Volleyball player Elvita Dolotova announces end of national team career after win
Latvian volleyball player Elvita Dolotova has announced she is retiring from the national team after competing at the European Championship finals, closing her career with a victory. She told teammates of her decision in the locker room right after the match.
Latvian women's national volleyball team player Elvita Dolotova has decided to end her career with the national team, the Latvian Volleyball Federation (LVF) has announced. The decision came after her participation in the European Championship finals, where the team's last match ended in a win.
Speaking to the LVF, Dolotova said the end of her time with the national team brought a mix of emotions, but what mattered most was being able to finish on a positive note. She noted that the final victory felt especially meaningful because she knew it would be her last match in the national team's colors.
Telling the team in the locker room
The player revealed that another emotional moment came after the match, when she told her teammates about her decision in the locker room. She said the decision had not been easy, since the national team had meant a great deal to her over the years.
Career highlights
Among the most significant moments of her career, Dolotova named the Latvian team's run to the final of the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) Silver League in 2025. She particularly remembered the first final match in Riga, played in front of a full stadium, where the team beat Switzerland 3:2. She also mentioned being honored for playing 50 matches for the national team as one of her personal highlights.
Dolotova made her national team debut in 2016 and became team captain a few years later. In total, she played 65 matches for the Latvian national team and helped the side qualify for the European Championship finals after a 29-year absence.
