Baden, Austria, June 9, 2018. Russia, Norway, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Sweden and Czech Republic secured their places at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires as the #CEVContinentalCup moves on to the final stage of the competition. Bertozzi/Scampoli (ITA), Álvarez/Moreno (ESP), Bocharova/Voronina (RUS) and Berntsen/Olimstad (NOR) have all reached the semi-finals in the Women’s competition with Italy being the only team who had to fight their way throughout the Round of 12. Åhman/Hellvig (SWE), Sedlak/Manas (CZE), Immers/de Groot (NED) and Shustrov/Gusev (RUS) compose the men’s semi-finals. Czech Republic are the only third placed team from the Pool Round to reach this stage of the competition. Poland, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands in the women’s competition as well as Austria, England, Germany and Hungary in the men’s competition have still a chance to join the other four teams in Buenos Aires, as they will be competing for the 5th place on Sunday.
Women
Pool Round
Pool A top teams Russia and The Netherlands clashed on Saturday morning with Mariia Bocharova/Maria Voronina defeating Emi van Driel/Raïsa Schoon 2-0 (21-15, 21-19). The Russians advanced directly to the quarterfinal phase with three straight set victories, while the Dutch team and Portuguese Matilde Rodrigues/Beatriz Pinheiro moved onto the Round of 12. Portugal ended third in the pool, after winning with Czech Republic’s Karin Zolnercikova/Sarlota Svobodova 2-1 (21-17, 18-21, 15-10).
Spain remained the leader of Pool B after their victory 2-1 (16-21, 21-14, 15-9) over Switzerland. While Daniela Álvarez Mendoza/Tania Moreno Matveeva awaited their quarterfinal match, spots in the Round of 12 belonged to Pool B’s Swiss Mara Betschart/Céline Baumann and Greek Eleni Baka/Dionysia Matiou, who defeated Romanian Diana-Denisa Dumitru/Diana-Florentina Milea 2-0 (21-12, 21-3).
Polish duo Julia Gierczynska/Patrycja Jundzill lost the only set in the Pool Round in their 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 15-12) victory over Slovenian Kaja Kersnik/Nika Bevc. Slovenia’s loss allowed France to move up to second place in Pool C, regardless of their own 0-2 (18-21, 17-21) loss to Ukrainian Kateryna Dashevska/Sofiia Rylova.
Norway’s Frida Berntsen/Emilie Olimstad kept the top position in Pool D despite losing to second placed Italians Nicol Bertozzi/Claudia Scampoli, who won 2-1 (18-21, 22-20, 15-9). Austrian Ronja Klinger/Julia Mitter secured their second victory after defeating England’s Holly Bentley/Ellie Austin 2-1 (21-12, 19-21, 15-10). Italy and Austria continued their journey into the Round of 12, while Norway joined the quarterfinal phase.
Round of 12
Swiss Betschart/Baumann put up a three-set game against Slovenian Kersnik/Bevc, to eventually win 2-1 (21-11, 17-21, 15-8). In the quarterfinals Switzerland were set to meet Russia’s Bocharova/Voronina. The Netherlands’ van Driel/Schoon dominated against Greek Baka/Matiou, winning 2-0 (21-17, 21-14) and were about to face Norway’s Berntsen/Olimstad in the next stage. Italian team Bertozzi/Scampoli gave no chances to Portugal’s Calado/Pinheiro as they defeated them 2-0 (21-11, 21-9) and moved to the quarterfinals, where Polish Gierczynska/Jundzill were their next opponent. The hosting team Klinger/Mitter were the only third-placed team in the Pool Round to pass to the quarterfinals as France suffered a 1-2 (19-21, 21-17, 18-20) loss from their hands, after playing the longest tie-break yet. The Austrians were set to play Spanish Álvarez/Moreno.
Quarterfinals
Russia’s Bocharova/Voronina made it to the semis without losing a set as they defeated Betschart/Baumann (SUI) 2-0 (21-9, 24-22). The Swiss team crumbled under the pressure in the first set, but challenged the Russians in the second. Berntsen/Olimstad (NOR) dominated the court when playing Van Driel/Schoon (NED), winning both sets 21-13. Polish Gierczynska/Jundzill could not keep the momentum after their impressive performance in the Pool Round, losing to Italian Bertozzi/Scampoli 0-2 (19-21, 14-21). Austria’s Klinger/Mitter were stopped in their attempt to reach the semi-finals, losing to the so far unstoppable tÁlvarez M/Moreno (ESP) 0-2 (17-21, 21-23)
Russia, Norway, Italy and Spain have secured their spots at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, but they are yet to fight for the podium at the CEV Youth Continental Cup Finals. Bocharova/Voronina will play Berntsen/Olimstad and Bertozzi/Scampoli will be facing Álvarez/Moreno. Both matches will be held at 11.00 CET. With one ticket to Buenos Aires still available, the losers from the quarterfinals will be competing for the 5th place. Betschart/Baumann will compete against van Driel/Schoon and Gierczynska/Jundzill are down to play Klinger/Mitter.
Men
Pool Round
Dutchmen Matthew Immers/Yorick de Groot recorded a clean sheet in Pool A after finishing the phase without losing a single set. Their 2-0 (21-9, 21-16) victory over French Vivien Tournier/Paul Nicole put The Netherlands straight in the quarterfinal phase. France continued the competition alongside third-placed Austrians Laurenz Leitner/Theo Reiter who won 2-0 (25-23, 21-14) against Estonia’s Rasmus Meius/Märt Tammearu.
English brothers Javier Bello/Joaquin Bello confirmed their top position and spot in the quarterfinals after achieving their third victory in Pool B, with a 2-1 (13-21, 21-19, 15-12) against Hungary’s Artúr Hajós/Bence Attila Stréli. The Hungarians finished third in the pool, right behind Ukrainian team Vladyslav Pavliuk/Ihor Sviridov who competed with Belarusian Mikita Kanavalau/Aliaksei Ratutski and won 2-0 (27-25, 21-10).
A truly successful campaign continued for Swedish David Åhman/Jonatan Hellvig who won 2-0 (21-14, 21-0) against Germany’s Filip John/Lukas Pfretzschner. Turkish Yusuf Ozdemir/Ali Cebeci climbed up the pool ladder into second position after winning 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) with Greek Aristeidis Chandrinos/Spyridon Chandrinos, while Germany ended on the third position.
Russians Pavel Shustrov/Alexey Gusev did not make the game easy for their opponents, coming out of Pool D with another victory, this time against Swiss Nathan Broch/Timon Gysin who lost to the Russians 0-2 (16-21, 19-21). As Russia secured their Quarterfinals position, Broch/Gysin carried on to the Round of 12 with third placed Czechs Jiri Sedlak/Patrik Manas who won against Latvia’s Roberts Klavins/Janis Jansons 2-1 (18-21, 21-8, 15-8).
Round of 12
Germany’s John/Pfretzschner overcame a challenging duel with Ukrainian Pavliuk/Sviridov, winning 2-0 (21-15, 24-22). In the Quarterfinals Germany were down to play Dutch Immers/de Groot. France were unable to continue the competition, suffering a 0-2 (18-21, 24-26) upset from Hungary’s Hajós/Stréli, who moved on to face Russia in the next phase. Czech Republic entered the Round with a strong performance against Turkey, winning 2-0 (21-19, 21-13) and jumping to the Quarterfinals where English twin brothers Bello were going to be their next opponent. Swiss Broch/Gysin and Austrian Leitner/Reiter put up the most challenging fight yet, with Austria edging Switzerland 2-1 (21-16, 24-26, 22-20). Swedish Åhman/Hellvig were to be Austria’s opponent in the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals
Three pool leaders - The Netherlands, Russia and Sweden - reached the semi-finals and were joined by third placed in Pool D Czech Republic, who showed a great performance in the Round of 12 and Quarterfinals phase. Immers/de Groot (NED) beat Germany’s John/Pfretzschner 2-1 (16-21, 21-16, 15-13), while Russia’s Shustrov/Gusev kept control over the game against Hajós/Stréli (HUN) who lost 0-2 (19-21, 17-21). Åhman/Hellvig (SWE) stopped Austria’s Leitner/Reiter in two sets (21-16, 21-18) and England’s Bello/Bello J. did not continue their winning streak, as Czech Republic stood in their way, winning 2-0 (22-20, 21-18).
In the Semifinals Sedlak/Manas (CZE) are bound to play against Åhman/Hellvig and the Dutch team will be duelling with Shustrov/Gusev. With the 5th place having much to offer, losing teams will be back on court to compete tomorrow to determine 5th-8th places. John/Pfretzschner are facing Hajós/Stréli, while the hosting team Leitner/Reiter will be competing with England.
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