Poland fight hard to edge underdogs Latvia as Türkiye keep perfect record in Istanbul

Even though they eventually lost 1-3 to the physically imposing national team of Poland, Latvia and especially their scoring machine Marta Kamelija Levinska (30 points) delivered a performance to remember on Monday in Istanbul as competition continued in Pool A of the CEV Trendyol EuroVolley 2026 Women. Poland improved their record to two wins in as many matches – whereas Latvia suffered a third loss in a row, still with plenty of positives and lessons to take from the experience. Later in the day, home favourites and defending champions Türkiye claimed their third victory in the group against Hungary (3-0), semi-finalists of this year’s European League and the youngest team in the competition, with Melissa Vargas delivering another superb performance with 24 points including five aces. 

Poland vs. Latvia 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-22, 26-24) 

As they have returned to the EuroVolley stage for the first time since 1997, Latvia have somehow naturally won the affection of many – also via the positive energy and vibes that their players radiate anytime they show up for a training session or a competitive match. They seem to enjoy the experience to the fullest and as a result, they improve with every game. They caught Poland – the no. 5 team in the world – by surprise and in a matchup with many turnarounds, they could realistically have achieved much more than ‘just’ winning one set. However, their lack of experience in some key decisive moments is still obvious – but their resilience and ability to fight their way back are more than commendable.

Poland did miss their captain and libero Aleksandra Szczyglowska who had stayed back in the hotel – but apart from a dominant first set, the match was a rollercoaster for the White-and-Reds, who had to mount multiple comebacks to turn the score around – especially in the third set where they trailed 9-16. Poland’s major issues were in reception (18% excellent, 36% positive) – with Latvia scoring as many as 10 aces in the process, with three apiece by Karmena Struka and Anija Jurdža. In the end, Poland showed more composure in the key moments of the third and fourth sets – with four of their players finishing the match in double digits, and Monika Lampkowska leading the way with 18 points. Latvia’s Marta Kamelija Levinska amassed as many as 30 points in a performance to remember. 

Türkiye vs. Hungary 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-14) 

The home side delighted as many as 13,499 spectators as they cruised to their third straight win in as many matches in Pool A. Playing the youngest team in the competition, with Hungary’s roster averaging only 21 years and 41 days, Türkiye needed some time to settle in and find their rhythm. The first set was very closely contested, with Hungary even securing a set point. However, Türkiye had a real ace to count on – Melissa Vargas, who played a pivotal role in turning the score around and securing a 26-24 opening set win.

Hungary managed to keep the pace of the local favourites for much of the second set as well; however, Türkiye raised the level of their performance towards the end, much to the delight of their always passionate fans. After that, the hosts had full control over the game and their head coach Daniele Santarelli could bring in of the substitute players – and yet the third set resulted in a landslide 25-14 win for the defending European champions. Vargas top scored with a massive haul of 24 points across three sets only, including five aces and two blocks. Anett Nemeth was the only Hungarian player to finish the match in double figures (15).