Despite two days of challenging wind and rain in Vilnius, Lithuania, teams from Poland and Ukraine successfully secured the first qualification spots for this year`s #EuroBeachVolleyU20. They achieved this by topping the podium at the EEVZA U20 Beach Volleyball Championships, which served as a primary qualifier for the upcoming continental event. Teams representing Lithuania and Latvia also reached the podium in both the men`s and women`s competitions.
The young athletes in Vilnius showcased impressive ball control and endurance, adapting well to the difficult weather conditions. The initial pool stage clearly identified the leading contenders. In the men`s tournament, teams from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Ukraine demonstrated their strength, all advancing to the semifinals.
In the men`s semifinals, Jakub Krzeminski and Wiktor Musial from Poland convincingly defeated Markuss Maculevics and Oskars Kilks of Latvia with a 2-0 victory (21-19, 21-15). The second semifinal saw Dmytro Kozii and Sviatoslav Nahornyi of Ukraine overcome the home team, Raigardas Macionis and Dovydas Sinkevicius, in two tightly contested sets (22-20, 22-20).
The final match saw the Ukrainian pair, Kozii and Nahornyi, continue their strong performance, beating their Polish opponents 2-0 (21-15, 21-18). In the battle for third place, Lithuania`s Macionis and Sinkevicius secured the host nation`s only medal by defeating Latvia`s Maculevics and Kilks 2-0 (21-18, 21-14).
Similarly, in the women`s division, teams from Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine dominated their pools. The semifinals featured teams from Poland, Ukraine, Latvia, and Lithuania. Poland`s Zuzanna Kudlik and Zuzanna Rapczynska, along with Ukraine`s Sofiia Kurnikova and Kateryna Biliak, won their respective semifinal matches, thereby earning their tickets to #EuroBeachVolleyU20.
The grand finale in the women`s tournament saw Kudlik and Rapczynska from Poland emerge victorious over Kurnikova and Biliak of Ukraine in straight sets (23-21, 21-17) after a competitive match. The bronze medal game was particularly dramatic; despite the support of the home crowd, Gunda Brazaite and Dominyka Lape of Lithuania lost a thrilling three-set match (21-18, 9-21, 7-15) to Latvia`s Deneva Šauberga and Rezija Puskundže.
The top two finishing countries in each gender category, Poland and Ukraine, have now qualified to participate in this year’s #EuroBeachVolleyU20, scheduled to take place from August 21 to 24 in Madrid, Spain.