In a decisive encounter on Friday, July 11, 2025, Israel`s U22 men`s national volleyball team delivered a commanding performance, routing host nation Latvia with a clean 3-0 sweep (25-18, 25-16, 25-16) at the Daugavpils Olympic Centre. The result marked a significant statement from the Israeli squad and left the young Latvian hosts contemplating a tough road ahead in the #EuroVolleyU22M qualifier.
Match Breakdown: A Study in Contrasts
While Latvia managed a brief flicker of hope at the start, thanks to a couple of early blocks from Ņikita Dimitrijevs giving them a 3-0 lead, Israel quickly extinguished any local momentum. The visitors efficiently turned the tide, establishing leads that Latvia could not consistently challenge. Strong serving, exemplified by Yuval Chansky, and effective blocking, including a crucial one by Shay Mayo Liberman in the third set and Lior Vili Kopilevich later on, allowed Israel to control the tempo and the scoreboard.
Israel`s attack was potent, with Mark Rura leading all scorers with an impressive 16 points, closely followed by Shay Mayo Liberman with 13. Their clinical finishing contrasted sharply with Latvia`s struggles. Despite efforts from players like Armands Rokjāns (eight points) and Ņikita Dimitrijevs (seven points, including four blocks), the Latvian offense frequently faltered against Israel`s well-structured defense and tall block. Kristers Landzāns added six points for the hosts.
Post-Match Reflections: Candid Assessments
The post-match comments offered a clear picture of the disparity. Latvian player Kristers Landzāns was candid, admitting the team “lacked aggressiveness from the start” and that Israel began “clearly stronger, more aggressively, and more emotionally.” He also pointed to the absence of players prioritizing beach volleyball, leaving the indoor team “quite young.” It`s a familiar lament in sports – conflicting priorities sometimes hinder national team performance.
Latvian head coach Mārcis Obrumans echoed the sentiment, describing the outcome as “Israel’s strength and our inability.” He acknowledged that Israel`s aggressive serving and solid double block proved particularly challenging, leading to numerous errors in the Latvian attack. “Israel didn’t particularly surprise us,” Obrumans stated, perhaps with a touch of resignation, “they just made fewer mistakes and served aggressively.”
Israeli head coach Noam Katz provided a more strategic perspective. He emphasized his team`s thorough preparation and study of the Latvian side, crediting Latvia for their previous participation in the European Championship. “We believe we made the right steps to win the match,” Katz remarked. He also reflected positively on their earlier loss to Poland, viewing it as a valuable learning experience. Katz expressed appreciation for Latvia as a host nation and its people, a pleasant diplomatic note amidst the competitive analysis.
Qualification Landscape: The Road Ahead
In the other Pool D match, Poland continued their strong run, defeating Croatia 3-0. This leaves the group standings after Day 2 with Poland at the top (two wins, five points), followed by Israel (one win, four points), Latvia (one win, three points), and Croatia (zero wins, zero points).
For Latvia, this loss dramatically narrows their path to qualification. Coach Obrumans starkly put it: “we have no more room for error.” He hoped the defeat would serve as a “big lesson” for the crucial match against Poland on Saturday, demanding “a different energy” from his team.
Israel, sitting in a strong second position, still has a viable route to the final round, potentially as one of the best second-placed teams. Their qualification hinges significantly on their performance against Croatia and the results in other pools. The final stage of #EuroVolleyU22M in Albufeira, Portugal (June 29 – July 4, 2026), will feature the five group winners and the two best second-placed teams, alongside the host nation. Players born on or after January 1, 2005, are eligible to compete for the title. Israel`s dominant display against Latvia certainly keeps that aspiration alive.
Torin Vale 
Gideon Holt