The first lap in Group A of the European Gold League tournament in Tartu was closed with a loss for the Latvian men’s team, which lost to Spain in four sets. Continuation next weekend in Liepaja.
Latvia conceded to Spain with 1-3 (24:26, 23:25, 25:19, 24:26).
Toms Švans, Kristaps Šmits, Edvīns Skrūders, Gustavs Freimanis, Kristaps Platačs and Atvars Ozoliņš, as well as “libero” Ingars Ivanovs went to the square.
In the first set, after a similar start, the Spaniards scored six points in a row after 11:12, reaching 17:12 in their favor. The Latvians played after the Freimanis bloc (22:22), but the top of the set belonged to the Spaniards – 26:24.
The same thing happened in the next set. The Spaniards took the lead 10: 6, but were soon caught (11:11). Opponents took the lead again, but at the top of the set there was a similar fight, in which Spain scored the last three points – 25:23.
In the third and fourth sets, Latvia made a lot of mistakes in the serve. In the third set there were five errors in this indicator, in the fourth – six errors. Latvia attacked better, with Smith and Dardzan standing out. The Spaniards, on the other hand, were completely helpless in the third set, scoring just five points and losing the set with 19:25. The fourth set ended at the top again, and again it was better combined by the Spanish volleyball players – 26:24.
In the Latvian national team, Schmidt scored 19 points, Dardzāns scored 18 points, scoring four times in the block. Freimanis scored 12 points, standing out with seven blocks, 11 points – Švans, who has four “aisles”, 10 points – Ozoliņš. The opponents’ top scorer with 17 points was Augusto Kolito, who stood out with five elusive edges.
“All the scores in this game were similar, but the winner at the top of the set decided the mistakes of the attack. We had 11 in the match and five for the opponents. The players tried and fought, but there was no real leader on the psychological plate, ” after the game said the team’s head coach Avo Kehl.
“After the first three games, it would have been better if they had won today. I believe we had to win today. Of the players, today Gustavs earned the most coaches [Freimanis] and Christers [Dardzāns].”
The European Gold League group tournament for men takes place from May 28 to June 6, running two laps in two races. First the teams meet in Tartu, but in the second round – in Liepaja. The fights of the final four are planned for June 19 and 20 in the Belgian city of Kortrijk.
The opponents of the Latvian national team in the European Gold League group are Estonia, Spain and Belgium.
The final tournament of the European Championship with the participation of 24 teams is planned from September 1 to 18 in four countries – Estonia, Finland, the Czech Republic and Poland.
Latvian national team calendar in Tartu:
May 28 20.00 Latvia – Belgium 1-3 (25:19, 16:25, 14:25, 21:25)
May 29 19.00 Latvia – Estonia 0-3 (23:25, 13:25, 11:25)
May 30 16.00 Latvia – Spain 1-3 (24:26, 23:25, 25:19, 24:26)
Read more about the Latvian men’s team here: https://volejbols.lv/izlases/IZLASE2019
With the loss of the national team of the neighboring country Estonia, the first round of the European Silver League was completed by the Latvian women’s team, which will start the second round in Zenica on Tuesday.
Latvian volleyball players continued their experience in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on Sunday with a 0-3 (18:25, 22:25, 19:25) loss for Estonians.
Ingrīda Šveigere, Pauls Nikola Ņčiporuka, Elvita Dolotova, Lāsma Ozola, Anna Rīta, Vlada Pridatko, as well as “libero” players – Elīna Zvaigzne and Kristīne Kramēna started the game for Latvia, but later Katrīna Paula Krustkalne did not play on the field.
Pridatko was the most productive in the Latvian team with 15 points, but Ozola scored five points. Opponents 14 points in Lisa Kullerkann’s account.
Dolotova scored the first point in the match with a serve, but after a similar start, when the draw on the board was 5: 5 last time, the Estonians gradually increased their rebound, winning the set with 25:18.
In the second set, almost from the very beginning, Estonia gained the upper hand and led the set to victory, allowing Latvians to approach one end only at the end of the set (23:22) and winning the set with 25:22.
At the beginning of the third set, the Latvians took the lead five times, but then the opponents achieved a comfortable advantage, which fluctuated within five points in the second half of the set, and won with 25:19.
“Opponents had a more orderly bloc than us. Her block was placed directly opposite our beats and we did not manage to score points in the attack. We made a lot of mistakes in the servings, making mistakes several times in a row, ” The game was rated by Megija Dambrehte.
“Feelings are great, girls are fantastic. The coaches support, ”says the volleyball player about her debut in the national team. “Today, the square did not go as well as I would like. Also yesterday, when I was admitted to the last games, there was no attack, because there was a good block in front. It went best on the first day – I saved, beat and assembled good blocks. ”
Estonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal and Latvia play in Group A of the European Silver League.
The final tournament with the participation of four teams is planned for June 11 and 12, 2021 in the Slovenian city of Maribor. Slovenia has already secured a place in the final four.
Calendar of Latvian national team games in Zenica:
May 28 18.00 Latvia – Bosnia and Herzegovina 0-3 (19:25, 20:25, 18:25)
May 29 18.00 Latvia – Portugal 0-3 (18:25, 19:25, 21:25)
May 30 18.00 Latvia – Estonia 0-3 (18:25, 22:25, 19:25)
June 1 21.00 Latvia – Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 2 18.00 Latvia – Portugal
June 3 18.00 Latvia – Estonia
More about the European Silver League here: https://www.cev.eu/national-team/european-league/european-silver-league/women/
Latvian Volleyball Federation
