Kyiv club Sunrise Beach Sports Academy returned from the CEV Beach Volley European Cup in Alanya, Turkey, with two medals: the women's team won gold, and the men's team secured silver. According to the tournament format, each club was represented by two pairs playing separate matches within team confrontations, turning each matchday into a series of fast and intense duels. It was in this format that the capital's team managed to dominate the women's tournament and reach the men's final, falling just a step short of a second gold.
Women's Team: Ten Wins in Ten Matches
In the women's tournament, Kyiv was represented by Valentyna Davydova, Angelina Khmil, Yeva Serdiuk, and Daria Romaniuk, coached by Mykola Babich. The Ukrainian players confidently passed the group stage, winning all matches and taking first place, which earned them a spot in the semifinals. In the battle for a place in the final, the team faced France's Montpellier Beach Volley for the second time in the tournament and, just like in the group stage, defeated the opponent 2:0.
Defending the Championship Title
In the decisive match, the Kyiv players left no chances to Spain's CV Majadahonda, also winning both matches 2:0. As a result, Davydova, Khmil, Serdiuk, and Romaniuk claimed ten victories in ten matches without a single defeat, becoming the strongest women's club in Europe for the second time. The Ukrainians won their previous title a year earlier at a tournament in Greece, making Alanya the venue for a successful defense of their championship crown.
Men's Final: Gold Lost in the "Golden" Set
In the men's tournament, the club was represented by Anton Moiseiev, Vitalii Savvin, Ivan Likhatskyi, and Richard Likhatskyi. In the group stage, the Ukrainians won two team confrontations, drew another, and advanced to the semifinals from first place, where they defeated Turkey's TVF Spor Lisesi 2:0. In the final, their opponent was Italy's ASD Beach Volley Training: the teams exchanged victories in individual pair matches, and with the score tied at 1:1, the fate of the title was decided by an additional "golden" set up to 15 points.
In the decisive battle, Ivan Likhatskyi and Vitalii Savvin played for the Kyiv club, but the Italians proved stronger, taking the main trophy. The Ukrainian team finished the tournament with silver medals, improving on their result from the previous year's competition.
Conclusion: A Full Podium for a Single Club
Thus, Sunrise Beach Sports Academy became the only team to claim both top spots in their categories at this edition of the European Cup: the women's squad executed a flawless tournament and title defense, while the men's team reached the final and took silver. For the Kyiv beach volleyball school, this is confirmation of a consistent level that allows it to compete with leading clubs from France, Spain, Turkey, and Italy on the European stage.
