Latvia's beach volleyball team, featuring Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova, has made history by reaching the semifinals of the 2025 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship in Adelaide, Australia. This milestone was achieved with an impressive straight-set victory over the United States’ Kelly Cheng and Molly Shaw, with scores of 21-18 and 21-17.
The Latvian duo will continue their historic run on Saturday at 16:00 local time (5:30 UTC), where they will face off against the tournament’s top-seeded Brazilians, Thâmela Coradello and Victoria Lopes. This marks the most successful run of Graudina and Samoilova’s four World Championship appearances.
Upcoming Semifinal Matches
- Latvia vs. Brazil: Graudina/Samoilova vs. Coradello/Lopes at 16:00 (local)
- USA vs. Brazil: Brasher/Nuss vs. Salgado/Cavalcanti at 20:00 (local)
In the second semifinal, another Brazil-USA showdown awaits as undefeated teams Taryn Brasher and Kristen Nuss face Carol Salgado and Rebecca Cavalcanti, in what promises to be a tightly contested battle.
Latvia’s Formula for Success
Latvia’s rise in beach volleyball is backed by strategic support from the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment Programme. With an investment of $168,000 in coaching, the Latvian Volleyball Federation has intensified efforts to enhance both tactical and technical capabilities for its national team.
Looking Ahead
The World Championship will conclude over the weekend, culminating in the final matches that will crown the top men’s and women’s beach volleyball teams in the world.
For more details, visit the official announcement on the FIVB website.
