža. The set ended with a powerful Rīta attack – 25:17. This was the first set Switzerland had lost in the entire tournament. Rīta led all scorers in the opening set with six points.
The second set began with a successful Dolotova attack. After a Swiss error, Latvia led 2:0 and extended it to 7:4 after an attack by Levinska. However, Switzerland responded with a four-point run, taking the lead for the first time at 8:7 after a block by Alix de Micheli. Following strong serves from Jūlija Lengweilere and attacks by Ņečiporuka, Switzerland extended their lead to 18:16, prompting Latvia’s head coach Daniele Mario Capriotti to call a timeout. Another was called at 22:18. Switzerland went on to win the set 25:21. Despite this, Latvia’s top scorers were still Rīta and Ņečiporuka with nine points each.
In the third set, Switzerland led 7:4 after another block by de Micheli. Latvia repeatedly closed the gap but couldn’t take the lead. After an Eihler attack, Switzerland went ahead 19:13. With Katrīna Struka replacing the setter, Latvia regained four points and tied the set at 23:23 after a successful attack by Struka, forcing another Swiss timeout. Elza Reknere also came on as setter. Latvia got the first of five set points at 25:24 after a Swiss error, and finally won the set 32:30 after a misdirected trick shot by Madlaina Matter.
The fourth set was a rollercoaster. Levinska scored first, Switzerland took the next three points, and Latvia responded to lead 8:5. The Swiss came back to tie it 14:14, and eventually won the set 25:22 after a strong attack from Lengweilere.
In the decisive fifth set, Switzerland scored the first point, but Latvia dominated the next six rallies, eventually leading 12:4 after a Jurdža spike. Katrīna Struka sealed the match with a final attack following a double substitution – 15:8.
Levinska was the top scorer of the match with 28 points. Jurdža added 21, while Ņečiporuka and Rīta each had 15 points and three aces. Rīta also recorded five blocks. Switzerland’s top attacker, Lengweilere, finished with 21 points.
Ana Rita“We talked before the game about what the opponents might do and how to catch them more effectively with our blocks. I think that worked well. Compared to our first match against Switzerland, we managed to keep up with their fast play much better. That first experience helped us prepare this time. We tried to serve aggressively – our best serves, as the coach always says – with full power.”
Latvia
Jūlije Lengweilere“It was the game we expected. We knew our opponents would use a different lineup and would play better. We also knew it would be a big fight, and that’s exactly what we got. This game was very different from the first one. For one, they had a different setter, which made a huge impact. Also, number 16 – Jurdža – made a big difference. In the previous match, their attack was more divided between Levinska and Ņečiporuka, but this time they had three very strong attackers, making blocking more difficult.”
Switzerland