Teams from Ukraine, Latvia and Lithuania Triumph at EEVZA Youth Volleyball Cup

Daugavpils, Latvia, recently hosted the second annual EEVZA Cup, a prestigious volleyball tournament for sports schools and youth clubs. The U16 boys` title was secured by Ukraine`s Sokoliany, whose players are currently residing in Poland, while Lithuania`s Palanga Sports Centre clinched the U16 girls` championship. In the newly introduced U18 categories, Latvia’s Jēkabpils Sports School celebrated victory in the boys` division, and Ukraine’s VK Ace took home the girls` U18 trophy. Each of these competitive divisions featured six teams battling for top honors.

U16 Competitions (Players born in 2012 and 2013)

Below are the final results for the U16 categories, showcasing talent from players born in 2012 and 2013:

U16 Boys

1. Sokoliany (Ukraine)
2. Riga Volleyball School (Latvia)
3. Aizkraukle District Sports School (Latvia)
4. Selver Tallinn (Estonia)
5. Klaipeda Volleyball Academy (Lithuania)
6. Daugavpils Sports School (Latvia)

Outstanding individual performances were recognized, with the best players from each U16 boys` team including: Artjoms Pritickis (Daugavpils Sports School), Rihards Šitss (Selver Tallinn), Emīls Eglītis (Riga Volleyball School), Klāvs Strazdiņš (Aizkraukle District Sports School), Nazar Maksim (Sokoliany), and Danils Ščegols (Klaipeda Volleyball Academy).

U16 Girls

1. Palanga Sports Centre (Lithuania)
2. SK Rae (Estonia)
3. Mārupe District Sports School (Latvia)
4. Neemeco/Kohila Vald (Estonia)
5. Gulbene District BJSS (Latvia)
6. VK Ace (Ukraine)

The following players were highlighted for their excellent contributions in the U16 girls` division: Paula Vējiņa (Mārupe District Sports School), Lisanna Nēra (Neemeco/Kohila Vald), Denīze Dreiškena (Gulbene District BJSS), Anna Gushula (VK Ace), Rahela Rahuoja (SK Rae), and Deimantė Pečulytė (Palanga Sports Centre).

U18 Competitions (Players born in 2010 and 2011)

The inaugural U18 competitions, featuring athletes born in 2010 and 2011, concluded with the following final rankings:

U18 Boys

1. Jēkabpils Sports School (Latvia)
2. Selver Tallinn (Estonia)
3. Mārupe District Sports School (Latvia)
4. Daugavpils Sports School (Latvia)
5. Klaipeda Viesulas Sports Centre (Lithuania)
6. Startas Kaunas (Lithuania)

Acknowledging remarkable talent, the top players from each U18 boys` team included: Jans Eriks Prakss (Selver Tallinn), Neo Andrejevs (Jēkabpils Sports School), Mikus Zūlis (Mārupe District Sports School), Deniss Vesna (Daugavpils Sports School), Konrads Šiklo (Viesulas Sports Centre), and Vilius Simanavičius (Startas).

U18 Girls

1. VK Ace (Ukraine)
2. Selver Tallinn I (Estonia)
3. Daugavpils Sports School (Latvia)
4. Klaipeda Viesulas Sports Centre (Lithuania)
5. Gulbene District BJSS (Latvia)
6. Selver Tallinn II (Estonia)

For the U18 girls` division, the standout players were: Simona Sova (Selver II), Viltė Garbinaitė (Viesulas Sports Centre), Maria Jefanova (Selver I), Marta Roziņa (Gulbene District BJSS), Oleksandra Labunska (VK Ace), and Jūlija Novičonoka (Daugavpils Sports School).