After two challenging days of windy and rainy weather in Vilnius, Lithuania, the first qualifications for this year`s #EuroBeachVolleyU20 were awarded to teams from Poland and Ukraine. They stood atop the podiums at the EEVZA U20 Beach Volleyball Championships, which served as a crucial first-round qualifier for the continental event. Teams from Lithuania and Latvia also earned medals, rounding out the men`s and women`s top finishers.
The young athletes competing in Vilnius demonstrated impressive ball control and endurance, navigating strong winds and rain. From the outset, during the pool stage, several teams showcased their dominance. In the men`s tournament, powerhouses Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine consistently performed well, ultimately advancing to the semifinals.
In the men`s semifinals, Poland`s Jakub Krzeminski and Wiktor Musial secured a decisive 2-0 (21-19, 21-15) victory over Latvia`s Markuss Maculevics and Oskars Kilks. The second semifinal saw a tight contest, with Ukraine`s Dmytro Kozii and Sviatoslav Nahornyi narrowly defeating local favorites Raigardas Macionis and Dovydas Sinkevicius in two close sets (22-20, 22-20).
In the men`s final, Kozii and Nahornyi maintained their strong performance, beating the Polish duo 2-0 (21-15, 21-18) to claim the title. For the bronze medal, Lithuania`s Macionis and Sinkevicius pleased the home crowd by winning 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) against Latvia`s Maculevics and Kilks, securing the host nation`s sole medal.
In the women`s competition, teams from Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine dominated their preliminary pools. Ultimately, Poland, Ukraine, Latvia, and Lithuania all advanced to the semifinals. From these, Poland`s Zuzanna Kudlik and Zuzanna Rapczynska, along with Ukraine`s Sofiia Kurnikova and Kateryna Biliak, battled their way into the final, earning their spots at the #EuroBeachVolleyU20.
The women`s grand final saw a closely contested match where Kudlik and Rapczynska from Poland defeated Kurnikova and Biliak of Ukraine in straight sets (23-21, 21-17). Earlier, a dramatic bronze medal match unfolded as the host nation`s Gunda Brazaite and Dominyka Lape fought hard. However, in a thrilling three-set encounter, they ultimately fell to Latvia`s Deneva Šauberga and Rezija Puskundže 1-2 (21-18, 9-21, 7-15), disappointing the local supporters.
As a result of this qualifier, the two leading teams from each gender category have now confirmed their participation in the upcoming #EuroBeachVolleyU20, set to take place in Madrid, Spain, from August 21-24.
