23/09/2017 23:40
Top-seeded Germans progress to semis as Satu Mare deals with drizzling conditions
2017 CEV Beach Volleyball Satellite - Satu Mare
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Satu Mare, Romania, September 23, 2017. “It’s a rainy day” was somehow the official song of the third competition day at the CEV Satellite in Satu Mare, with 12 matches completed under light rain. The big surprise of the qualification, Belgian team Julie De Beule/Nina Coolman, was the first to leave the competition in the Main Draw, after suffering a 0-2 loss to French duo Lézana Placette/Aline Chamereau. They may have ended the tournament in thirteenth place, but the Belgians left a good impression after defeating Polish team Aleksandra Gromadowska and Jagoda Gruszczynska in the qualification round.
The third day was also the last for Swiss team Nicole Eiholzer/Laura Caluori, as they lost 1-2 (19-21, 21-18, 11-15) to the more motivated Alexia Richard/Margaux Carrere of France.
“I think we made too many unforgivable mistakes, we gave away too many easy points to our opponents, and we did not put enough pressure with the service,” Nicole Eiholzer said. “In each of the matches we contested here we were close to winning, but we did not manage to use our chances. I am a little disappointed, because we wanted to win and show what we are capable of doing. It was the last Satellite for me this season and we are preparing to improve our play in China at the next FIVB event.”
After their unexpected loss in the first round, Ukraine's Valentyna Davidova/Ievgeniia Shchypkova managed their way to the last day, securing at least fifth place after winning two matches over Swedish Sigrid Simonsson/Tadva Yoken and Richard/Carrere without dropping a set.
“Today we had an easier game after yesterday’s defeat to our compatriots, the Makhno sisters, which is a team that this year has already defeated us three times. I hope to grow in the next matches and why not, to make it to the final. We feel good here in Satu Mare, the organisation is very good and the level of play of all teams is very high,” said Shchypkova.
Home stars Adriana-Maria Matei and Beata Vaida of Romania did not surprise the German team of Karla Borger and Margareta Kozuch, and despite fighting hard and showing good play, they lost the game 2-0 (21-19, 21-19) in 36 minutes.
The first two teams progressing to the semis of the CEV Beach Volleyball Satellite in Satu Mare are top-seeded Borger/Kozuch and Russia’s Olga Motrich and Svetlana Kholomina, who gave the Ukrainian twin sisters Inna and Iryna Makhno no chance by cruising to a comprehensive 2-0 (21-16, 21-10) victory.
If all matches up until now were played in daylight, the finals will take place in the evening on Sunday. The gold medal match starting at 8:30 p.m. will determine the eventual winners of the tournament.
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For the livestream of the final day, click here.
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