Last season, after a five-year break, Latvia was again represented in one of the European Cups, with the women’s team of the “Riga Volleyball School” (RVS) debuting in the Challenge Cup. Apart from RVS, two men’s clubs – Jēkabpils “Lūši” and RTU / “Robežsardze” / “Jūrmala” also applied for participation in the third strongest European Cup this season.
RVS director Kristaps Čerņavskis reveals that since the team’s previous year leader Marta Kamēlija Levinska went to study in the USA this summer, there were thoughts in the off-season about starting in the CEV Challenge Cup.
“But we realized that starting in such a high level competition is an invaluable experience for all of us – players, coaches and team management. I am convinced of our team and coaches, I believe that even without Martha we are ready for such a high level competition. also the co – financing offered by LVF “, LVF quotes what Chernavsky said.
In turn, the residents of Jēkabpils already expressed their determination to start in one of the European tournaments in the summer.
“Our club has no financial problems, but elsewhere in Europe there are great difficulties in this respect,” reminds the club’s president Maris Trušelis. In the spring, he also mentioned that a lot depends on whether the Latvian national team editor Edvīns Skrūders, who has chosen to stay in the club, will go abroad to play.
“We had left the question of the European Cups for a later time, but, keeping the line-up, with the support of the federation we decided to debut in the CEV Challenge Cup already this year. We are not afraid to lose in the first round. France, which looked like Milan in the quarterfinals of last season, faced Saaremaa. Half of Estonia watched the games, “comments Trušelis.
There is still a lot to be done by merging the two credit24 clubs of the previous season “Credit24” RTU / “Robežsardze” and “Limbaži” / MSĢ, which this year will be called RTU / “Robežsardze” / “Jūrmala”. However, this club will also have at least two games in the CEV Challenge Cup.
“The federation offered to consider the possibility that we could start in the European Cups as well, and we agreed. Put the hat off in front of the federation to get involved with such help. adding that the club’s home games will be held in Jurmala next season, but the team, in turn, will have the opportunity to see a foreigner.
The last time Latvia was represented with three teams in the European Volleyball Cup was in the distant 2003/2004 season. At that time, in the “Top Teams” Cup, now known as the CEV Cup, Ozolnieki “Poliurs” / “Biolars” and Riga “Lāse-R” started the competition for men, but for women – Riga “Force-R” team.
32 teams will take part in the challenge cup competition for men and 26 teams for women this season.
The draw will take place on August 21 at 13.30 Latvian time. The division of groups for both the Challenge Cup and the Champions League, as well as the CEV Cup will be drawn in the lottery, the exact order of the lotteries has not been determined yet.
The ceremony will be broadcast live on CEV’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
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