Latvian women's beach volleyball duo exits World University Championship, men await knockout round
At the FISU World University Championship, Latvian students Anija Ozoliņa and Vanesa Grosberga finished tied for ninth place, while Latvia's two men's duos learned their round-of-16 opponents after Saturday's group play.
Latvia is represented at the FISU World University Championship in beach volleyball by three student duos: University of Latvia (LU) students Anija Ozoliņa and Vanesa Grosberga, LU students Olivers Bulgačs and Ernests Puškundzis, and Riga Stradiņš University (RSU) students Gustavs Auziņš and Markuss Graudiņš.
Women's tournament ends
In group play against Germany and Lebanon, the LU women won both matches against Lebanon but lost both against Germany, finishing second in their group. In the round of 16 they defeated Chile convincingly, 21:12 and 21:13, but lost to the United States in the round of eight in two sets, ending the tournament tied for ninth place.
Men close out group stage
In the men's competition, the final group matches were played on Saturday. Bulgačs and Puškundzis lost a three-set battle to Hungary (15:21, 21:19, 6:15) but later beat the United States convincingly (21:15, 21:19). With three teams finishing level on wins and losses, placement came down to points ratio across the group stage, where the Latvians had the worst mark despite winning the most sets overall — leaving Bulgačs and Puškundzis third in their group with three wins from four matches.
Auziņš and Graudiņš lost their final group match to Canada in two sets (18:21, 14:21), finishing third in their group with a single win from three matches.
Knockout stage ahead
Both Latvian men's duos face round-of-16 matches today. Bulgačs and Puškundzis play the Czech pair, recent silver medalists at the EUSA University Games, at 11:50 Latvian time, while Auziņš and Graudiņš face Lebanon at 12:40.
