Latvia's volleyball team climbs world rankings after European Championship group stage
A win over Hungary in their final group match lifted Latvia's women's volleyball team nine places up the world rankings to 56th, while Marta Kamēlija Ļevinska and Paula Nikola Ņečiporuka finished among the group stage's top scorers.
Latvia's women's volleyball team closed out the European Championship group stage with a win over Hungary, a result that pushed the team up nine spots in the world rankings, from 65th to 56th place. Latvia had entered the tournament as the lowest-ranked team among all finalists.
Group stage results
In Group A, where Latvia competed, the final round decided first place between Poland and host Turkey, with Poland winning in five sets, 3-2. Slovenia took third place after beating Hungary 3-0. Latvia finished fifth in the six-team group with three points.
In Group B in Brno, Serbia topped the standings, while Czechia, Greece and Bulgaria also advanced to the knockout stage, finishing ahead of Ukraine and Austria. In Group C in Baku, Belgium won first place, with the Netherlands, Azerbaijan and Portugal also progressing, while Romania and Spain were eliminated. In Group D in Gothenburg, Italy won all five of its matches, finishing ahead of France, Sweden and Croatia, while Slovakia and Montenegro failed to reach the knockout round.
The round of 16 will be played in Istanbul and Brno from August 30 to September 1.
Latvian players' performances
Latvia's team leader Marta Kamēlija Ļevinska scored 117 points during the group stage, the second-best tally behind Sweden's Izabella Håkanson with 174. Belgium's Britt Herbots (108) and Turkish star Melissa Vargas (107) followed behind the Latvian player.
Team captain Paula Nikola Ņečiporuka became the group stage's fourth most productive server, recording nine aces. Italy's Ekaterina Antropova led that category with 13 aces, followed by Vargas with 12 and the Netherlands' Britt Stuut with 11.
