Ukraine`s U22 women`s volleyball team has successfully qualified for the upcoming #EuroVolleyU22W Final Round, scheduled to take place next year in the Netherlands. They achieved this by winning both of their qualification matches held in Daugavpils, Latvia.
On Sunday, Ukraine faced the host nation, Latvia, in their final qualifying match at the Daugavpils Olympic Centre. Ukraine emerged victorious with a 3-1 score (25-22, 25-19, 22-25, 25-16). This followed their earlier win against Denmark, ensuring their qualification with two wins from two matches.
In the match against Latvia, Ukraine took an early lead in the first set, maintaining their advantage to win 25-22 despite Latvia tying the score late on. The second set also saw Ukraine build an early lead, eventually closing it out 25-19.
Having already secured qualification after winning the first two sets, Ukraine made substitutions in the third set. This allowed Latvia to rally, with Katrīna Struka moving to the opposite position and setter Arina Sosinoviča contributing aces. Latvia won the third set 25-22 due to a miscommunication on Ukraine`s side.
However, Ukraine quickly regained control in the fourth set. Despite Latvia taking a brief 2-0 lead, Ukraine responded with a decisive 7-0 run and sealed the set 25-16 and the match.
For Latvia, Katrīna Struka was the top scorer with 17 points, including three blocks and a 56% attacking efficiency. Karmena Struka added 10 points with three aces, while Marta Gintere scored 9.
Ukraine`s main contributors were Diana Kryva with 17 points, Andriana Pavlyk with 14, and Polina Herasymchuk with 12 points, a third of which came from blocks.
Reflecting on the tournament, Latvia U22 head coach Inguna Minusa commented:
What we saw on the court was the type of Volleyball all women’s teams strive for. Overall, it was a very valuable tournament. We didn’t qualify for the final round, but the experience gained in the matches against Denmark and Ukraine is invaluable. The fight against Denmark proved that everyone can play now, everyone wants to win, and we can no longer afford to play carelessly or underestimate any team. The match against Ukraine was already a different game, as we had learned from the first one.
Latvia`s Katrīna Struka also shared her thoughts:
It was a good match, and Ukraine definitely played very well, but I think we also had chances to win. Unfortunately, a few silly mistakes allowed us to win only one set. Ukraine won the first set thanks to their strong starting lineup, which played excellently. When they began making substitutions, their game didn’t flow as well, and that’s why we could take the third set.
I hadn’t trained much with the team, having only had a few practices in Daugavpils, but I think we worked together well and supported each other. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out this time.
Ukraine`s path to qualification began with a dominant 3-0 victory over Denmark on Saturday, with set scores of 25-12, 25-23, and 25-12. In that match, Andriana Pavlyk led Ukraine with 21 points, including numerous aces, while Diana Kryva contributed 16 points. Veronika Kjaer Sørensen was Denmark`s top scorer with 9 points.
Ukraine finished the qualification pool with a perfect 6 points, securing their spot in the final tournament. Denmark finished second with 2 points, and Latvia third with 1 point.
Ukraine’s head coach Gariy Yegiazarov highlighted the strategic importance of the initial sets:
The two opening sets were the most important for us, because after those we had already secured first place in the group. After that, three substitutes took to the court, and I’m very pleased that we managed to win with them on the court as well. That’s also important for the players. Our biggest problems were caused by the Struka sisters, who are members of Latvia’s senior national team. They have more experience than the other U22 players and are among the leaders of the senior squad. I think Latvia’s U22 team is stronger than their Danish peers, but on Friday Denmark played really well – even better than they usually do.