Ukraine qualifies for #EuroVolleyU22W Final Round after securing two wins from two matches in Daugavpils

On Sunday, the home favourites representing Latvia lost 1-3 (22-25, 19-25, 25-22, 16-25) to Ukraine their last #EuroVolleyU22W qualifying match played at the Daugavpils Olympic Centre. Ukraine had previously beaten Denmark and with their two wins qualified for next year’s Final Round in the Netherlands. 

The home team scored the first two points thanks to an ace by Karmena Struka, but Ukraine responded with three points of their own and took the lead at 16-10 following an unreturnable serve by Andriana Pavlyk, subsequently maintaining the advantage up to 22-16. With Karmena Struka serving and several successful attacks by Katrīna Struka, Latvia tied the score at 22-22, but Ukraine won the remaining rallies of the set – 25-22.

In the second set, Ukraine took the lead early on, increasing it to 18-9 after an attack by Kira Lisova. Once again, Latvia managed to reduce the deficit, making it 18-20 after an ace by Anna Cepurīte. However, Ukraine held on to their lead, winning the set 25-19 after a ball hit out of bounds by Kristīne Leskinoviča.

In the third set, Ukraine made three substitutions, having already secured first place and qualification for the final round of the championship. In the Latvian team, Katrīna Struka shifted from the outside hitter position to the opposite, with her place taken by Šarlote Šlitere. Ukraine scored first and took a 10-6 lead after a Latvian attack error. The home team responded with a 4-0 run, thereby taking the lead at 17-15 following two aces by setter Arina Sosinoviča. Latvia went on to win the set 25-22 after a miscommunication between Oleksandra Molchanova and Polina Herasymchuk on a first-tempo attack.

In the fourth set, Cepurīte started in place of Rūta Putene for Latvia and took a 2-0 lead after a powerful serve by Karmena Struka. However, Ukraine sealed the win in the set and the match with a 7-0 run, reaching 11-5 after an attack error by Cepurīte. Herasymchuk finished the match with a final attack – 25-16.

Latvia’s top scorer was Katrīna Struka with 17 points, including three blocks and an attacking efficiency of 56% (14/25). Karmena Struka scored 10 points, including three aces, while Marta Gintere added 9 points.

For Ukraine, Diana Kryva scored 17 points, Andriana Pavlyk added 14, and Polina Herasymchuk collected one-third of her 12 points from blocks.

“What we saw on the court was the type of Volleyball all women’s teams strive for,” said Latvia U22 head coach Inguna Minusa. “Overall, it was a very valuable tournament. We didn’t qualify for the final round, but the experience gained in the matches against Denmark and Ukraine is invaluable. The fight against Denmark proved that everyone can play now, everyone wants to win, and we can no longer afford to play carelessly or underestimate any team. The match against Ukraine was already a different game, as we had learned from the first one.”

“It was a good match, and Ukraine definitely played very well, but I think we also had chances to win,” commented Katrīna Struka. “Unfortunately, a few silly mistakes allowed us to win only one set. Ukraine won the first set thanks to their strong starting lineup, which played excellently. When they began making substitutions, their game didn’t flow as well, and that’s why we could take the third set.”

“I hadn’t trained much with the team, having only had a few practices in Daugavpils, but I think we worked together well and supported each other. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out this time,” Katrīna added.

Ukraine secured a spot in the final tournament with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-23, 25-12) victory over Denmark on Saturday. Andriana Pavlyk scored 21 points for the winners, a third of them from serves, and Diana Kryva added 16 points. For Denmark, the top scorer was Veronika Kjaer Sørensen with 9 points.

Ukraine earned six points and qualified for the final tournament, Denmark finished with two points, and Latvia with one.

“The two opening sets were the most important for us, because after those we had already secured first place in the group. After that, three substitutes took to the court, and I’m very pleased that we managed to win with them on the court as well. That’s also important for the players,” said Ukraine’s head coach Gariy Yegiazarov. “Our biggest problems were caused by the Struka sisters, who are members of Latvia’s senior national team. They have more experience than the other U22 players and are among the leaders of the senior squad. I think Latvia’s U22 team is stronger than their Danish peers, but on Friday Denmark played really well - even better than they usually do.”