Italy U18 Women Sweep Past Latvia in European Championships Opener

The Italy U18 Women's national team began their European Championships U18 campaign with a commanding straight-sets victory over Latvia U18 Women on Tuesday, 7 July 2026. The match, which tipped off at 01:00 local time, ended with a decisive 3-0 scoreline (25–14, 25–13, 25–9) as the Azzurrini showcased their depth, power, and tactical discipline from the opening whistle.

Match Overview

From the first serve, Italy imposed their will at the net, combining a high-tempo offense with relentless serving pressure that kept Latvia's reception unit off balance. Latvia, competing in their first U18 European Championship in three years, fought hard in patches but could not match the sheer firepower and organisation of the Italian side. The match lasted just 67 minutes, reflecting Italy's efficiency in closing out each set without allowing a single extended run for the hosts.

Key Moments

• First Set (25–14): Italy jumped to a 6–1 lead behind two aces from outside hitter Giulia Moretti. Latvia managed to cut the deficit to 12–8 with a block from middle Paula Bērziņa, but Italy reeled off five straight points and never looked back.
• Second Set (25–13): After a tight 5–4 start, Italy's serving run by opposite Elena Rizzo—three consecutive aces—turned the set into a rout. Latvia's passing errors mounted, and Italy finished with a .478 hitting percentage.
• Third Set (25–9): Italy completely dominated, scoring the first seven points. Latvia showed brief resistance at 10–5, but Italy answered with a 10–1 surge to seal the match. A service error ended Latvia's hopes of even reaching double digits.

Tactical Story

Italy's game plan centred on exploiting Latvia's left‑side block with quick combinations in the middle. Setter Chiara Bellini distributed evenly, keeping Latvia's defence guessing. Latvia’s attack relied heavily on captain Līva Zariņa, who managed six kills but faced constant double‑blocks. Italy’s libero, Sofia Romano, recorded 12 digs and allowed only three receptions to result in a kill for Latvia. The mismatch in first‑ball side‑out efficiency—Italy at 68% to Latvia’s 41%—underlined the gap between the two sides.

Standout Players

Elena Rizzo (Italy, opposite): The 16‑year‑old led all scorers with 14 points (11 kills, 3 aces) and was named MVP of the match. Her jump‑serve proved unreturnable on multiple occasions.

Paula Bērziņa (Latvia, middle blocker): Despite the lopsided result, Bērziņa notched three blocks and two kills, showing promise as a future defensive anchor for Latvia’s programme.

Impact on the Standings

With the win, Italy moved to the top of Group B on points differential, while Latvia fell to the bottom of the table. Both teams still have group‑stage matches remaining, but Italy’s dominant performance sends a strong signal to contenders that they are legitimate gold‑medal favourites. For Latvia, the focus now shifts to regrouping ahead of a must‑win encounter against Belgium on Thursday.