Latvia`s U22 men’s national team commenced their #EuroVolleyU22M Pool D qualifying campaign with a decisive 3-1 victory (25-19, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23) over Croatia. The match, held on Thursday at the Daugavpils Olympic Centre, saw the home side deliver a strong performance to take an early lead in their group.
Latvia started the first set impressively, building an early lead (8:1). Although Croatia mounted a comeback, narrowing the score to 19:18, key contributions from Armands Rokjāns, including an ace, pushed Latvia ahead. Leo Aleksandrs Štolcs sealed the set with a block, giving Latvia a 25-19 win.
The second set saw a shift in momentum as Croatia took control, leading 10:6 after a successful transition by Ivan Vuk. While Latvia fought to level the score temporarily, the visitors regained their lead. A block by Gabriel Šunjo extended Croatia`s advantage late in the set, which they closed out 25-18 to tie the match at one set apiece.
In the third set, Latvia quickly established a solid buffer (10:5), partly thanks to a block from Rokjāns. Despite Croatian efforts to close the gap, Latvia consistently held off their opponents, maintaining their lead to win the set 25-20.
The fourth set was tightly contested. Latvia maintained a slight advantage throughout, but Croatia managed to pull level at 17:17 after a serve from Budimir Oliver Škorić. However, Kristers Landzāns immediately responded with a crucial ace (19:17). Rokjāns pushed the score to 24:22, and Landzāns secured the match-winning point, giving Latvia the set 25-23 and the match 3-1.
Top scorers for Latvia included Armands Rokjāns with an outstanding 23 points (four of which were aces), Kristers Landzāns with 17 points, and Leo Aleksandrs Štolcs contributing 11 points (including two blocks). Other notable scorers were Marats Selivanovs (7) and Ņikita Dimitrijevs (6). For Croatia, Ivan Vuk led with 16 points, followed closely by Budimir Oliver Škorić with 15 points.
Player and Coach Perspectives
This win is not unexpected. We have faced Croatia twice before and won both times. We knew they are a team similar to ours and that we have the capability to defeat them. Today felt particularly good for me – I was well-rested after participating with the senior team. Playing at the Daugavpils Olympic Centre provides us with additional energy, and the team dynamic is very positive.
Armands Rokjāns, Latvian player
In critical moments and points, we weren’t fully present on the court. There were small details that our opponents exploited. They are physically very strong, whereas we lack some height, so we must capitalize on every scoring opportunity – something we failed to do in crucial instances. They are a genuinely good team; they appear well-connected and seem to have trained together extensively.
Coming from Zagreb, Daugavpils strikes me as a charming and pleasant small city. I`ve noticed the significant investment here in sports facilities, and everything appears very well-maintained overall.
Ivan Vuk, Croatian player
We approached the match with confidence. The strong start was incredibly beneficial, boosting our confidence further. Naturally, there were some initial nerves, as it was the first match, but executing successful plays early on created positive momentum and energy. While our serve reception wasn`t always perfect, we managed to convert challenging situations into points, which has historically been an area of difficulty for us. Our attack was quite versatile, and even when passing quality dipped, we remained patient and found ways to score.
Being at the top of the standings always feels good. The path ahead won`t be easy, but we are committed to doing everything possible to remain near the top for as long as we can, ideally until the end of the tournament. The Israeli team is quite formidable. If we approach the next game with the right mindset… We might not be seen as tournament favorites, but the crowd`s energy today was immense. We anticipate even more fans on Friday and truly enjoy playing here in Daugavpils.
Mārcis Obrumans, Latvia’s head coach
Other Group D Result and Standings
In the other Group D match played on the same day, Poland edged out Israel in a five-set contest, winning 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 25-23, 18-25, 15-9).
The Group D standings after the first day are:
- Latvia – 3 points
- Poland – 2 points
- Israel – 1 point
- Croatia – 0 points
Latvian National Team Roster
The players representing Latvia in the tournament are:
- Kristaps Pelēkais (Kuldīga District Sports School/MSĢ)
- Arturs Gulovs (Riga Volleyball School/MSĢ)
- Marats Selivanovs (Riga Volleyball School)
- Emīls Ieviņš
- Rainers Veips
- Kristers Landzāns (all – Jēkabpils Sports School)
- Ivans Rustkovs
- Sandis Cimotišs
- Ņikita Dimitrijevs
- Daņila Mironovs (all – Daugavpils Sports School)
- Ingars Blumbergs (Talsi District Sports School)
- Indars Asars (Talsi District Sports School/MSĢ)
- Leo Aleksandrs Štolcs
- Renārs Vinšteins (both – Minusa Volleyball School)
- Kristofers Kļaviņš (St. Mary’s College, USA)
- Armands Rokjāns (SK “Jēkabpils Lūši”)
Coaching and Support Staff
The team`s coaching staff includes Head Coach Mārcis Obrumans, Assistant Coach Ģirts Mārtiņsons, Physiotherapist Līze Kurakina, Statistician Aivis Kokins, and Team Manager Andris Nuķis.
Jasper Thornfield 
Finley Blackwood