Ēbere/Zaķīte win third straight match, top their group at U20 Beach Volleyball Europeans
Latvian beach volleyball pair Līva Ēbere and Estere Zaķīte won all three of their group-stage matches at the U20 European Championship in Italy, finishing first in their group and advancing directly to the round of 16.
Latvia's beach volleyball duo Līva Ēbere and Estere Zaķīte continued their strong run at the U20 European Championship in Italy, securing a third consecutive win in the group stage.
In the match to decide first place in Group D, the Latvians faced Norway's Katrine Hjeltnes and Tirill Skjold. In the first set, Ēbere's serve caused early trouble for the Norwegians, allowing Latvia to build a solid lead. Although the opponents closed the gap later in the set, strong net play from Zaķīte and several aces helped Latvia close it out 21:16.
In the second set, Ēbere and Zaķīte again jumped ahead early thanks to accurate serving and solid defensive play. They extended their advantage through the set and again won 21:16, sealing the match.
With three wins from three matches, Ēbere and Zaķīte finished first in Group D, ahead of pairs from Norway, Italy and Finland. Topping the group means the Latvians advance directly to the round of 16, skipping the first knockout round.
Latvia's other pair at the tournament, Andrejevs and Druska, are competing in Group G but have suffered losses in their matches.
The tournament holds special significance for Ēbere, who began studies at the University of Southern California (USC) in late August but returned to Europe to compete at the U20 Championship in Italy and the upcoming U22 European Championship in Spain next week.
