In the opening match of the #EuroVolleyU22M Pool D qualification tournament, the Latvian men`s U22 national volleyball team secured a solid 3-1 victory (25-19, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23) over Croatia. The match took place on Thursday at the Daugavpils Olympic Centre.
Latvia started the first set strongly, establishing an 8:1 lead before Croatia narrowed the gap to 13:11 and then 19:18. Key plays from Armands Rokjāns, including an ace, pushed Latvia ahead, and Leo Aleksandrs Štolcs finished the set with a block for a 25-19 win.
The second set saw the home side fall behind early, trailing 6:10 after an attack by Croatian player Ivan Vuk. Although Latvia managed to draw level briefly, the visitors regained control. A late block by Gabriel Šunjo gave Croatia a significant lead, and they took the set 18-25.
Latvia reasserted their dominance in the third set, building a comfortable early lead of 10:5, helped by another block from Rokjāns. Croatia fought back to close the scoreline multiple times, but the hosts maintained their composure to win the set 25-20.
The fourth set was closely contested, with Latvia holding a slight advantage. A strong serve from Croatia`s Budimir Oliver Škorić tied the score at 17:17. However, an ace from Kristers Landzāns (with a touch of net luck) restored Latvia`s lead at 19:17. Rokjāns reached match point at 24:22, and Landzāns sealed the victory with the final point, 25-23.
Leading the scoring for Latvia were Armands Rokjāns with an impressive 23 points, including four aces. Kristers Landzāns added 17 points, followed by Leo Aleksandrs Štolcs with 11 (including two blocks), Marats Selivanovs with 7, and Ņikita Dimitrijevs with 6. For Croatia, Ivan Vuk and Budimir Oliver Škorić were the top performers with 16 and 15 points respectively.
Commenting on the win, Latvian player Armands Rokjāns stated, “This victory isn`t surprising. We`ve played Croatia twice before and won both matches, so we knew their style was similar to ours and that we could defeat them. I felt great today – I was well-rested after playing with the senior team. The Daugavpils Olympic Centre provides additional energy, and the team spirit is excellent.”
Croatian player Ivan Vuk reflected on the match, saying, “In crucial moments and points, we weren`t fully present on the court. Our opponents capitalized on a few small mistakes. They are physically very strong, and since we are not as tall, we needed to make the most of every scoring opportunity, which we failed to do at critical junctures. They appear to be a really solid team, well-connected, and seem to have trained together for an extended period.”
When asked about Daugavpils, the Croatian player commented, “We came from Zagreb, and Daugavpils is a lovely, smaller city. I noticed the considerable effort put into sports facilities here, and everything looks impressive overall.”
Latvia’s head coach Mārcis Obrumans shared his perspective: “We were confident even before the match. The excellent start boosted our confidence further. Naturally, there were some initial nerves, being the first match, but successful early plays generated positive momentum and energy. Our serve reception wasn`t always perfect, but we managed to convert difficult balls into points, which has often been a challenge for us. Our attack was varied, and we stayed patient and scored even when the quality of passing dropped.”
In the other Group D match played the same day, Poland defeated Israel in a close five-set encounter, 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 15-9).
After the first day of competition, the Group D standings are: Latvia – 3 points, Poland – 2, Israel – 1, Croatia – 0.
Regarding the team`s position at the top of the group, Latvia’s head coach said, “It’s always a pleasant feeling to be at the top of the standings. The path ahead won`t be easy, but I hope we will do everything to stay near the top for as long as possible – and hopefully at the tournament`s conclusion. The Israeli team is quite strong. If we approach that game correctly… We might not be considered tournament favourites, but the crowd truly motivated us today. We anticipate even more fans on Friday and enjoy playing here in Daugavpils.”
Latvian National Team Roster
Kristaps Pelēkais (Kuldīga District Sports School/MSĢ), Arturs Gulovs (Riga Volleyball School/MSĢ), Marats Selivanovs (Riga Volleyball School), Emīls Ieviņš, Rainers Veips, Kristers Landzāns (all – Jēkabpils Sports School), Ivans Rustkovs, Sandis Cimotišs, Ņikita Dimitrijevs, Daņila Mironovs (all – Daugavpils Sports School), Ingars Blumbergs (Talsi District Sports School), Indars Asars (Talsi District Sports School/MSĢ), Leo Aleksandrs Štolcs, Renārs Vinšteins (both – Minusa Volleyball School), Kristofers Kļaviņš (St. Mary’s College, USA), and Armands Rokjāns (SK “Jēkabpils Lūši”).
Coaching Staff
Head coach Mārcis Obrumans is assisted by coach Ģirts Mārtiņsons, physiotherapist Līze Kurakina, statistician Aivis Kokins and team manager Andris Nuķis.
