Beach volleyball duo Fokerots and Auziņš reach U22 European Championship quarterfinals

Latvian beach volleyball players Roberts Fokerots and Aleksis Auziņš have reached the quarterfinals of the U22 European Championship after defeating Italy's Marini-Da Costa/Markezans 21-14, 21-17 in the round of 16.

The 21-year-old duo has already collected nearly every age-group title available to them, including U18 and U20 European champion honors as well as U19 and U21 world champion titles. The only one still missing is the U22 European championship, and this autumn represents their final opportunity to win it due to age eligibility limits. The pair is considered the top favorite in the current tournament, with Norway's team seen as their most serious rival.

Against the Italians, Auziņš was decisive early in the first set, making two successful defensive plays that helped the Latvians build a lead. Fokerots added two blocks and an ace, and the first set closed out 21-14. In the second set, Fokerots opened with another ace, but the Italians narrowed the gap to 16-15 before faltering with errors. Auziņš again came up with key defensive plays, allowing the Latvians to close out the set and match 21-17.

Next opponent

In the quarterfinals, Fokerots and Auziņš will face Finland's Viljamā/Viljamā pairing.

The tournament also features Latvia's women's pair, Marta Ēbere and Anastasija Konstantinova, two-time U20 European runners-up. The Czech twins Pavelkovas are considered the main favorites among the women, though the Latvian pair could also contend for a podium finish with a good run of results.