Latvia’s coach Capriotti announces roster for #EuroLeagueW opening weekend on home ground
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Team Latvia head coach Daniele Capriotti has called up a group of 16 players for the opening matches of the CEV European Silver League, which will take place in Jelgava this weekend. Team Latvia will contest the European League following a three-week training camp.
The roster includes setters Elvita Dolotova (RSU/MSĢ) and Elza Reknere (Volei Constanta/Romania); middle blockers Karmena Struka (RSU/MSĢ), Lāsma Ozola (Vilacondense/Portugal), Anna Rīta (Coastal Carolina University/USA), and Līva Sola (RVS/LU); opposite hitter Marta Kamēlija Levinska (Dresdner SC 1898/Germany); outside hitters Paula Nikola Ņečiporuka (Vallecamonica Sebino/Italy), Katrīna Struka (RSU/MSĢ), Anija Jurdža (CV Olimpico/Spain), Šarlote Šlitere (RVS/LU), and Jeļizaveta Morozova (Mārupes SC); and liberos Kristīne Kramēna, Megija Grundmane (both RSU/MSĢ), Sindija Bože (RVS/LU), and Elīna Zvaigzne (Modell/Germany).
“We decided to involve all four liberos in these matches,” said Capriotti. “There is a chance we will use Jeļizaveta Morozova in the first match. If not, we will go with three liberos, one of whom – an outside hitter – will primarily play in the back row. For the second match, we may again opt for three liberos, with one being an outside hitter supporting reception in the back row, which is a tactical necessity.”
Junora Vagele and Megija Dambrehte will not participate in the first round of matches. Dambrehte is dealing with an injury and is being given some extra time to rest.
Daniele Capriotti“The girls are performing well. Compared to last year, they are playing significantly better. Considering we have only had two weeks of preparation, the team now looks as ready as it did after a month of training last season.”
Head coach of Team Latvia
Assisting him with the Latvian team are coaches Inguna Minusa and Arvils Keišs, analysts Mareks Maksimovs and Vladimirs Visockis, strength coach Roni Antero Rekola, physiotherapist Luisa Dombrovska, and team manager Kristaps Čerņavskis.
This season, nine teams are competing in the CEV European Silver League: apart from Latvia, Austria, the Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, and Switzerland.
The winners will be decided in mid-June in the finals, where the top two teams from the group stage will face off in home and away matches.
The Latvian team finished sixth out of nine in the 2024 edition of the European Silver League.
Faroe Islands approach Silver League with long-term vision
Ahead of their opening match against Latvia on May 30, Faroe Islands head coach Ciro Zoratti shared his thoughts on the team’s direction: “In forming the team, I wanted to reward and prioritise the players who have truly embraced the national team project, making sacrifices and efforts to be as present as possible. As a result, the roster is very diverse, featuring experienced players like captain Hanna Olsen and Anja Danielsen, as well as very young athletes like Elisabet Norðoy Vilhelmsen and Osla Johannesen (both born in 2008).”
Zoratti acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead for the Faroese squad:
“In this journey with the national team, I have introduced new training methodologies and tactical systems that require time to be absorbed and put into practice. Therefore, this stage in Latvia will be the right testing ground. In general, we are aware that in this Silver League we will face very strong teams, with many professional players competing in major European leagues. Our goal is to do our best and leave the court with our heads held high, without regrets.”