19/08/2017 15:37
Kolocova and Kvapilova steal the show on Majori beach
2017 CEV Beach Volleyball European Championship - Final
Jurmala, Latvia, August 19, 2017. Kristyna Kolocova and Michala Kvapilova are carrying the Czech Republic’s flag at this year’s #EuroBeachVolley – and they have been feeling even more responsibility after their compatriots – and last year’s silver medal winners – Marketa Slukova and Barbora Hermannova had to withdraw from the tournament earlier this week due to Slukova’s back pain. On Saturday, ‘Kiki’ and ‘Micha’ qualified for the semis of the tournament held in Jurmala after a hard-fought victory over Finland’s Taru Lahti-Liukkonen and Anniina Parkkinen (21-18, 18-21, 15-12).
“I think the support was slightly towards the Finnish team,” Kolocova said, “but we know that they have a group of loyal core fans who support them on the World Tour as well and we were not surprised that they joined them here in Jurmala too. It is always nice to play in a full stadium regardless of who the crowd is cheering for.”
The Czechs had to come back strong to claim this victory after losing the second set to their much-determined opponents. “We made a few mistakes in the second set but we were confident in ourselves when we entered the tie-break,” Kvapilova recounted. “We told ourselves we would just focus on what we have to do and deliver our tactics and would not worry about what they were doing. I think that worked out pretty well.”
It was windy in Jurmala on Saturday afternoon and the conditions were quite challenging. “This type of wind influences us a lot,” Kvapilova admitted. “When the wind comes from one side, you can quickly adjust to it, but here it seemed to be coming from different directions and we couldn’t tell where and when it would come from the next time. Those fans who follow Beach Volleyball regularly could see that it was influencing our setting, reception or serves. The game was not that pretty, but we are Beach Volleyball players and we have to be ready to play in any conditions.”
Concerning their opponent in the semis, Kvapilova was clear. “I think Laboureur/Sude are the favourites but the Latvians have had such a good tournament so far that perhaps they can keep their momentum and it can turn out either way.”
Before their quarterfinal match, Kolocova and Kvapilova spend some time chilling out on the beach and disclosing a few secrets for those who want to know a bit more of what the Czech girls do off the court:
In the semis, the Czechs will play top-seeded Chantal Laboureur/Julia Sude who ended the triumphal march of home stars Tina Graudina and Anastasija Kravcenoka with a 21-16, 21-16 victory to stay in contention for their first #EuroBeachVolley medal and make sure Germany will have at least one of their teams standing on the podium. Nadja Glenzke/Julia Grossner will play Poland’s Kinga Kolosinska/Jagoda Gruszczynska in the other semi-final after sensationally upsetting reigning Olympic, world and European champions Laura Ludwig/Kira Walkenhorst earlier on Saturday morning.
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