The Eastern European Volleyball Zonal Association (EEVZA) U20 EuroBeachVolley zonal qualifier commenced on Friday morning in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. This event marks the first time that zonal qualifying tournaments are held for the U18 and U20 continental championships. Teams from seven nations – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine – are competing in Vilnius, all aiming to secure qualification for the main #EuroBeachVolleyU20 tournament scheduled for Madrid, Spain, later this summer.
The tournament structure includes an initial group stage played in a single round-robin format, followed by playoff rounds. Twelve teams will advance to the playoffs, with only the top two teams in each gender securing a direct spot at the U20 European Beach Volleyball Championships. The opening day focused on pool play, where teams vied to finish first in their groups to earn a direct pass to the quarterfinals. Teams from Ukraine, Poland, and Latvia demonstrated strong performances, and the host nation, Lithuania, also showed potential as a contender. This is the first time such a zonal event has been held, presenting a new challenge for the Local Organising Committee while offering a valuable competitive opportunity for the young athletes from across Eastern Europe, which they seem to greatly appreciate.
Torin Vale