The Latvian U-20 women’s volleyball team claimed third place at the Eastern European Volleyball Zonal Association (EEVZA) championship qualifier in Rustavi, finishing their tournament run with a dramatic five-set victory over Estonia after opening the group stage against group favorites Poland, LSM reported.

Opening Group Defeat Against Tournament Favorites Poland

Latvia began the 2027 European Championship qualification tournament in Georgia on Thursday with a 0-3 defeat against Poland. Throughout all three sets, the Latvian squad stayed close in the early going before Poland pulled away in the decisive closing points. The opening set saw both teams locked at 7-7 before communication lapses and service errors allowed the Polish side to pull ahead. Latvia’s block struggled to contain the Polish attack, and Poland closed out the first set 25-17.

The second set brought an even tighter contest. Latvia erased the Polish lead and forged ahead at 16-15 before a late scoring run by Poland secured a 25-19 win. The third set followed a similar script as Latvia maintained a tight defensive posture and scored effectively off the block, tying the score at 10-10. Poland eventually broke clear with a 16-11 run, closing the set 25-20 to take the match. Outside hitter Šarlote Šlitere led the Latvian offense with eight points in the opening loss.

Closing Out the Qualifier With a Five-Set Win Against Estonia

Building on their early tournament experience, head coach Arvils Keišs led Latvia to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Estonia (25-19, 18:25, 25:18, 21:25, 15:11) to secure third place in the regional tournament, according to Sportacentrs.com. Rūta Putene and Šarlote Šlitere paced the Latvian attack with 17 points apiece against Estonia, while Samanta Liepa and Emanuela Bole added 10 points each.

“No rīta ar meitenēm pārrunājām gaidāmo spēli un pretinieces,” Keišs told Sportacentrs.com, describing the tactical challenge posed by the Estonian side. He noted that the coaching staff anticipated a long, complicated match against a smart defensive opponent, requiring total patience and composure.

Tournament Standings and Advancement to the Second Round

By finishing among the top four teams in the seven-nation Rustavi tournament, Latvia secured qualification for the second round of the European Championship qualifiers scheduled for January. The tournament’s top spot and direct berth to the 2027 U-20 European Championship final tournament in Italy and Malta were contested between Poland and Ukraine, while Latvia, Estonia, and other regional participants advanced to the next qualification phase.

The Latvian roster in Georgia featured setters Alise Bogdane and Katrīna Zariņa, middle blockers Jana Franckeviča, Elza Skalbe, and Samanta Liepa, outside hitters Alise Armale, Rūta Putene, Šarlote Šlitere, Ieva Ķikuste, and Justīne Rēdliha, opposites Samanta Mikulova and Emanuela Bole, and liberos Loreta Arhipova and Eva Miloslavska. The core of this U-20 squad previously competed together at the U-18 European Championship in Riga during the summer, reinforced by younger 2008-born talents including Šlitere, who also featured for Latvia’s senior national team.