The national team of Ukraine, which is Bulgaria's opponent in the group stage of EuroVolley 2026, started its last preparatory tournament before the championship with a victory.
The team led by Raul Lozano defeated Latvia 3:1 (25:18, 22:25, 25:18, 25:23) in Tallinn.
Ukraine convincingly took the first and third sets with 25:18 each, while Latvia managed to equalize after 25:22 in the second. The fourth set was the most contested, with the Latvians reaching 23:23, but Ukraine won the next two points and closed the match.
The tournament in Tallinn is the last serious test for the Ukrainians before EuroVolley. Outside hitter Tymofiy Poluian and libero Oleksandr Boiko returned to the squad after injuries, while Illia Kovalov will miss the European Championship due to an injury and the need for surgery.
Extended squad of Ukraine for preparation:
Setters:Vitaliy Shchitkov, Yuriy Synytsia, Serhiy Yevstratov
Opposites:Maksym Tonkonoh, Vasyl Tupchii, Oleksandr Boiko
Outside Hitters:Oleh Plotnytskyi, Dmytro Yanchuk, Yevhen Kisiliuk, Tymofiy Poluian, Oleksandr Nalozhnyi
Middle Blockers:Maksym Drozd, Denys Veletskyi, Yuriy Semeniuk, Vladyslav Shchurov, Andriy Cheleniak
Liberos:Oleksandr Boiko, Yaroslav Pampushko
Ukraine's next match in Tallinn is against Slovakia on September 4.
Ukraine is in a group with Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, Israel, and North Macedonia at EuroVolley 2026.